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The FIA World Rally Championship is 30 years old this year, and the first place to
see this anniversary celebrated in Europe will be at Autosport International
being held as usual at the National Exhibition Centre
in Birmingham, UK, January 14-17th. The event is the largest motorsport show in Europe
and attracts all the brands active in every sector of the industry from all over
the world.
Club LanciaSport will be
capably holding the
fort for Italian rally cars at Autosport International
in less than a week's time. Spokesman, J-P Lihou
says: "With Lancia being the most
successful brand in terms of constructors titles and
consecutive wins, no WRC celebration would be complete
without a Lancia - or two. How can we pretend to be real
Lancisti and miss this one?"
The club stand will feature both a
380 bhp Delta integrale in Repsol colours and an Alitalia Hawk Stratos -
fresh from the Top Gear studios. Additionally, the official
Autosport display will include an Olio-FIAT 037 Rally and a Gp N
Totip-sponsored Delta integrale both on loan from Sweep Motorsport in
the West Midlands.
J-P Lihou continues: "It's easy to forget the
importance of the Lancia rally programme - especially at
traditional car club level - and most people outside of
Lancia don't know that the brand celebrated its centenary in
2006 and, sadly, that the works rally cars made only a token
appearance. Since its foundation in 2007, Club LanciaSport's
fundamental role has been to remind us of the amazing
rallying success of the cars - starting when Fiat rescued the company in 1969. Undoubtedly the landmark
designs of older Lancias would have been celebrated just as
keenly in the 1950s, when Lancia was independent and
motorsport centred on the fabulous D24. However, the most
enduring memories of Lancia revolve around the Stratos,
Delta, 037 Rally, Beta and Fulvia:
all unbeatable on the rally tracks, Lancia's motorsport DNA
is to be remembered and enjoyed!
"What is most concerning is that this
success is in danger of being forgotten in a sea of
indifference, and - perhaps - that the brand will disappear
altogether, so that's where Club LanciaSport come
in," continues J-P Lihou. "Our
membership principally own Fulvia, Delta and Stratos cars -
original or recreations. We drive them, take them on
continental tours, use them in competition and celebrate
their 'greatness' as BBC Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond so
eloquently put in those wonderful test drives of Delta integrale and Fulvia
shown last November.
"The club stand is open throughout the trade
and public days of the show. It's the fastest growing Lancia
club and many personalities from motorsport and fans of the marque will come and visit,"
adds J-P Lihou. Club LanciaSport are members of
the MSA Association of Central and Southern Motor Clubs. The
club's 2010 programme sees them kick off at Autosport International,
followed by Rally Sunseeker in February and Race Retro at Stoneleigh in
March. More information can be found at
www.lanciasport.com
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