Lancia themselves never won a race, but then Ferrari toko took over they were suddenly a world champion.
You would do not now say, but Lancia was one of the most innovative car brands. Not only were they the first with a monocoque -perhaps the most important pre-war innovation in the invention of the car – also they developed in that time a complex, but insanely well-functioning independent suspension.
Also after the Second world War, built the then still independent Lancia technologically advanced cars. Perhaps the highlight was the D50, which in 1954 took part in the F1 championship. They were a little on the late side, because only the very last race of the already short season was the D50 is ready. However, they knew one of the best drivers of that time to tie Alberto Ascari was completely finished with his unreliable Ferrari and went on the offer of Gianni Lancia. Ascari was perhaps the only one that still what resistance could offer to the supreme Maserati-racing driver Fangio. That was when he took that first race directly as the best qualified. Unfortunately he fell in the tenth round of the race in leading position with a broken link.
The D50 was clearly very fast and that was the achievement of the new chief engineer Vittorio jano. He designed the most innovative Formula 1 car until then. So is his self-designed 2.5-litre V8 diagonally in the chassis, so that the drive shaft along the driver was able to walk, instead of at the bottom. This was the D50 lower than the competition, and was also the center of gravity more favorable. In addition, the V8 also has a load-bearing part of the chassis, making the car stiffer and lighter. The most characteristic, however, were the two fuel tanks between the wheels. This improved according to now jano makes not only the aerodynamics, but caused by the placement, also for a more or less constant distribution of weight, regardless of the amount of fuel in the tanks.
The idea was brilliant, but unfortunately, the true potential of the car in 1955, not yet to the top. The first race in Argentina fell Ascari with technical problems, a race later reached his car in the bay of Monaco. Ascari escaped without any injuries, but four days later, saves the fate as yet. Ascari comes to hang out with fellow Castelotti, a Ferrari 750 Monza to the test is on the same circuit. Actually he would only be watching, but he can not resist the temptation to include a couple of laps to drive for Ferrari’s new very racing car. In summer clothing, and with one of Castelotti borrowed helmet he gets in. In the third round, he will lose his in a quick turn the power on the wheel -according to some, by a in his face waving, tie – and he hits two times on the head. Within a few minutes dies Ascari to his injuries. That curve is called still Variante Ascari, as a tribute to the world champion.
The loss of their driver to disappointing results on the job and, above all, financial problems do Gianni Lancia decide his shares in the business to sell. The family Presenti is the new owner, while the racing department -including the designer now jano makes – is being taken over by Ferrari. They develop the D50 by as a Ferrari-Lancia D50, and in the season of 1956 when Ferrari DS50. Conservative when Enzo Ferrari moved the fuel tank immediately to the rear of the car, and the semi-independent rear suspension replaced by a more conventional setup.
Yet the Ferrari with the DS50, and that is because the previous season unbeaten Mercedes after the tragedy at Le Mans (1955) decision to stop racing. Fangio is for Enzo to work, Moss is going to rival Maserati. There he wins two of the seven races, Ferrari drivers Fangio and Collins to divide the other five. Ultimately, it is Fangio who sip world champion is his team-mate. This will also now jano makes still that most deserved world championship.
At Ferrari he developed, among others, the V6 that is the basis for the Dino series and also the achtcilinders who at that time was in the racing are, of his hand. Just as Enzo Ferrari also lose now jano makes his son. He is sick with grief and commits the same year, in 1965, committed suicide.