Lancia Rally 037
If you want to know all about the Lancia 037, then you need to know that it was designed by a great designer named Abarth, he designed this especially for the World Rally Championship. This 037 was the substitute to the Lancia Stratos with a central engine that was the most used for years in the history of the Rally competitions.
In the 80´s the Lancia 037 had been used instead the Lancia Stratos and the Fiat 131 in the International and European Rally of the Group B racing. Pininfarina was in charge of its bodywork’s design, which was constructed with lightweight materials, such as fiberglass reinforced.
The amazing beginning of the Lancia 037
The Lancia 037 had born from the original Lancia Beta Monte Carlo, which was made for the “Giro d’Italia” race in 1979. As the same as today the 037 of that time had a very strong tubular with substructures in front and behind, it had two fuel tanks of 35 litters each.
The Stradale version of the Lancia 037 was manufactured in the late 80´s and in 1981 it started the selling of more than 200 original samples of this great car. So many of those cars were used as a base for other kind of model and race version. They all were red and very expensive, but they were so loved because their great an unusual look.
We can say that the Lancia 037 was made especially for competitions, its longitudinal engine inline four-cylinder 1,995 cm3 was supercharged with a turbocharger and had all the possible innovations, and so much more. It accelerated from 0-100 km / h in 5.8 seconds and has a great top speed of 225 km / h. But the manufacturers thought that a lighter car will be better with a less mechanical complexity.
So in 1982 finally they could show the very new sample of the great Lancia 037 Rally Group B, and it was the kind of car that competed on the Rally Costa Smeralda in Italy for the European Rally Championship. This Italian brand showed this car in all the events and competitions around the world. The engine was fully configured with new plugs and increased boost pressure. Alen and Begetta were the pilots with two very new unities. Alen remained in eighth place, and Bettega suffered a very dangerous accident were he broke his two legs and had other multiple fractures.
After some time were introduced the new Lancia 037 Evoluzione had changes in the exterior with adjustable front spoiler and bigger lights. Abarth turbo R18 type increased the power of 280-315 hp. The weight decreased and the security and comfort on board increased.
In August of 1982 the Lancia 037 Evoluzione debuted in the Madeira Rally with Andrea Zanussi as a pilot. And Zanussi was leading the racing until his car had mechanical problems. Regardless of this the Lancia 037 Evoluzione debuted in the World Rally in Finland, here Markku Alen had as well mechanical problems. But in the tour of France for the World European Rally this car came in third place, after a Ferrari and a Renault. But the great victory, second for the 037, came in the Pace Rally for the World Rally, with Markku as the pilot.
In 1983 the Lancia 037 Rally Evoluzione had five victories in eight races on tours like San Remo, New Zeeland, Acropolis, etc. This car got 12 more victories, which seven of them were accomplished by the champion Miki Biasion. But the end for the Lancia came in 1985 when the pilot Bettega died in a very big accident while he was driving the Lancia 037 in Corsica, with that the famous but very dangerous Group B was over as well.
Some of the drivers of the Lancia 037
Markku Alen. He is from Finland and had as a co-driver to IIkka Kivimaki on a Lancia 037, they got the 12th place.
Walter Rohrl. He is from Germany, he was a champion during the years of 1980 to 1985. He had in total more than 14 victories, he was a very well-known and famous racer on his time.
Attilio Bettega. He was from Italy, he was as well a very well-known driver of the Lancia 037, but he died tragically in a big accident while he was driving this car in a race.
