Lancia D50 Recreation Runs Again

Unseen for almost 50 years, a Lancia D50 wowed onlookers at the HGPCA’s Silverstone test day last month. But while the car, one of five recreations built around an original engine, gearbox and running gear, will race at Goodwood, owner Robin Lodge’s entry for Monaco has been rejected.

Vittorio Jano’s pannier-tanked design hit F1 at the end of 1954 and, rebadged as Lancia-Ferraris, powered Juan Manuel Fangio to the 1956 World Championship. Two exist, both non-runners in Italy.

Although the Lancias are at the centre of a rumpus over FIA papers, the V8 engine will delight racegoers wherever the car is accepted. Willie Green, Lodge and preparation ace Tony Merrick are certainly thrilled by it. Merrick: “It put its power down well and when I got the tail hanging out, it all came back in a very controllable manner.” MP