The 23 August 2022 An engineer who made the history of the Italian automotive world passed away in Sapri at the age of 83: Nicola Materazzi. It is defined the father of the Ferrari F40and with good reason, as it followed the evolution of the project from start to finish, thus arriving at one of the most loved cars in history.
The F40 was the last car built under the full supervision of Enzo Ferrari, albeit with the various proxies that, due to his age, he had assigned. The design of the bodywork was carried out by the Pininfarina studio by Leonardo Fioravanti, under the guidance of Nicola Materazzi and Pietro Camardella.
Born in 1939, Materazzi also took care of the miracle Lancia Stratos in rallies, he worked at Abarth and played a role in Ferrari’s arrival in the turbo era in Formula 1. About the Stratos, Materazzi collaborated with excellent minds and armed arms of great stature: Marcello Gandini, Enzo Ferrari, Gianni Tonti, Cesare Fiorio, Mike Parkes, Claudio Maglioli, Carlo Facetti, Gianni Gariboldi, Giampaolo Dallara, Sergio Camuffo, Francesco De Virgilio, Francesco Faleo and obviously the drivers Sergio Barbasio, Amilcare Ballestrieri and Sandro Munari. Unrepeatable team.
In 1978, after the merger of the Lancia and FIAT racing departments, Materazzi went to work at Abarth to design the Formula FIAT Abarth car and then he had a short period in Osella, where he nevertheless found the time to take care of the project relating to the FA2 Formula 2 single-seater and to take care of the FA1, the brand’s first Formula 1. The car was presented a week after its transfer to Maranello.
After leaving Ferrari, following the conclusion of the F40 project, Materazzi also worked in the motorcycle field. To be precise in Cagiva, as Technical and Sporting Director of the Racing Department from 1990 to 1991, working on the technical development of the engine and chassis for the GP500 C589, C591 for the drivers Eddie Lawson, Randy Mamola, Alex Barros and John Kocinski.
With him goes another great historical chapter of Italian engineering, and of the ability to invent those speed emotions that today are the basis of the concrete dream of the Motor Valley. Condolences to family and friends from the editorial staff of FormulaPassion.it
#Nicola #Materazzi #father #F40 #died #FormulaPassion.it