Lancia 037

A Lancia Rally 037 (Martini Racing).

The Lancia Rally 037 (also known as the Lancia Abarth #037, Tipo 151) was a mid-engine rally car built by Lancia in the early 1980s purely for the FIA Group B World Rally Championship. Driven by Markku Alén, Attilio Bettega, and Walter Röhrl, the car won Lancia the manufacturers' world championship in the 1983 season. It is the last rear-wheel drive car to win the WRC.

History

H.F. Grifone team's 037 at the Race Retro 2008.

In 1980 Lancia began designing the 037 to comply with the then new FIA Group B regulations that allowed cars to race with relatively few homologation models being built. As the project was number 037, this eventually became the name by which the car was known. Abarth, now a part of the Lancia-Fiat family, did most of the design work, even incorporating styling cues from some of its famous race cars of the 1950s and 1960s such as a double bubble roof line. The car was born from the collaboration between Pininfarina, Abarth, Dallara and the project manager, engineer Sergio Limone. Prior to its first participation in the 1982 World Rally Championship season, 200 road-going models were built to comply with Group B regulations.

The car made its competition debut at the 1982 Rally Costa Smeralda in Italy, where two cars were entered but both retired due to gearbox issues. The 1982 season was plagued with retirements for the 037, but the new car did manage to achieve several wins including its first win at the Pace Rally in the UK. The 1983 season was considerably more successful for the 037: Lancia took the 1983 World Rally Championship Constructors' title with Germany's Walter Röhrl and Finland's Markku Alen its principal drivers, despite serious competition from the 4WD Audi Quattro. Both drivers, however, missed the final round of the series, despite Röhrl maintaining a mathematical chance of the drivers' title: such honours instead went to Audi's veteran Finn, Hannu Mikkola.

Lancia 037 Evolution 2

For the 1984 Constructors' title defence, Lancia introduced an Evolution 2 version of the 037 with improved engine power, but this was not enough to stem the tide of 4WD competition, losing to Audi in both 1984 championships, and again to the 4WD Peugeot 205 T16 in its final works season in 1985. Indeed, Alen collected the final 037 win, and the sole one for the E2 model, on the 1984 Tour De Corse, before it was finally pensioned off in the Martini sponsored Lancia factory rally car line-up in favour of its successor, the uniquely supercharged and turbocharged 4WD Delta S4, for the season-ending RAC Rally in Great Britain. Driver Attilio Bettega died in a 037 crash in 1985.

Stradale

For approval in Group B it was necessary to build at least 200 road versions of the model in question. The road version had an Abarth developed 16-valve four-cylinder in-line 2000 cc engine, with a volumex supercharger which developed 205 hp (153 kW) capable of pushing the 037 to over 220 km/h (137 mph) and reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in less than seven seconds. Pininfarina production records show 220 cars built under 'Montecarlo Corsa' name.

Layout

Lancia 037s.

The Lancia 037 was a silhouette racer; while it was loosely based on the Lancia Montecarlo (also known as Scorpion in the US and Canadian markets) road car, they shared only the center section with all body panels and mechanical parts being significantly different. Steel subframes were used fore and aft of the production car center section, while most of the body panels were made from Kevlar.

The mid-engined layout of the Montecarlo was retained, but the engine was turned 90 degrees from a transverse position to a longitudinal position. This allowed greater freedom in the design of the suspension and while moving engine weight forward.^[1]

An independent double wishbone suspension was used on both the front and rear axles, with dual shock absorbers in the rear in order to cope with the stresses of high speed off road driving. The 037 is notable as it retained the rear-wheel drive layout that was nearly universal for rally cars of the pre-Group B period; nearly all subsequent successful rally cars used four-wheel drive, making the 037 the last of its kind.

Engine

037 engine.

Unlike its predecessor, the V6-powered Lancia Stratos HF, the first 037s had a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder supercharged engine. Based on the long stroke twin cam which powered earlier Fiat Abarth 131 rally cars, the four valve head was carried over from the 131 Abarth but the original two carburetors were replaced by a single large Weber carburetor in early models and later with fuel injection. It features a ZF transaxle.^{[citation needed]}

Lancia also chose a supercharger over a turbocharger to eliminate turbo lag and improve throttle response. Initially power was quoted at 265 hp (198 kW) but with the introduction of the Evolution 1 model power jumped to 300 with the help of water injection. The final Evolution 2 model produced 325 hp (242 kW) thanks to a displacement increase to 2,111 cc.

Specifications

Stradale

• Body: kevlar reinforced with fiberglass
• Weight: 1,170 kg (2,579 lb) in running condition
• Dimensions: length 3,915 mm (154.1 in), width 1,850 mm (72.8 in), height 1,245 mm (49.0 in), wheelbase 2,240 mm (88.2 in)
• Engine: mid-engine mounted longitudinally, 4 cylinders in line
• Displacement: 1995 cm³
• Bore and Stroke: 84 mm (3.3 in) x 90 mm
• Maximum torque: 23 kg·m (226 N·m; 166 lb·ft) at 5000 rpm
• Maximum power: 205 hp (153 kW) at 7000 rpm
• Supercharger: Abarth Volumex system with pressure between 0.60 and 0.90 bars
• Lubrication: dry sump forced
• Traction: Rear wheel drive
• Distribution: Dual overhead cam shaft driven by belt
• Clutch: Single dry plate, diameter 230 mm (9.1 in) with hydraulic foot pedal
• Gearbox: ZF The type claw, five-speed plus reverse
• Differential: Self-Locking with two shafts fitted with CV joints
• Front suspension: independent double wishbone, coil springs, gas shock absorbers and stabilizer bar
• Rear Suspension: Identical to front but with dual shock absorbers and without bar
• Wheels: Speedline 16" alloy wheels, Pirelli P7 205/55 VR 16 tires
• Steering: Rack and pinion, lubricated and shock
• Cooling: Forced with pump and radiator front
• Ignition: Electronic inductive discharge Marelli AEI 200 A

