The motorsport world is mourning the passing of the Italian engineer, who was 83 years old.
After graduating as a mechanical engineer, Lombardi was recruited by Fiat to its research centre in 1968. In 1975 he took on a new role within the same group when he became technical director of Lancia’s engine department.
He eventually found himself designing power units for the Turin marque’s iconic rally cars. Lombardi was involved in the development of the Group B monsters, the Lancia Rally 037 and the Lancia Delta S4.
In the Group A era, the Lancia Delta was untouchable, clinching six consecutive manufacturers’ titles between 1987 and 1992. Juha Kankkunen and Miki Biasion delivered four drivers’ crowns for the Italian manufacturer in that period.
Lombardi served as Lancia’s team manager from 1989 to 1991, when Cesare Fiorio had moved on to lead Ferrari’s Formula 1 operation. Kankkunen has a special memory of Lombardi from 1989, when the Finnish star was driving for Toyota.
His home rally in Finland had once again ended in disappointment, with the Toyota Celica breaking down mid-event. After retiring, Kankkunen drove from Jämsä back to his home in Lankamaa, Laukaa. But soon the doorbell rang.
The surprise was considerable: Lombardi had travelled deep into the Finnish countryside to meet Kankkunen.
“I opened the door and was astonished to see Lancia’s team manager Claudio Lombardi standing there. ‘Hello, we came to say hi,’ Lombardi said, and I invited them in,” Kankkunen recalled in the 2000 book Sorateiden Grand Prix 50 vuotta – The Finnish Grand Prix 50 years.
It was not just a courtesy call. Lombardi wanted to lure the Finn back to Lancia – and his timing was perfect.
“I made coffee in the kitchen and even went to the kiosk to buy some pastries before coming back. Lombardi had come to offer me a contract with Lancia for the following season. Of course I thought about it for a while. I really liked the atmosphere at Toyota and the staff there, but Lombardi had come at exactly the right time to suggest a change. I decided to accept.”
Kankkunen returned to Lancia in 1990 and the following year celebrated his third drivers’ championship. Lombardi, meanwhile, moved from Lancia to Ferrari’s F1 team management at the end of the 1991 season.
From 1994 to 1999, Lombardi developed Ferrari’s GT cars. Between 2000 and 2010, he served as a technical consultant for motorcycle manufacturer Aprilia.
Sources: Autohebdof1.com, Gazzetta.it, Urheiluuutiset.com
