Nr. 30 Year 2013 MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY "Periodico regolarmente registrato presso il Tribunale di Parma (n.16, 03/09/2010)" FORMULA E WE’RE JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY FROM THE DEBUT OF THE SINGLE–SEATER THAT WILL BE THE CENTREPIECE OF FIA’S NEW, ELECTRICALLY POWERED RACE SERIES TO BE INAUGURATED NEXT YEAR. ENGINEER MONTANARI INTRODUCES US TO RACING’S "GREEN” FUTURE SUPER FORMULA 2014 DURING THE SUCCESSFUL SHAKEDOWN IN FUJI, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SINGLE-SEATER DESIGNED BY DALLARA FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS JAPANESE CHAMPIONSHIP TOOK EVERYONE BY SURPRISE

2200 YEARS OF THE VIA EMILIA SINCE 187 BC “STATE HIGHWAY N. 9” HAS BEEN OUR VERY OWN “ROUTE 66”. WE LOOK AT HOW THE ITALIAN MOTOR VALLEY, HOME TO SO MANY IMPORTANT NAMES IN THE MOTORSPORTS SECTOR, FROM DALLARA TO , TO DUCATI, GREW UP ALONG THIS ANCIENT ROMAN ROAD A PERFECT DEBUT FO

Super Formula HE SUPER FORMULA 2

A SUCCESSFUL SHAKEDOWN FOR THE SF14, THE SINGLE-SEATER PRODUCED BY DALLARA FOR NEXT YEAR’S EDITION OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN JAPAN. THE TEST DRIVERS COMPLETED SOME LENGTHY SESSIONS AND, IN ADDITION TO ITS RELIABILITY, THE CAR ALSO PROVED TO BE SURPRISINGLY COMPETITIVE RIGHT FROM THE OUTSET. ENGINEER BIASATTI, THE PROJECT MANAGER FROM VARANO, DESCRIBES THE TWO DAYS IN DETAIL

2 OR T 2014 AT FUJI

Watch the video

3 Super Formula

he new Dallara car for the 2014 the result was not entirely unexpected; in more exciting. edition of the Japanese Super fact on the eve of the tests the The new engines are the Honda HR12E TFormula championship has finally technicians estimated an improvement of and the Toyota RV8K 3.4 V8, which made it onto the track. Two days of around 3 seconds with respect to this provide 550 horsepower, rising to 600 testing in Fuji on 10th and 11th July year's model. And Dallara fulfilled its thanks to the overboost. And in order to brought a smile to the faces of the men promise. guarantee even more excitement, Super from Varano de’ Melegari, the drivers, Back in March the initial blueprints Formula also features the OTS (Overtake and the technicians from Honda and hinted at a sleek, modern design that had System), which can be activated for up to Toyota, the two Japanese giants who are certain similarities to the GP2, but was 20 seconds at a time and up to 5 times supplying the 2 litre, turbo-compressed decidedly different, and this impression per race. This device enables the driver to engines for the championship. was confirmed during the shakedown. increase the engine revolutions from Over two very full days of testing, Kazuki The Dallara SF14 has a high nose, 10,300 to 10,700, and while it is enabled Nakajima (in the Toyota version) and although without an air scoop, naturally, a lamp positioned on top of the roll bar Takuya Izawa (Honda) covered a huge since it uses a turbo-powered engine, the starts flashing: the light is red for the race number of kilometres in the two single- engine hood is sharply tilted with a leader and white for the rest of the field. seaters, which have been so lovingly distinctive “fin” effect. The highly tapered The championship will use Bridgestone developed by Engineer Walter Biasatti. profile of the belly adds to the dynamic tyres exclusively. Visitors to the Dallara Facebook page can effect, with the suspension wishbones Super Formula represents the latest in a admire images of the shake-down, mounted so that the release is straight long line of top level challenges for including on-board video-clips recorded up. Dallara Automobili, which has been during the test, during which everyone When Dallara was commissioned to selected to supply the cars for what is was pleasantly surprised by the results, produce the Super Formula its mandate effectively the most prestigious motor since, as Engineer Biasatti explains in his was to inject new life into the Japanese racing competition in the Far East, and interview in this issue, the SF14 championship organised by Japan Race which will be decided over of seven races immediately managed to lower the track Promotion, which started life in 1996 as this year. The next stops on the road map record at Fuji. Although no one thought Formula Nippon before adopting the leading up to the 2014 will be the test the car would perform so well so soon, current name in 2013, and to make it sessions in Motegi, Sugo and Suzuka.

