Tragic accident claims the life of a Lancia legend

71-year old Giuseppe Volta died yesterday in a bizarre autostrada accident at Chivasso, when he was struck by a passing motorist.

Giuseppe Volta. (Photo courtesy of www.rallylife.cz)He had been attending to formalities after a minor collision in which his own car was involved.  

Although now semi retired, he had been central to Lancia’s rallying activities, especially in the ‘80s when 037 cars he prepared were driven by some of the greatest Italian drivers.  

Originally working wih Osella, he started his own business by preparing Chevron sports and prototype cars, moving on to Abarth work, originally working with Abarth 131 rally cars.  And then serving the burgeoning world of private team rallying with 037 cars.  

When Group B stopped, he took on Lancia Delta Integrale, Ford Sierra Cosworth and BMW M3 Group A work, and recently had been active in the current Legends rallying activities.  

Colleagues have paid tributes and said he was an amazing rallying enthusiast.

- Martin Holmes

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