<< Prev Page 2 of 2 Compared to the new generation of closed cockpit cars, the LC1s were down on power but more than made up for it because their very low weight of just 665 kg, which was a full 25% under the Group C minimum weight. The first race of the eight-round World Endurance Championship was the Monza 1000 km. With the main opposition coming from modified GTP cars and privately developed Group C cars, it was hardly surprising that the local favourites qualified first and second on the grid. Mechanical issues dogged the cars during the race, with a broken distributor ending the charge early for both LC1s.
At the following round, the Silverstone 6 Hours, a far more serious rival appeared; the Porsche 956, which was the first works Group C car. Michele Alboreto and Riccardo Patrese nevertheless managed to score the LC1's first win. Assisted by Teo Fabi, they won again at the Nürburgring. Despite these promising results, the LC1 still proved fragile, and as the new Porsche 956 came on song, Lancia lost their edge. In the final five rounds, the slippery Lancia took just one more victory. Patrese eventually ended the year second in the standings, a handful of points behind Porsche's Jacky Ickx.
With the LC1 rendered obsolete, Lancia moved on to the new V8-engined LC2 Group C racer. The three surviving LC1s - one was destroyed by Patrese during practice - were sold to the privateer Sivama team, who had Bellasi add a roof to make them Group C compliant. Having to run at Group C's 800 kg minimum weight, the LC1 had however lost its edge and due to disappointing results, Sivama ended the season early. The cars were returned to the factory where they were restored to their original configuration and livery before being sold to collectors.
Blisteringly quick but more often than not led down by poor reliability, the Lancia LC1 does deserve more credit than it usually gets. With three victories and pole positions, it did remarkably well for a single season special. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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Compared to the new generation of closed cockpit cars, the LC1s were down on power but more than made up for it because their very low weight of just 665 kg, which was a full 25% under the Group C minimum weight. The first race of the eight-round World Endurance Championship was the Monza 1000 km. With the main opposition coming from modified GTP cars and privately developed Group C cars, it was hardly surprising that the local favourites qualified first and second on the grid. Mechanical issues dogged the cars during the race, with a broken distributor ending the charge early for both LC1s.