4 5 Super Formula The project manager, Biasatti: «We have already improved on our current pole position during the shakedown»

6 Engineer Biasatti, what was the systems, then, on day two, the model. Their comments were very «The results on the track were outcome of the new teams tested a range of different encouraging; they responded even better than we expected; SuperFormula shakedown? What set-ups with the aim of favourably to its reduced weight normally during the shakedown feed-back have you had from optimising performance. We were with respect to the SF14, and the you try to get as many kilometres the test drivers? all highly satisfied by the power of the carbon brakes, and in as possible in order monitor «The shakedown went really well outcome of the test, no-one they expressed their satisfaction vehicle reliability and check that and provided practically trouble- expected the cars to be so quick with the car’s balance and the electronic and cooling systems free performance throughout the right from the start, or to be able driveability». work properly, but you're not test sessions. The car responded to fit so many tests in, and cover really looking at performance. well, and after two days of so many kilometres. The drivers - Did the car perform as you The fact that we managed to testing it proved to be faster than Nakajima for Toyota and Izawa expected on the track? How achieve better times than the the current one. On the first day for Honda, (who had both would you evaluate the current pole and cover so many we concentrated mainly on already tried the car out on the effectiveness of the tests carried kilometres without any problems calibrating the electronic engine simulator) – were extremely out in the Simulator over the was very gratifying. It’s important and gearbox management enthusiastic about the new past months? to the stress the excellent support we had from Honda and Toyota, who supplied us with some top quality engines. Things went just as well during the second test session in Motegi at the beginning of August. On the second day we also carried out trials in wet conditions, and Andre Lotterer, who took the Toyota out, was also very positive. The contributions of the simulator and the wind tunnel were fundamentally important, and this was borne out by the results on the track. The drivers stressed how closely the real car mirrored the behaviour of the “virtual” version on the Sim, and they were both pleasantly surprised. We also checked the data from the wind tunnel and the Honda and Toyota technicians complimented us on how accurate they were».

What is there still to be done before the car debuts in 2014? «We still have three two-day test sessions: the second week of September in Suzuka, the first week of October in Sugo, and finally, the first week of November in Suzuka»

Walter Biasatti Project Manager

7 Formula E FORMULA E, DEBUT AT FRANKFURT

8 THE SINGLE-SEATERTHAT DALLARA HAS PRODUCED FOR SPARK RACING TECHNOLOGY WILL MEETTHE PRESS FOR THE FIRSTTIME IN A FEW DAYS TIME IN GERMANY. ENGINEER MONTANARI PROVIDES USWITH ALL THE DETAILS OF THIS TRULY ELECTRIFYING CHALLENGE, WHICH, AS ANDREA PONTREMOLI UNDERLINES, REPRESENTS A CONTINUATION OF DALLARA'S TRADITIONAL VALUES OF INNOVATION ANDEXCELLENCE IN MOTORSPORTS PROJECT

9 Formula E’s time has come. In a few The competition will involve 18 credit he gave us. We will use our days, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, teams, three of whom have already experience and know-how to the car that will be lighting up 10 confirmed their participation: produce the best possible chassis, city centres all over the world from Drayson Racing from the UK, China guaranteeing high levels of 2014 - including Rome - will be Racing, and the Andretti Autosports performance, reliability, ease of use Formula E presented officially to the press, but team, a legend of the American and safety. Safety is a particularly the consortium behind this project racing scene. Formula E is a FIA important aspect and we are has already been at work for some sanctioned competition and will be working very hard together with FIA time behind the scenes. organised by Formula E Holding, and Spark to establish a new set of Fans have already noticed the which is run by Alejandro Agag (Ceo) safety standards for this innovative futuristic, exciting design, which is and Frederic Vasseur (president), but new championship». reminiscent of the Izod IndyCar. It above all it’s a preview of the next This commitment is reaffirmed by was developed by Dallara decade of motor racing, when, Frederic Vasseur: «I can’t speak Automobili for Spark Racing instead of being simple alternatives, highly enough of all our partners (in Technology, and will see an initial fuel consumption and zero the Formula E project, editor’s note). production run of 42 units. In this emissions are set to become I have worked together with them issue Engineer Montanari brings us fundamentally important elements throughout my career and we have up to date on the state of the in the racing world, as well as an shared in their biggest successes in project and the collaboration with additional stimulus for innovation. traditional motorsports. The the prestigious partners involved in «Our single-seaters compete consortium is committed to adding the operation. successfully in many of the most this innovative project to that long In fact, the consortium includes important championships all over list of successes. Everything is some of the biggest names in the world - declared Andrea progressing well, we are in line with European and world motorsports, Pontremoli, MD of Dallara the schedules and specifications that such as McLaren, who are supplying Automobili – so we couldn’t pass up we were provided with. After the the power unit, transmission and the opportunity to be involved in launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show, electronics; Williams who are the exciting challenge of Formula E, the car’s first public appearance is providing the batteries; and Renault for this reason we are extremely planned for October», and its debut who will be responsible for grateful to our long-standing on the track, or rather… in town, is integrating the systems. partner, Frederic Vasseur, for the already scheduled for 2014.

