Description:

LANCIA DELTA HF INTEGRALE Gr.A “Safari” (ABARTH SE045)

    •    Works Abarth SE045 Group A “Safari” specification
    •    Official Lancia Martini Racing support vehicle (chase car) for the 1990 Safari Rally
    •    Directly associated with Juha Kankkunen, Miki Biasion and Alex Fiorio
    •    Matching numbers engine as documented by Abarth chief motorist Sergio Martinetto
    •    Preserved in exceptional, unrestored condition since its sole period use
    •    Retains original Safari Rally equipment including HALDA tripmaster and period Kenyan insurance tag
    •    Certified by FCA Heritage – Lancia Classiche with highest originality rating
    •    Eligible for major historic events including Rallylegend, Eifel Rallye Festival and Goodwood Festival of Speed

After securing both World Rally Championship titles in 1988, the Delta HF Integrale “8v” was further improved the following year with the introduction of a new engine featuring a 4-valve-per-cylinder distribution. Officially renamed Delta HF Integrale 16v (ABARTH SE045), it made its debut towards the end of the 1989 season at the Rallye Sanremo, where reigning World Champion Miki Biasion achieved a memorable victory after a remarkable comeback against Alex Fiorio and Carlos Sainz. The car continued its dominance in the 1990–91 seasons, winning two Constructors’ Championships, one Drivers’ Championship, and a total of 13 rallies.

Numerous mechanical improvements were introduced on the new 16v model: the revised engine, paired with a Garrett T3 turbocharger, delivered an additional 20 horsepower over the previous version, while the R70 gearbox with dual support ensured greater reliability, particularly in demanding events such as the Acropolis and Safari rallies, where the transmission was subjected to extreme stress. Furthermore, the adoption of new FIA homologation extensions allowed for larger brakes and the fitment of wider wheels and tyres.

OUR CAR – TO51892N (# 501361)

In preparation for the third round of the season, the Marlboro Safari Rally, and aiming to repeat the successes of the 1988 and 1989 editions with Biasion, ABARTH prepared three new competition cars along with two mule/test cars, accompanying the Lancia team to the demanding African event. The three race cars—TO51887N for Biasion/Siviero, TO54910N for Kankkunen/Piironen, and TO54911N for Fiorio/Pirollo—were supported by a mule car (TO51888N) and by our TO51892N, the so-called chase car, equipped as a mobile service workshop. Driven by Cerrato and carrying mechanic Giacomo Luchi, it followed the team throughout the entire route. Midway through the rally, following Fiorio’s retirement, he replaced Cerrato at the wheel of the car. This account is supported by period literature and team testimonies, and remains the official version.

However, considering specific features of the car—such as Kankkunen’s competition seat, a bonnet bearing the chassis number and registration of his original race car, as well as extensive period photographic documentation—it is reasonable to suggest that this car may have been involved in the debated (and never officially acknowledged) in-race “car swap”, which effectively allowed Kankkunen to continue the rally after experiencing significant mechanical issues.

The car was featured in the well-known short film LANCIA WORKS MAGIC, which documents the entire build process from bare chassis to final testing at La Mandria, conducted by Pinto with the support of engineer Roberti. FULL VIDEO available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQOFGO1NtEM

In order to mitigate the extreme mechanical stress typical of the Safari Rally, all cars were fitted with the earlier 8v engine, which offered greater reliability, albeit at the expense of outright power. Despite the use of the 8v engine and its corresponding flat bonnet, the livery of the 16v version—introduced earlier that season at the Rallye Monte-Carlo—was retained.

In 1994, the car was donated by FIAT for the Telethon fundraising marathon, after which it was sold to a Piedmont-based collector, who retained it until 2004. Since then, the car has remained unused within a significant Lancia collection.

The car is presented in an exceptional and highly original state of preservation, never restored following its sole use at the 1990 Safari Rally. Time appears to have stood still, as if preserved under glass. Every aspect of its original configuration has been retained, including the triple HALDA RALLY tripmaster used for timekeeping, as well as the Kenyan insurance tag issued by Vic Preston, documenting the car’s presence and use throughout the test and race period. The car is matching numbers, as confirmed by Sergio Martinetto, Abarth’s chief motorist at the time.

The car has been awarded the FCA Heritage – Lancia Classiche Certificate of Authenticity, receiving the highest possible score for originality from the examining commission.

Eligible for ASI “Targa Oro” certification, as well as for the most prestigious international events, including Rallylegend, Eifel Rallye Festival, and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

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