Only the Land of Motors can boast such glories! Dallara Automobili is undoubtedly an authentic pearl of world motoring: let’s rush to discover its exciting history through its greatest successes!
There are unforgettable Italian events: stories that remain engraved in the pages of history and that time almost transforms into fairy tales. And the history of Dallara is an authentic fairy tale of the motoring world. A story in which the names of the protagonists are lost in the legend of heroic times e di pioneering enterprises.
Men contemptuous of danger who dedicated their lives to their passion, in a time when technicians and engineers, pilots and mechanics worked in unison for a common goal: to build the fastest car of all. And often in doing so they have contributed decisively to improve technology and safety of our road cars, sometimes paying a very high price for their courage.
Giampaolo Dallara: the beginning of the fairy tale
So let’s begin this journey that retraces the gripping pages of history of Dallara Automobili talking about an essential protagonist: Giampaolo Dallara. It would be too simple, almost hasty, to define this visionary designer like a simple engineer. Undisputed protagonist of the history of the Italian automobile, his contribution has characterized many very successful creations.
A natural talent, with a propensity for attention to detail which goes beyond what the human eye perceives at first glance. After obtaining the degree in aeronautical engineering at the Polytechnic of Milan, Giampaolo Dallara began his work experience in 1959, employed by none other than Drake himself, the great Enzo Ferrari.
The following years of his journey then lead him to meet others companies of the caliber of Maserati and Lamborghinthe. In Sant’Agata Bolognese in particular he stands out for his precious contribution to birth of the legendary Lamborghini Miuraa car that would later remain in history as the prima vera ‘supercar’ in the modern meaning of the term.
Giampaolo Dallara in the company of the Lamborghini Miura.
1972, the turning point year: Dallara Automobili was born
In 1969 he finally managed to enter the exclusive Formula 1 and 2 circuitsalongside characters of the caliber of Frank Williams and Alexander Of Thomas. Being able to boast, thanks also to these collaborations, an absolutely enviable amount of experience, Giampaolo Dallara later decides to create a reality in which be able to operate in complete autonomygiving vent to his creative genius: in 1972 the company that bears his name was founded, in the setting of Varano de’ Melegari.
From now on this will be the headquarters where they will see the light exciting new projects, carried out both independently and in collaboration with other very established companies. Then begins the intriguing activity of construction of prototype sports carsbut the opportunity to participate in the birth of the Lancia Strato’s (here is the complete story) and subsequently also of the 037, Beta Montecarlo Turbo, LC1 and LC2 certainly does not go unnoticed.
However, even these projects cannot satisfy the insatiable desire for innovation typical of the young Dallara Automobili. The aeronautical engineer who ‘hides’ in the volcanic Giampaolo Dallara returns to make himself forcefully heard: so here the idea of a wind tunnelthe first of the two created, which finally saw the light in 1980.
Wind tunnel, Dallara Automobili.
Giampaolo Dallara: the other hero of two worlds
Thanks to the notoriety gained over the years, together with the now very solid structure of his company, Dallara manages to leave its mark in both European and American motorsport. A series of successes on circuits all over the world which increases his success even further fame on a personal and corporate level: his contribution to both Formula 1 and Formula Indy is memorable, as refined technician and frame builder.
A palmarès, that of Giampaolo Dallara, which is worth some prestigious appointments as CSAI vice-president and Italian representative at the FIA. Titles for sure fully deserved, covered with the great responsibility and experience that only a complete figure as yours can boast.
Since 2007 the activity of Dallara Automobili has continued with the contribution of the CEO Andrea Pontremoliin a period that sees the factory return to collaborate with the world of Formula 1. Finally, in 2012, Giampaolo Dallara received the prestigious award international recognition Barsanti and Matteuccidedicated to those who have distinguished themselves in a particular way in the world of automotive engineering.
Giampaolo Dallara, awarding of the Barsanti and Matteucci Prize, 2012.
Dallara today: Italian pride and excellence
The Varano de’ Melegari company continues its exciting activity today always remaining at the top of the sector and carrying out very ambitious initiatives: among these it is certainly worth mentioning as an example the birth of Dallara Stradale and of Dallara Academywith all the important initiatives that resulted from it.
In the current panorama, Dallara represents more than ever a reference point within the automotive sector and is confirmed one of the best Italian excellences ever: a result that can only be achieved by combining extremely clear vision with one exemplary consistency of values. The multifunctional nature of the new Dallara Automobili also places great emphasis on dissemination of the history of the brandtogether with culture of automotive technology.
A precious contribution to pass on to the younger ones a unique experienceuseful both for better understanding current events and for dealing with them demanding challenges of the future. The factory’s active participation in the event is also worthy of praise training of university students of Racing Car Design, with a specific area of the Dallara Academy dedicated to this function.
Dallara Automobili: the Stradale dream becomes reality
Which automotive engineer (or even simple enthusiast!) has never dreamed of seeing at least once in his life your name stand out on the hood of a car? Giampaolo Dallara also deserved this satisfaction, when in 2017 he decided to launch the Dallara Stradale.
A very ambitious project, which aims to take to the open road the same emotions offered by a small boat for competition. Refined thanks to the contribution during the testing phase of Loris Bicocchi and Marco Apicellais a very sporty car with a strong character: a concentration of all the best technologies made by the house over the years.
The car is originally equipped by a 2300 cm³ turbo inline 4-cylinder (of Ford origin), capable of a power of 400 CV a 6200 giri/min and 500 Nm of torque. Obviously the structure of the engine has been extensively revisited in terms of performance, as has its Bosch electronic management. The performances of the Dallara Stradale are exuberant to say the least, with one maximum speed of 280 km/h and an acceleration from 0 to 100 in 3.25 seconds.
But the best features of the car are not limited to this: In fact, the extremely low weight, thanks to the carbon fiber used for the chassis, bodywork and mechanical elements, it marks a weight on the scale that just stops at quota 855 kg. Everything is then accompanied by driving and handling qualities typical of a company that has made chassis its flagship.
The future and commitment to tomorrow: Dallara Academy, more than just a museum!
The Dallara Academy constitutes a project with a highly innovative character: in addition to celebrating the history of the brand, it proposes itself as educational centerdesigned to support school training and a modern exhibition area and with a bold design. The structure was imagined precisely like a mechanical entity: all its parts work in harmony and synergy in carrying out a specific function.
And just like in a good frame, each component has a key role well delineated: here is the division into two floors, connected by a glass rampin which they find space areas dedicated to the public, school laboratories and university training. A harmony with an engineering aftertaste, which wants to pay homage tocreative intuition by Giampaolo Dallara.
L’area more intriguing for the public however, the exhibition ramp remains: in this part of the building it is possible admire the cars who contributed to the birth and growth of the company, from the beginning to the present day. We are obviously talking about prototype sports Le Mans class, Indycar, Formula 3, Formula E and obviously the inevitable ones Lamborghini Miura and Dallara Stradale. Cars representing the Dallara’s strong bond with its origins and the constant projection towards innovation and the future.
We have reached the end of this journey into the incredible world of Dallara Automobili: we have retraced it all together the salient parts of its history and we talked about his latest prideshowever there would still be many facts and anecdotes to tell…
For those curious to know even more, we remind you that it is possible to find it on the official Dallara website a complete overview of the company and all the activities to which it is dedicated, including the Dallara Academy and the exhibition space open to the public.
If you want to discover other exciting pages of automotive history, continue to follow tuttotek!