10 AN INTERVIEW WITH ANTONIO MONTANARI, THE DALLARA AUTOMOBILI ENGINEER BEHIND THE FORMULA E PROJECT «We are exploring the future» Engineer Montanari, what are the innovative How has the presence of an electrical power to make significant progress and the resulting aspects of this project from Dallara's point of unit affected the way you work? technology will also benefit the production view? The first thing that we noticed was the «In itself, the electrical power unit does not vehicle industry». rear axle, which is reminiscent of the Izod have a significant effect on the design phase, IndyCar. the technology is already highly advanced. How is the collaboration with your numerous «The fact that this is a fully electrical car means it These power units are very small and light with prestigious partners, principally McLaren, is impossible to compare with any of our past respect to the amount of power they generate. coming along? And how do you expect it to projects. The style is undoubtedly similar to the But batteries are another matter. A battery’s unfold in the future? Izod Indycar since the form owes a great deal to energy density is so much lower than fossil fuels «Working with big names such as McLaren, our research into reducing aerodynamic that it means we are still obliged to use large Williams and Renault is a very interesting, and resistance as well as the implementation of numbers of bulky, heavy power cells. This highly stimulating experience. The collaboration, safety devices that are already in use in the creates a whole range of design issues, which is being coordinated by Spark Racing American vehicles. The result is a completely new especially the problem of weight distribution. Technology, has been open and profitable right car from a European point of view, and one that In fact, in order to achieve the same from the start, thanks to the common aim of boasts zero emissions, which is probably the most performance and autonomy as an internal developing the best possible product and the important innovation. From a design standpoint, combustion engine, we have to install an willingness of all parties to share their know the true innovation is the installation of the electric motor and battery pack that weigh how. The main onus is, of course, on safety, electrical power unit and in particular the more than twice as much. That said, it should given the high voltages that are involved in the battery pack: as we gradually move ahead on the also be noted that all this would have been project and the chemistry of the batteries, we project together with our partners we are coming completely impossible a few short years ago, are all working together to develop a solution to realise that we are moving into uncharted and that, if the competition proves successful, that satisfies everyone and conforms to the very territory, above all from a safety point of view». the associated research programs will continue highest standards».

11 La storia

PASSION AND M 2200 YEARS O 12 EVER SINCE IT WAS BUILT BY THE ROMAN CONSUL MARCUS AEMILIUS LEPIDUS IN 187 BC, THE SS9 (SUPERSTRADA 9) HAS PLAYED A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ITALIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY, BUT EVEN MORE SO OF THE REGION IT BISECTS FROM EAST TO WEST. THIS ROAD, WHICH IS SYNONYMOUS WITH DREAMS AND ENTERTAINMENT, STRETCHES FROM RIMINI TO THE GATES OF MILAN, BUT ALSO REPRESENTS A VITAL TRANSPORTATION LINK AS WELL AS BEING THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE SO- CALLED ITALIAN MOTORVALLEY. DALLARA, LAMBORGHINI, DUCATI, FERRARI AND NUMEROUS OTHERS HAVE ALL GROWN UP ALONG THE ROAD THAT GUCCINI CELEBRATED IN SONG, OR IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. IT’S IMPORTANT NOT TO LOSE SIGHT OF ALL THE MEMORIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS HISTORIC ROAD, BUT IT’S ESSENTIAL TO AVOID THE NOSTALGIA FOR THE “GOOD OLD DAYS”, AS WE DRAW ON THE LOCAL RESOURCES AND CULTURE AND STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF OUR BRITISH RIVALS IN OXFORDSHIRE IN THE SEARCH FOR NEW MARKETS AND EVER BROADENING INDUSTRIAL HORIZONS