Group B

• Body: In polyester resin reinforced with glass fiber and flame retardant
• Weight: 980 kg (2,161 lb) in running condition
• Dimensions: length 3,890 mm (153.1 in), width 1,850 mm (72.8 in), height 1,240 mm (48.8 in), wheelbase 2,240 mm (88.2 in)
• Engine: mid-engine mounted longitudinally, 4 cylinders in line
• Displacement: 1995 cm³, 2111 cm³ in latest version
• Bore and Stroke: 84 mm (3.3 in) x 90 mm, 85 mm (3.3 in) x 93 second evolution
• Maximum torque: 30.5 kg·m (299 N·m; 221 lb·ft) at 5000 rpm, second evolution 34 kg·m (333 N·m; 246 lb·ft) at 5500 rpm
• Maximum power: 255 to 280 hp (190 to 209 kW) at 8000 rpm, the second evolution from 310 to 325 hp (231 to 242 kW), 350 hp (261 kW) delivered the latest version with the help of a cooling system using the injector volume
• Supercharger: Abarth Volumex system with pressure between 0.60 and 0.90 bars, the second evolution up to 1 bar
• Lubrication: Forced dry sump oil tank 8 kg (18 lb)
• Traction: Rear wheel drive
• Distribution: Dual overhead cam shaft driven by belt, four valves per cylinder
• Clutch: Single dry plate with sealing metal-Valeo, 230 mm (9.1 in) diameter with hydraulic foot pedal
• Change: The type ZF modified claw, five-speed plus reverse
• Differential: ZF-Abarth type self-locking with two shafts fitted with CV joints
• Front suspension: independent wheels with two wishbone, coil springs, Bilstein gas shock absorbers and anti roll bar
• Rear Suspension: Identical to front but with dual shock absorbers and without bar
• Wheel: Gravel version: Speedline 15" on the front alloy wheels, Pirelli P7 tires Corsa 205/50 on the rear wheels 16" with 295/60/16 tires; Asphalt version: 18" wheels on the rear and 16" front but only on the latest versions
• Steering: Rack and pinion with scaler
• Brakes: Brembo-Abarth disc brakes on all four wheels with alloy calipers
• Cooling: Forced with pump and radiator front
• Ignition: Electronic inductive discharge Marelli AEI 200 A

Gallery

• 

  Attilio Bettega's former Lancia 037 Rally.

• 

  037 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2007.

• 

  037 at the 2006 Historic Motorsport Show.

• 

  037 in Safari Rally trim.

• 

  One of 207 road version 037 Stradales.

• 

  037 Stradale from the rear.

WRC Victories

No.	Event	Season	Driver	Co-driver
1	51éme Rallye Automobile de Monte Carlo	1983	Walter Röhrl	Christian Geistdörfer
2	27éme Tour de Corse	1983	Markku Alén	Ilkka Kivimäki
3	30th Acropolis Rally	1983	Walter Röhrl	Christian Geistdörfer
4	13th Sanyo Rally of New Zealand	1983	Walter Röhrl	Christian Geistdörfer
5	25º Rallye Sanremo	1983	Markku Alén	Ilkka Kivimäki
6	28éme Tour de Corse	1984	Markku Alén	Ilkka Kivimäki

Complete results in the World Rally Championship

Season	Team	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Pos	Points
1982	Martini Racing		MON	SWE	POR	KEN	FRA	GRE	NZL	BRA	FIN	ITA	CIV	GBR		9	25
		Markku Alén					9	NF			NF	NF		4
		Attilio Bettega					NF
		Adartico Vudafieri						NF					NF
		Fabrizio Tabaton										NF
1983	Martini Racing		MON	SWE	POR	KEN	FRA	GRE	NZL	ARG	FIN	ITA	CIV	GBR		1	118
		Walter Röhrl	1		3		2	1	1			2
		Markku Alén	2		4		1	2		5	3	1
		Jean-Claude Andruet	8				NF
		Attilio Bettega					4	5	3			3
		Adartico Vudafieri			5					NF
		Francisco Mayorga								NF
		Pentti Airikkala									5
1984	Martini Racing		MON	SWE	POR	KEN	FRA	GRE	NZL	ARG	FIN	ITA	CIV	GBR		2	108
		Markku Alén	8		2	4	1	3	2		2	NF
		Attilio Bettega	5		3		7	4				2
		Jean-Claude Andruet	NF
		Henri Toivonen			NF			NF			3
1985	Martini Racing		MON	SWE	POR	KEN	FRA	GRE	NZL	ARG	FIN	ITA	CIV	GBR		3	70
		Henri Toivonen	6								4	3
		Markku Alén				NF	NF				3	4
		Attilio Bettega				NF	NF
1986	Martini Lancia		MON	SWE	POR	KEN	FRA	GRE	NZL	ARG	FIN	CIV	ITA	GBR	USA	2	122
		Markku Alén				3
		Miki Biasion				NF
		Greg Criticos				9
		Johnny Hellier				10
		Vic Preston Jr.				NF

Notes:

Books

• Pelassa, Piergiorgio. (1992). 037 Ultimo Mito. 
• Cheetham, Craig. (2003). The World's Most Exotic Sports Cars: Super Cars. Motorbooks. ISBN 0-7603-1685-6. 

References

• "Lancia 037 web site". lanciarally037.com. Retrieved October 2010, 2010.  Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lancia 037.