LANCIA DELTA 2.0 8V INTEGRAL GR.A SAFARI

SPECIFICATIONS
YEAR: 1990
KILOMETERS: -
POWER: 300 HP
DISPLACEMENT: 2000 cm3
FUEL: PETROL/PETROL
GEARBOX: Manual
CYLINDERS: 4
EXTERNAL/INTERNAL: Official Martini livery

Year 1990
FCA Heritage Lancia Classiche Authenticity Certification
Ready to use

LANCIA DELTA DELTA HF INTEGRALE Gr.A "Safari" (ABARTH SE045)

After having repeated both world rally titles in 1988, the Delta HF Integrale "8v" was further improved the following year thanks to the introduction of the new engine with 4 valves per cylinder: now officially called Delta HF Integrale 16v (ABARTH SE045 ), made its debut at the end of the 1989 championship, at the Sanremo Rally, where thanks to the outgoing champion Miki Biasion he achieved a memorable victory after an extraordinary comeback over Alex Fiorio and Carlos Sainz. The car continued to reap successes in the two-year period 1990-91, winning two Constructors' Titles, a Drivers' World Championship and a total of 13 rallies.

Numerous mechanical mechanical improvements were made to the debuting 16v: the new engine coupled to the Garrett T3 turbocharger guaranteed 20 hp more than the previous version, the double-support R70 gearbox ensured greater reliability even in races such as Acropolis and Safari, where the transmission was more stressed than normal. Furthermore, the application of the new extensions approved by the FIA allowed the adoption of larger brakes and the fitting of larger wheels and tyres.

OUR CAR - TO51892N (#501361)

In anticipation of the third race of the season, the Marlboro Safari Rally, and to repeat the successes of the 1988 and 1989 editions with Biasion, ABARTH set up three new cars plus two forklifts/test cars that accompanied the Lancia squadron during the dreaded African trip. The three race cars, the TO51887N for Biasion/Siviero, the TO54910N for Kankkunen/Piironen and the TO54911N for Fiorio/Pirollo, were flanked by a mule car (TO51888N) and our TO51892N, the so-called chase car or the car set up as officina-ricambi", which, led by Cerrato and with the mechanic Giacomo Luchi on board, followed the caravan along the entire route. Halfway through the race, following Fiorio's exit, the latter took over from Cerrato at the wheel of the car. This is what the books and characters of the racing team remember, this is the official version.

However, given the characteristics of the car: Kankkunen race seat, race bonnet bearing the chassis number and licence plate of the initial KKK race car as well as copious photographic documentation of the time, it is likely to think that our car was the subject of the discussed (and never admitted ) "car change" in the race, which effectively allowed KKK to resume the competition after the numerous problems encountered along the way.

The car was the protagonist of the famous short film LANCIA WORKS MAGIC in which the entire construction process was detailed, starting from the bare bodywork and ending with the final testing carried out at Mandria by Pinto, assisted by Eng. Roberti.

For a full version of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQOFGO1NtEM

In order to avoid the mechanical problems that the Safari causes, all the cars were fitted with the 8v engine of the previous version which guaranteed greater mechanical reliability even at the expense of pure power. Despite the 8v engine with its "flat bonnet", the livery of the 16v version, already introduced at its seasonal debut in the Monte-Carlo Rally, was maintained.

In 1994 the car was donated by FIAT for the TELETHON charity marathon from which it was then sold to a Piedmontese collector who kept it until 2004. Since then the car has remained unused in a prestigious Lancia collection.

The car is in an exceptional state of conservation, one of a kind, never restored following its only use at the 1990 Safari: time has stopped for it as if under a glass bell jar. Every aspect of the original setup is preserved, including the triple HALDA RALLY to monitor race times, the Kenyan insurance coupon issued by Vic Preston which documents the presence and use of the car during the entire test and race period. Engine and gearbox numbers are those of original equipment, as documented by Sergio Martinetto, Abarth's chief engineer at the time.

Given the exceptional state of conservation, the car obtained the Certification of Authenticity from FCA Heritage - Lancia Classiche, with the maximum originality score from the examining commission.

ASI TARGA ORO registration, as well as eligible for all the most prestigious global events in the sector including Rally Legend, Eifel Rallye Festival and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.