MOTORS OF THE VIA EMILIA 13 Vittorio Ferorelli, journalist and author who spent much of 2011 and 2012 travelling back and forth between Rimini and Piacenza in the company of the photographer Matteo Sauli as they prepared “Al bordo della strada. Diario di viaggio sulla Statale 9 - Via Emilia” published by Bononia University Press (English translation “At the side of the road – Travel book along Highway 9 – via Emila" – published by Walking the line, Bologna, Italy, July 2012). He has worked at the Istituto per i beni culturali della Regione Emilia-Romagna (Emilia-Romagna Regional Institute for cultural heritage) since 1997. He is editor in chief of the quarterly magazine “IBC. Informazioni, commenti, inchieste sui beni culturali” (“Information, comment and surveys on cultural heritage”), and is also responsible for the online version.

Valeria Cicala, is employed in the information and communication office of the Emilia-Romagna Regional Institute for La storia cultural heritage, and writes on history and the promotion of cultural heritage. Since 187 BC, our very own Route 66

How important is the bond between Emilia politics and cultural anthropology, in other and the other Italic populations that moved Romagna, its inhabitants, businesses and words someone like that great modern into this area as a result of Roman institutions and this ancient transport link? champion of the Emilia region: Edmondo colonisation. In fact, many of the settlements Vittorio Ferorelli The bond with the Via Emilia Berselli. I’ll limit myself to a couple of along this road, which was built to defend the is far more than skin deep in this region. It's observations that are the fruit of my own local territory and towns from the Celtic no exaggeration to say that, for an Emilian, personal cultural background. I have populations, date back to the Res publica and it's entirely normal to live In Parma, work in absolutely no doubt that the Roman culture the final phase of the war against Hannibal. As Bologna and go to the discotheque in Rimini. which grew up along this road, created in 187 well as being hardened soldiers, these settlers Nowadays, however, this link is becoming BC by the consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and were also farmers, and they cultivated the increasingly tenuous due to the convenience from whom it gets its name, knew how to fields and moulded the landscape through the of motorways and bypasses, and the tendency consolidate the previous experiences of the process of centuriation. The land, and towards fragmentation: each city and town is part of Italy that the road crosses, and which it resulting commerce, produced wealth that can responsible (or not) for maintaining its own immediately came to identify. Have you ever still be seen in the monumental character of little stretch so that there is a real risk of the thought about the fact that this is the only many of the area’s towns and cities. The local Via Emilia ceasing to exist as a single, integral region named after the road that crosses it? culture has always travelled along this road entity. It’s time to reaffirm its identity as a Before the road was built, the local foothills that, thanks to its geographic position, is historic road, an identity that is decidedly had already played host to important crucial for the spread and absorption of a more authentic than those innumerable civilisations such as the Etruscans, and the wide range of historical experiences and “strade dei vini e dei sapori” (“wine and food Umbrian peoples who migrated into the area phenomena. itineraries”), which are almost always artificial via the Apennine ridge that forms a link and imposed from on high. between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic worlds. The Americans have Route 66 and have built And then there were the Gauls, the outsiders, a business out of the “brand”. What do you Valeria Cicala To answer a question like that who first appeared as invaders and aggressors, think is the best way to exploit the value of you’d need to be an expert in economics, but eventually intermarried with the Etruscans the history, identity and unique nature of the 14 via Emilia and the territory it runs through, love the SS9”) (HYPERLINK "http://www.ss9- music. And all this in a context of enthusiasm from both a cultural and socio-economic viaemilia.com"www.ss9-viaemilia.com). for work, whether it be artistic creativity or point of view? simple daily labour, a spirit of solidarity that Valeria Cicala The stone paving of the always wears a smile on its face, a warm Vittorio Ferorelli In the United States, even consular arterial road, which, in addition to welcome and a sharp sense of irony that finds though they are a lot less ancient than ours, the via Emilia, is also identified as state its expression in the local dialects. It’s the historic roads are almost always well highway number 9, has absorbed the passing impossible to escape the importance of this maintained, and this is partly due to the fact of countless wagon wheels and horses’ road to the people that live here, and we that local communities and citizen's hooves, and rerouted as the Cardo maximus must be willing to lend a hand to those that it associations can adopt a stretch, taking or Decumanus maximus (principle north- sets down in our midst, not always on a responsibility for its up-keep. In exchange they south and east-west oriented main beautiful motorbike or in a big, powerful car, receive a certificate of merit and a highly thoroughfares in Roman town planning) of but those who arrive here with little more visible metal sign bearing their name along many an ancient city centre. It has been than a dream via much harder roads that are the side of the road: this is a simple and defaced with concrete and filth, and more similar to the paths that were here once effective way of getting everyone involved in superseded by the motorway, but it remains too, before the via Emilia. The local culture safeguarding their common heritage. This the region’s most genuine road and forms an essential part of the region’s kind of initiative is not entirely absent in this profoundly rooted in its history and traditions. economic potential. While exports may part of the world either. Alessandro Giust, an It’s the road to the seaside: the scene of so increase takings and re-launch local enthusiast from San Giuliano Milanese, has many unforgettable post-war holidays and businesses, it's our know-how and our ability transformed his passion for Highway N. 9 into where you can dance ballroom, disco and to preserve our skills and their roots that will a website for fellow devotees: contributors everything in between at any time of the year. permit us to continue to travel along our road can submit their own travel experiences as The sea, the fog, the Apennines and the hills in the future, as well as embarking on new well as purchasing t-shirts, sweat shirts and that overlook it have inspired some fine roads as they open further afield, thanks to a caps bearing the legend “Io amo la SS9” (“I writing, fantastic images, and every kind of heritage that is even older than its 2200 years. 15 The business world: Rodrigo Filippani, manager of the Lamborghini museum Livio Lodi, curator of the Ducati museum Lavoro&Disabilità Andrea Pontremoli, MD of Dallara The pulsating artery of the Italian motorvalley

