40 years in motorsport

40 YEARS OF LANZA MOTORSPORT

On April 14, 1985, LANZA MOTORSPORT was founded with a deed executed by a renowned notary in Como. These 40 years have been intensely lived, cultivating a passion for cars and motorsports of all kinds. Even then, the goal was to create a corporate structure focused on the sharing of racing cars and support vehicles among members. Anyone who owned a racing car could transfer it to the company for better and more streamlined management. The company, along with the vehicles purchased with their own capital (available to members who could not own a car), provided the necessary funds for the participation in various competitions of members and drivers who entrusted Lanza Motorsport with their participation. The idea was a good one; a cooperative was the right form of social organization because, although non-profit, it allowed, unlike a sports association, the legal status required for ownership of the vehicles. The name Lanza was derived from the fact that, having been born in Valmorea (in the hamlet of Casanova Lanza), she took her name from the valley stream.
These were intense years, not only in terms of participation in races, but also in numerous exhibitions throughout the province to promote motorsports, culminating in the highly organized and well-regarded rally driving and navigation courses. Today, Lanza has participated in over 1,800 rallies of all types, circuit races, hill climbs, and slaloms, from provincial races to 20 WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP races, 18 participations in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring (23 years at the Nürburgring), four participations in the 1000 km of Monza, the 2008 FIA GT World Championship, the Superstars years (2nd place in the 2004 championship), the four Peugeot trophies won, the endurance races at the Nürburgring, prestigious participations at the Bologna Motor Show, and the 380 races held at the Monza Autodromo, which has always been considered the Lanza home track.
It's impossible to name all 230 drivers and co-drivers who have raced in the Lanza colors: at the 1989 Villa d'Este-ACI Como rally, we entered 46 crews: a true record.
For 40 years, we have participated in a continuous evolution of the regulations, starting with groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 for touring and GT cars, moving on to groups N, A, and B, and finally arriving at the current groups R and WRC for single-seaters (the first car was a Formula Monza 875 (the famous Petarella with a 500-cc engine). The chassis evolved from tubular to aluminum monocoque, and finally to today's carbon fiber chassis. Fortunately, active and passive safety for drivers and spectators has also made great strides.
It is right to remember those who are no longer with us: the guys Renato Marchese and Daniele Drago, who were so passionate and always available to collaborate, and left us at a young age; Giampiero Brusadelli, a co-driver in many rally adventures; Angelo Sgambato, who became a driver and prepared our cars; Roberto Figini, always ready to collaborate with courses and assistance, the only one who exclusively drove some of the company's cars, never again. used.
We must thank everyone who has collaborated with us, from industry insiders to simple enthusiasts who truly gave their time out of pure passion. With some of them, we spent unforgettable moments at races across Europe or sleepless nights in the workshop finishing a car or fixing a serious technical problem.
All our licenses, from competitor to team, and even organizer (we organized the Albavilla Slalom for a few years), have been with Automobile Club Como, with which we have always had a fruitful collaboration, as well as with all the other teams, starting with Scuderia del Lario, where many of us are registered as drivers.
With the advisors Francesco Simoncini (a key collaborator throughout these years), and Stefano Mazzeri (Vice President who has retired from active rallying), and with the drivers managed in recent years: Massimo Fazio, Luigi Scalini, Roberto and Simone Barin, Franco Barin, Bruno Barbaro, Gian Battista Bertocchi, Adesso Sante, Renato Benusiglio, and Elio Gotti, Alberto Bergamaschi, Gianbattista Girola, Alberto Landini, and all those who remember us fondly, we live and share this great milestone with emotion today.