Page 4 - Dallara Magazine

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Gian Paolo Dallara
Engineer, the experts are predicting that
2013 will be another difficult year, for the
global economy and for motorsports. Do
you at Dallara intend to continue
investing in research and innovation?
«We will continue to invest in research
and innovation, even though I have to
admit that 2013 does not look like being
a particularly difficult year for Dallara.
We have a number of projects underway,
and various commitments that have
already been scheduled, and this enables
us to plan our activities, and that
includes a great deal of Research and
Development».
In your opinion, what are the challenges
facing motorsports in the short term?
«Getting young people involved in the
sector again, by leveraging their customs
and habits and using the communication
processes that are an integral part of
youth culture. The status quo whereby the
“driver races and the spectator watches” is
fast becoming a thing of the past, and it
has become necessary to reinvent the
spectator/motor racing relationship,
making use of virtual reality applications
that will enable young people to challenge
the drivers».
And where does the future of motor
racing lie? The far east, the emerging
markets, or will it always be a
predominantly European and American
concern?
«It’s a global world, and this means that
the globalization of motorsports is
inevitable. It is important to resolve the
problems in the West first, since this is
where the sport is most popular. Rather
than East and West, I think it’s more
accurate to talk in terms of mature
markets (Europe, USA, Japan) and
emerging markets (India and China in
particular)».
Will the new F.1 technical configuration
that comes into force in 2014 result in
any changes in the other main racing
categories?
«It’s very likely: the engines will probably
become lighter, smaller and more efficient;
a process that is already underway
throughout the automotive sector. There
will be increased onus on energy recovery:
I would expect to see much more
widespread use of hybrid systems».
What will the increased us of green
engines mean for chassis builder, such as
Dallara?
«I don’t envisage any particular problems,
apart from the need to design stronger
battery compartments and to modify the
way the weight is distributed».
What evolutions do you expect to see in
the minor championships, starting with
F.3?
«The regulations for F3 have already been
defined. Given the ever increasing
importance of cost, the decision to opt for
unsophisticated motors is entirely
reasonable. Over the next few years, the
engines will also be downsized in other
categories, such as World Series, GP3, GP2,
etc.»
Will there be any further developments
on the Dallara simulator?
«The simulator is set to play an
important role in preparing drivers, cars
and technicians, as well as in the efforts
to make the competitions more
accessible to the spectators. This process
is still in its infancy, and there will be
continuous developments over the next
few years».
What are Dallara’s long term objectives in
the USA?
«It will be necessary to increase the
number of components produced
for the American racing car market in
our American factory, which will
become an engineering center at the
same level as here in Varano: the two
factories must work together on
coordinated R&D activities designed to
create high performance production
models. For this reason, we intend to
expand the operation along the lines
that have already been tried and tested
in Italy».
What did you learn from the extraordinary
experience of working with Alessandro
Zanardi?
«You cannot put a price on the privilege
of working with and getting to know a
real man like him, it’s indescribable. He
is an example and a stimulus to everyone
who has the good fortune to meet him,
thanks to his constant positive attitude.
He’s a great driver, but an even greater
man».
Do you intend to extend the handbike
project from the Paralympics to everyone,
able-bodied and differently abled alike?
«It depends on what Alex wants to do, on
how much time he has available, on how
much time we can spare from the projects
that are already in progress, on the results
of our research into whether there is a
viable market for it. We’re keeping our
options open».
Are racing cars still valid as a source of
ideas for production car?
«It’s not like a hundred years ago when
motor racing represented the best way of
proposing new solutions, however there
are still certain areas where motorsports
has an important role to play. I'm
thinking, for example, about the spread
of the aerodynamic culture, the
widespread use of composite materials
and energy recover technologies:
tomorrow's cars will be more energy
efficient thanks to use of lighter materials
and improved aerodynamics».
2013 sees the 90 th anniversary of the 24
Hours of Le Mans: would you like to
race on the Sarthe circuit again?
«Our company isn’t big enough to
participate directly, and we lack the
necessary skills. However, we have always
been fortunate enough to collaborate, on
specific areas of the cars, with various
companies that do compete in the 24
Hours».
What do you think of systems, like DRS,
that, while not exactly in the spirit of
racing, increase the excitement on the
track?
«The competitions have become so boring
in recent years that I would welcome with
open arms any initiative designed to
promote overtaking, which is the essence
of the competition».
Which driver from the past would you
have liked to see in a Dallara?
«We’ve had so many great drivers that I
couldn’t ask for anything more».
One last semi-serious question: is there
more chance of Dallara returning to F.1 or
Parma winning the Scudetto?
«There’s more chance of Parma winning
the Scudetto».
Alessandro Santini
“ YOU CANNOT PUT A PRICE ON THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH AND GETTING TO
KNOW A REAL MAN LIKE HIM, IT’S INDESCRIBABLE. HE IS AN EXAMPLE AND A STIMULUS
TO EVERYONE WHO HAS THE GOOD FORTUNE TO MEET HIM, THANKS TO HIS CONSTANT
POSITIVE ATTITUDE. HE ’S A GREAT DRIVER, BUT AN EVEN GREATER MAN ”