Is there a memory, an activity, an event or a car that symbolises a special link between your company and the Via Emilia? R.F. For Lamborghini the Via Emila, the old "motorway" to the north of our peninsular, represents a sort umbilical cord. To use an analogy, albeit two thousand years out of date, before it had even been completed, used to use the nearby Autostrada del Sole, to ensnare his future customers by demonstrating the virtues of his automobiles, which were practically unknown at the time.

L.L. Not particularly. That said, there can be no doubt that the Ducati brothers chose the position of the current factory for its vicinity to the Via Emilia, since, in 1935, it , Ferruccio Lamborghini e Gian Paolo Dallara represented the fastest way of getting raw materials to the factory, and of shipping the finished product out. What’s certain is that, built the racing circuit together with the then is, and always will be, the stimulus that during the early 50s, numerous companies mayor, Giorgio Bonzani. There are numerous spurs talented companies on and involved in the automobile and motorcycle episodes that tie the Dallara name, as well as encourages them to improve. It’s part of industries used it to test the prototypes for our history, to this important road. human nature and a fundamental aspect of their production and competition vehicles. . the Italian national character. Would the “anniversary” of the Via Emilia be A.P. The Via Emilia, which was built by a good moment to strengthen the network A.P. I’ve often be quoted as saying that a Aemilius Lepidus to connect Piacenza to between the companies? And are there company cannot be competitive if the area Rimini, is more than just a road, it’s a occasions when collaboration might be more where it is located is not competitive. Many symbol that represents the industriousness beneficial than competition? of the most important players in world of our region, but also our openness and R.F. The anniversary of this historic road motorsports are located within a 150 radius connection to the wider world. There’s even should prompt us all to reflect on the of Bologna: Dallara, Lamborghini, Ducati, a local company by the name of Lepida that fundamental importance of efficient , Ferrari, Pagani, Toro Rosso etc.., operates the broad band network used to infrastructure in local or even national and that cannot be by chance. The fact that connect the various branches and offices of prosperity, and the need for concrete and all these companies are located here the Emilia-Romagna regional government. realistic projects in this regard. In this demonstrates that this is a highly From Dallara’s point of view, Eng. Gian context, the companies that operate in the competitive region, with a consolidated Paolo’s thoughts immediately turned to his local region, and compete together with the skills base, and that there the spirit of first production car – the splendid Miura - universities to create the right conditions for collaboration does exist, not just between which he tested on the Via Emilia while still development, could attempt to “pool their the big companies mentioned above, but working for Lamborghini. The Dallara resources” by lobbying their political also between those small firms that company was subsequently founded just a representatives for a wide ranging and gravitate around the world of motorsports few kilometres from the Via Emilia, in strategic development plan for the necessary and that represent the solid base of know- Varano de’ Melegari, where Eng. Gian Paolo infrastructure. However, healthy competition how and productivity.

