The reality behind the entire world of racing and the global automotive industry, which builds motorsport and is one of the reference points for car manufacturers.
In the modern world of racing cars, there is a company that too often goes unnamed, but which is at the root of everything: Dallara Automobili. The Italian excellence founded in 1972 by Giampaolo Dallara. In its 50-year history it has contributed to the innovation of the entire international sports car scene.
The dawn of Dallara Automobili
Giampaolo Dallara, born in Varano de’ Melegari in 1936, graduated in aeronautical engineering to pursue his dream: “Making the fastest and safest racing cars in the world”. He began his career at Ferrari, right alongside the great Enzo Ferrari, in 1959.
After his stint at Ferrari, he moved first to Maserati and then to Lamborghini where he was responsible, among other things, for the design of the legendary Miura. In 1969 he moved to De Tomaso, a car brand founded in Modena in 1959 by the Italian-Argentine driver Alejandro de Tomaso. Here Dallara has his first contact with the Formula 2 category. De Tomaso was subsequently acquired by Ford, which pushed the Emilian engineer to take the plunge. Founding his company to try to make his dream come true.
So, in 1972, he founded Dallara Automobili inside his home garage.
The first project: the SP 1000
The Dallara SP 1000 was the very first car built. It was a sports prototype with a steel body and an innovative design. A three-seater that featured a driver in the center and the other two on the sides. In this way the weight was distributed and the regulation could be respected. This allowed the SP 1000 to dominate the national races in which it took part.
The first Formula 3: the Dallara 378
The Dallara 378 is the first Formula 3 car designed by engineer Dallara in 1978. This car thus marks the company’s entry into the category, becoming the most successful manufacturer in history.
Wind Tunnel: the first ever in Italy
Dallara, in 1984, was the first in Italy to build a wind tunnel with a moving walkway. In the ’80’s even Formula 1 teams didn’t own one. The second wind tunnel will follow in 1995. This will have the ability to test models at 40% scale, getting closer and closer to reality.
The pinnacle of this technology was reached in 2008, when Dallara created the third. An investment of 10 million euros to obtain detailed aerodynamics simulations and models at scales of up to 60%.
Indianapolis: From Debut to Domination
1997 marks the year in which Dallara officially debuted in the Indycar Championship. The IR7 immediately stands out thanks to its innovative aerodynamics, which allows the car to remain crushed on the parabolic curves of the circuit without losing speed. The first win came immediately in the second race of the championship, launching Dallara into Indianapolis history. The following year, the IR8, in fact, won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time and the Indycar championship as well.
From then on, Dallara continued to constantly develop and innovate IR series cars. This leads the Italian company to become increasingly the leader of this championship, providing consistently faster and safer cars. In 2012, Dallara officially became the sole supplier of the NTT Indycar Series.
To support this important milestone, a headquarters was opened at Speedway in the USA, a stone’s throw from the Indianapolis circuit. The opening of the American headquarters allows Dallara to design and test his cars for Indy directly on the circuit. Over the years, it has become a true multipurpose center of engineering and construction, where every enthusiast can visit and truly get up close to the world of competitions.
Dallara also leads the driving simulation
Giampaolo Dallara’s extraordinary commitment to technological innovation led the company to build its first professional driving simulator in 2011. The simulator was born from the need to study the dynamics of the vehicle before building it. Advanced mathematical models allow drivers to drive cars yet to be assembled. Furthermore, it is also very important for the engineers themselves, allowing them to test infinite scenarios very precisely before the car is produced.
In 2014 it was also installed in the American headquarters. Given the extreme precision in simulating the reality of single-seaters, many companies use Dallara simulators, visiting their offices to carry out all the specific tests.
From the track to the road
All the experience and skills Giampaolo Dallara has acquired over the years ensure he can realize his dream. In 2017, the first road-legal car, the Dallara Stradale, was born.
This car is a combination of aerodynamics, composite materials, performance and vehicle dynamics brought to the highest excellence. A car designed for the track but approved for the road, therefore equipped with a license plate to be able to drive it. Over the years, various versions have been created, such as the spider, the coupé with or without wings and the barchetta version, also with or without wings.
In 2021 Dallara decided to go further, and thus created Stradale Exp. An evolution that can be driven exclusively on the track, being able to experience all the emotions of a car designed to push itself to the limit.
Dedication to future generations
Given its more than 50 years of experience, the company decides it wants to leave something for those who come after. Thus, was born the Dallara Academy, a completely new building inaugurated in 2018. Giampaolo Dallara’s commitment to creating a bond with the community where he grew up has allowed this place to become a symbol for future generations of the Varano de’ Melegari area.
It contains not only the entire history of the company, but also educational workshops where lectures are held for university students. Dallara Academy thus becomes the center of excellence for the training of future engineers in the racing world.
Automotive engineering and innovation
We can safely say that Dallara Automotive is the benchmark for the most important car manufacturers in the sector. Brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Pagani, Maserati and even Alfa Romeo have made use of Dallara technologies throughout its 50-year history. The experience gained in fundamental topics such as aerodynamics, materials development, digital simulation and above all safety led these important houses to ask for Dallara’s support.
The company, in fact, makes its knowledge available to its customers, starting from design, through model simulation and finally by producing and testing the cars that will be built. But the company mantra is one word, innovation. For this reason, Dallara is not limited to designing what the client requires, but above all it is committed to the continuous innovation of the proposed projects. By putting together their entire “production chain”, made up of simulators, wind tunnels and dynamic test benches, they are able to constantly implement the limitations of the cars.
All this makes Dallara a leader in consulting and developing the Automotive sector, both in the sports and road sectors.
Giampaolo Dallara didn’t just create a company that produces sports cars. It has allowed this beautiful sport to enjoy cars that represent the pinnacle of engineering and technological innovation. For any motorsport enthusiast, Dallara represents the true essence of the racing world, which manages to convey the emotions and passion with which we all get excited. We must therefore say thank you to everyone who is part of this beautiful, all-Italian reality, demonstrating to us that even from a small town in the province of Parma you can reach the heights of the world’s automotive industry.
