Too Fast To Race: Lancia's Awesome ECV Prototypes

Presented in 1988, the unique Lancia ECV2 prototype represents a tantalizing glimpse into what could have been the evolution of rallies if the mighty Group B cars had been allowed to continue racing. And here's its story. #lancia #history #rally #1980s #classiccars
Early into the 1986 season, while Lancia's fearsome Delta S4 battled with the Peugeot 205 T16 for the World Championship, work at Abarth's HQ was already well underway on the cars for the 1987 season and beyond.
The tragic accidents in Portugal and Corsica during the 1986 season prompted motorsport's international governing body to ban the Group B cars from the World Rally Championship by the year's end.
Lancia's now-redundant rally monster went on to wow the crowds of the Bologna Motor Show in December 1986 and the Geneva Motor Show in March of '87 under the acronym ECV, which stood for Experimental Composite Vehicle, yet didn't last much longer in its original form.
Once its show car duty was over, the Lancia ECV prototype was dismantled to reuse its carbon fiber chassis and sophisticated running gear for a further developed model presented in 1988 as the ECV 2.
My articles on Medium:   / membership  
My automotive books:
Lancia Gamma Berlina & Coupé 1976 - 1984
ENGLISH: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TN45L8Q
ITALIAN: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B09YVJRKH6
Six Appeal - The Story Of The Alfa 6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1793931046
Alfa Romeo Alfa 6 - La Storia 1979-1987 (ITALIAN)
https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0BHT3PCC7
Alfa Romeo Giulietta - The Story 1977 - 1985
ENGLISH: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1983393746
ITALIAN: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B098GVJ7RK
Alfa Romeo Arna - The Full Story 1980 - 1987 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1656632500