16 Oxfordshire, which plays host to important firms like Williams, McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes F1, Caterham etc… These two regions will have to compete with each other for emerging markets such as India, China and Brazil, to say nothing of the United States. The Via Emilia is still vitally important to Motor Valley because it connects the whole network that orbits around the motorsports industry, and forms the nerve structure of the know-how that resides in these areas.

The motor racing firms of Oxfordshire have a culture of cooperation and the government views motorsports as an industry that benefits the entire country. What can we learn from the British? R.F. A sense of patriotism and pride in one’s origins and a In 189 BC, the Romans subdued the Gauls of forefront of every new development and at common, although not necessarily shared, the Po river Plain and, within two years, had the cutting edge in every field. In a nutshell: history. A rediscovered sense of a “distant” completed this strategic road. In a globalised to get there first.campo. La velocità sintetizza and unquestionable national superiority, world, who will the Emilia Motor Valley have tutto ciò. although in our case within the context of “do battle” with in order to remain an eternal, sun-drenched, even competitive? And how important is L.L. I don’t think that the Motor Valley has bacchanalian Mediterranean civilization. infrastructure for the economic development much to fear from its “rivals” as far as Italian of this area? motoring culture in its purest form is A.P. What we need to learn is that R.F. The Motor Valley’s first battle should be concerned. Such phenomena are extremely motorsports is not only an industry, but against its own ghosts, or rather against a rare, anywhere in the world. As far as the also a research laboratory, and must be debilitating tendency to rest on its own economic growth of the region is concerned, recognised, incentivised and financed by laurels and wallow in past glories, at the cost it’s plain to see that, from a cultural and the State as such. Our company carries out of neglecting the future. It’s important to touristic point of view, the interest in this continual research not only in the remember that every finishing line simply little corner of Italy continues to grow. motorsports sector but also in other areas represents the next starting grid, a point that benefit from the development of these where nothing is taken for granted and A.P. Motor Valley’s main competition comes new technologies. everything is up for discussion, so that not from an individual company but from companies are always striving to be at the another geographical area, the county of Alessandro Santini

17 DA

18 ALLARA SHOW

19 INDYCAR

20 Power got his first win of the season (above). Hinchcliffe in action(right). Castroneves (in the main picture with Bourdais and Dixon) is now leading the championship with 479 points ahead of Dixon (440), Hunter-Reay (417), Andretti (409), Pagenaud (380)

21 GP2

Ericcson (above), Bird (left), Calado and Lancaster (right). Coletti is the leader of the championship with 135 points, followed by Nasr (130), Leimer (128), Bird (121) and Calado (111)

22 23 Kvyat celebrates his maiden win, while come-back boy Sims is praised by Carlin (right). Championships standings: regalia (115 points), Daly (101), Ellinas (95) GP3

24 25 RENAULT 3.5 RENAULT

26 In the pictures: the winners Sorensen and Spielberg, the championship leader Magnussen in action, and the podium of the austrian event. Magnussen (163 points) is followed in the standings by Vandoorne (136), Stevans (101), Melker (100), Da Costa (95)

27 The second instalment of our journey around the complex world of motor sports with Dallara’s Engineer Andrea Toso. Is there such a thing as a motorsports culture? And if so, how can it be reconciled with the requirements of industry and marketing? What are the historical roots of motor racing? And what led to the development of the sport in The Heart of Racing the leading nations? We may find the answers to these questions in the classics, but it would be wrong to neglect the "mystical” aspect of the sport RISK AND THRILLS: THE ROLE OF ETHICS ON THE TRACK Andrea, let’s talk history shall we? In your assume the role of a marketing tool: John transportation, banks. It’s feasible that the opinion where do the roots of sporting Player Special began its sponsorship of Lotus next phase will be distinguished by the competition lie? in 1972. It’s fair to say that the sport’s promotion of educational approaches to «The Culture of Motorsport is the concept of a transformation into an entertainment business engineering, using the excitement of Competition where the glory derives from risk was complete towards the latter half of the competition as a means of encouraging young inherent in the event itself, and where the first decade of the third millennium». people to study challenging but rewarding actual prize is not the most important engineering disciplines.» element. The ancients described this culture, In your opinion is it possible to divide the for example Xenophon’s short work Hiero, history of motorsports into specific periods, How would you define the culture of which is frequently cited by Machiavelli, such as, say, a pioneer period, a romantic motorsport? What are the core values of this includes the following passage: «..But if you period, a classical period and even a post- world? are afraid, O mighty prince, that through the modern era? «A value is something that makes us feel good, multitude of prizes offered under many heads, «Let’s try! First there was the Romantic period healthy, well-adjusted: the “valeo” of the expenses also must be much increased, when the drivers, who were often engineers Latins. Value is a commodity that is recognised consider that no articles of commerce can be and technicians (one thinks of Chevrolet in the without hesitation, offers convenience not just got more cheaply than those which people United States, or Mark Donohue; a more recent in terms of its price, but comprises emotional purchase in exchange for prizes. Note in the emulator of the “Romantics” would be John attachment and credibility. For Europeans public contests (choral, equestrian, or Miles, the Lotus test driver and Formula 1 Value evokes rarity and beauty. For Americans gymnastic) how small the prizes are and yet driver), would also test their own cars. Their it’s the “expected price” and evokes what vast expenditure of wealth and toil..». objective was to test the serviceability and manufacturing quality, taste, form, solidity, reliability of the first automobiles, at the limit convenience and qualities that are essential for What were the origins of the first modern of their capabilities, and over unknown consumers, such as ease of purchase, available races? terrain: let’s not forget that until the 1930s, choice, home delivery, service, assistance. To «Motorsport was born with the advent of the when it was asphalted for the first time, the compromise on value (expected price) is to be first motor vehicles. The Indianapolis circuit Indianapolis Speedway racetrack was paved at a variance with the idea of Value (taste, organised the first motor racing competition in with bricks, hence the term Brickyard. The civilisation, culture). Culture is that which an 1911, back in the time of Henry Ford and Second Phase is associated with advertising organisation (a family, an association, a team, Alfred Sloan (founder of General Motors): the and promotion - or réclame, as it used to be a company, a nation) accumulates collectively State of Indiana saw the birth of numerous known - initially of typically male-oriented over time as it learns to meet the challenges small, local manufacturers (such as Allison), products, such as tobacco (Marlboro, JPS), posed by the environment without, while and similarly in Europe (Mercedes, petrol (Gulf, Shell), accessories and clothing, successfully integrating the elements within. Fiat…) Technological progress was driven by before gradually expanding to cover a whole Culture arises from the context, and results in the competition for market share between range of consumer goods, especially foodstuffs an optimised form of conduct governed by manufacturers. This is a recurrent theme, and and clothing. We are currently witnessing the rules that are wise, just, safe and, above all, it is typical of new sectors during their rapid Third Phase, which could be classified as a the fruit of experience; thus, “values” are what expansion phase. Motorsport as we understand post-modern period and is typified by the unites the components of an organisation, it today probably came into being when it promotion of services, such as supports the functional parts of the system stopped being simply a sport and began to telecommunications, software, insurance, and penalises harmful behaviour. In a

28 Ayrton Senna

29 Driver (or Pilota in Italian) The English term driver derives via the Old English verb drifan "to force, hunt, pursue; push against” from a proto-Germanic root word dribanan signifying “to push from behind”. The Italian word for driver, Pilota, is a seafaring term of Germanic or possibly Greek origin, meaning one who steers a La visita ship and refers to an expert, specialised sailor whose extensive knowledge of the nutshell: the reason for staying together, the coasts, currents and hazards serves to a compromise between these three bonds that keep people united, and the ethical guide shipping safely and rapidly both dimensions». code. In light of the above, the Culture of inshore and in open water. Motorsport is a highly exciting entertainment Many would agree that sport has a “mystical” Competition (or competizione in Italian) business whose fundamental ethical code is This word has its origin in the “electoral” side too – a good example is Forster Wallace’s rooted in respect for one’s opponent under Dizionario world of the ancient Romans, definition of “Federer as a religious conditions where the element of risk is plain “cum+petere”, a common desire for the experience”. Do you think this also applies to for all to see. Motorsport is nothing without same thing (the same office, judiciary, motor racing? Was Ayron Senna a “mystical” consul etc.) that may, however, be the thrills and mutual respect of the assigned to a single individual only. Hence figure in the racing world? participants. the term “competence” i.e. the theoretical «At Olympia, in the VII century before the birth (training, education) and practical of Christ, the games were the expression of the Let’s move on to the “geopolitics” of racing: (experience) preparation necessary to religious cult that united the various city states what are the great nations behind the compete. Therefore “Competition” may be of the time, or the different nations as we defined as competent contestants vying to development of motoring and what has each obtain a prize for which there can only be would say today. Motor racing, together with contributed to that process? one winner. the other sporting events that have truly «The development of motor racing in any international appeal (for example the Formula given nation depends on the specific culture of Track (or Pista in Italian) 1 World Championship or the various Football ”Track”, originally signifying “footprint, that country. In Great Britain the circuits were mark left by anything”, comes from the Championships), represent the new religion, developed from airfields: Snetterton, Old French trac meaning “trail of horse, which, to use its original sense, “binds” people Silverstone are both ex-World War II trace” and possibly from an older from different continents and of diverse races, aerodromes – whereas the post-war conversion Germanic source (comparable meanings beliefs and political ideals together. And this is of specialised workshops contributed greatly to are Middle Low German treck, Dutch trek why our “sporting heroes” come to be viewed "drawing, pulling"). the emergence of talented engineers The Italian word pista also has strong as “mystical" and “charismatic” figures in the accustomed to designing and producing light, equestrian connotations (just for a collective imagination, especially when, like fast vehicles. In the USA many of the circuits change!) and derives from the Latin term Federer and Senna, they are capable of are converted horse racing tracks, especially on pistus signifying the “pestata”, i.e. beaten, maintaining an exemplary public image course used for races in the Hippodrome, the eastern seaboard; further west, the area we for example the Circus Maximus in ancient throughout their careers. The tragedies of the know as the Great Plains gave birth to the Rome. Sport, the deaths of Senna, Villeneuve and so “dragster strips”; the Speedways, which were many others, serve to highlight its “religious” originally used for testing the reliability of dimension, because the public emotion is vehicles destined for mass production, grew up and get any satisfaction from it, one has to intense, immediate and shared». in the Mid West, America’s motoring heartland assume a “mental habitude” that rapidly that includes the cities of Indianapolis and becomes second nature and even conditions Finally, are there any books that you would Detroit. In Italy and France the circuits one’s interpersonal relationships to a recommend to anyone who would like to developed in and around big towns such as degree; and this is why it’s never easy to move find about more about this subject? Modena, Reims and Dijon, or parks (Monza) into Motorsports from other industrial sectors. «I strongly recommend “The unfair advantage”, and spa towns (Spa). In Germany, circuits such Regardless of the activity involved, the the story of Team Penske, by Mark Donuhue, as Avus and the Nurburgring were designed to unforgiving triangle of “time”, “costs”, engineer, victor at Indianapolis, Nascar and GT underline the strength and prestige of the “performance” will always prevent us from driver, and much more. This book describes the regime. Racing reflects culture and culture is meeting all our goals simultaneously: reduced culture of the rigorous and ceaseless search for inextricably linked to history and geography: times result in increased costs or reduced a competitive, quantifiable, concrete and from the wide open spaces of Arizona to the performance (or the quality of the product); practical sporting advantage; it recounts the dusty roads of the Targa Florio». reducing costs will increase times or reduce failures and the lessons learned in an quality; and if we want to improve the environment governed by that implacable Business logic vs. sport for sport’s sake: do performance we will also have to increase judge that we call the stopwatch. You can’t you believe that it's possible to define a costs, and so on. Within this context, the help but draw parallels and analogies with "philosophical" approach capable of reaching emphasis in Motorsports is squarely on the your own working methods and experiences as a compromise between these two ostensibly time factor: «The race is at three o’clock on you read it» irreconcilable points of view? Sunday afternoon, whether you're ready or «The Motorsport sector means rigorous working not», whereas performance is the overriding One final footnote to your last reply, and our practices, unsociable hours and virtually no consideration in the military sector and cost conversation as a whole; if you had to name free weekends, and an underlying intellectual has absolute precedence in the mass-produced one person who, in your opinion, embodies integrity: once every two weeks the stopwatch consumer goods industry. With the exception of the “humanistic” approach to the world of takes over, and marketing considerations take such extreme situations, the vast majority of motor racing, who would it be? a back seat. In order to survive in Motorsports, industrial activities function by implementing «Harvey Postlethwaite, without a doubt».

30 Harvey Postlethwaite

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