OLMAS GTL-200

[GTO Racing]

Designed by Gianni Lo Bartolo, the OLMAS made its first racing appearance at Monza in 1988. Its owner Gigi Taverna and his team mates Lavaggi and Ragazzi failed to qualify it.

It was built around a carbon fiber monocoque and powered by a Cosworth DFV prepared by Virgile Conrero what was not common as this engine was mainly prepared by British specialists like Nicholson.

The car was also fitted with Avon tyres and thanks to notably a kevlar body, only weighted 740 kgs.

Despite the fact it was well prepared, that Italian Group C prototype did not meet success.

Can anybody tell me much more about:
- the car (technical information, free use photos, its racing career);
- the Olmas team;
- Gianni Lo Bartolo;
- what became the car after 1988? (where is it now?).

[KA]

As I remember, it only appeared in a few early-season races before Le Mans, entered by Luigi Taverna/Technoracing, who had previously run an Alba. The Olmas posted a DNS at Le Mans with engine failure, and I don't think it appeared again- Taverna drove a Chamberlain Spice in '89.

http://www.racingsportscars.com/make/photo/Olmas.html

[fausto]

http://twitpic.com/dic1c

[GTO Racing]

Thanks dear Faustino.

Great pics.

[Thundersports]

Great looking car (I seem to say that about most Group C cars!) love these obscure Group C threads, I saw some very strange Prototypes in Interserie as well like the BAT and the Sturtz Gary Brabham drove at Brands in 1990.

[ghinzani]

I always understood the Olmas to be a direct copy and/or descendant of the Alba. Im sure I read that somewhere, rather than just assuming it as that had been their previous car. No Giorgio Stirano involvement then?

[fausto]

Originally Posted by ghinzani

I always understood the Olmas to be a direct copy and/or descendant of the Alba. Im sure I read that somewhere, rather than just assuming it as that had been their previous car. No Giorgio Stirano involvement then?

No, Gianni Lobartolo is/was a capable designer in his own right, in the late '70s he spent time in UK (at the time a not-too-common practice for Italian racing car professionals), then returned and was involved with the stillborn Lamberto Leoni F.3 car. The only thing Alba and Olmas had in common is the fact that previously Olmas, a precision engineering company based in Turin, working also for the aeronautic industry, used to be involved with the construction of the Albas. IMO the GLT200 was the first Italian racing car built to the trend-setting British inspired standard. A look at the shut lines gap tell the tale, and the beatiful chassis too. Pity they abandoned the car after only a couple/three races...

[GTO Racing]

Originally Posted by fausto

No, Gianni Lobartolo is/was a capable designer in his own right, in the late '70s he spent time in UK (at the time a not-too-common practice for Italian racing car professionals), then returned and was involved with the stillborn Lamberto Leoni F.3 car. The only thing Alba and Olmas had in common is the fact that previously Olmas, a precision engineering company based in Turin, working also for the aeronautic industry, used to be involved with the construction of the Albas. IMO the GLT200 was the first Italian racing car built to the trend-setting British inspired standard. A look at the shut lines gap tell the tale, and the beatiful chassis too. Pity they abandoned the car after only a couple/three races...

If I remember well, some of the former Alba staff were involved in the Olmas project.

Fausto, do you have anything about the car in your Italian press archives?

[Richard G Hilsden]

A picture of this Sportscar at Silverstone 1000kms, 1988
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richard...in/photostream

[KA]

Thanks Richard- nice to see another pic of a rarely-seen car. Anyone know why the project was canned so quickly, after just three appearances (Monza, Silverstone and the Le Mans DNS)

According to Michael Cotton's late 80's book 'Directory of Group C & IMSA Sportscars from 1982, the Olmas suffered from fuel feed and electrical problems in it's two race outings, and the Le Mans non-start was due to blowing two engines in as many practice sessions. The book suggests the car was then 'retired' to be redesigned with a front radiator to reduce engine temperatures.

So were there fundamental issues with the design of the car, or was it simply a case of the car needing some modification and development that the team didn't have the budget for?

Taverna certainly didn't disappear from the Group C scene with the car, as he bought rides in Antoine Salamin's 962 later in the 1988 season, before returning to C2 in one of Hugh Chamberlain's Spices in 1989

[fausto]

Originally Posted by KA

Thanks Richard- nice to see another pic of a rarely-seen car. Anyone know why the project was canned so quickly, after just three appearances (Monza, Silverstone and the Le Mans DNS)

According to Michael Cotton's late 80's book 'Directory of Group C & IMSA Sportscars from 1982, the Olmas suffered from fuel feed and electrical problems in it's two race outings, and the Le Mans non-start was due to blowing two engines in as many practice sessions. The book suggests the car was then 'retired' to be redesigned with a front radiator to reduce engine temperatures.

So were there fundamental issues with the design of the car, or was it simply a case of the car needing some modification and development that the team didn't have the budget for?

Taverna certainly didn't disappear from the Group C scene with the car, as he bought rides in Antoine Salamin's 962 later in the 1988 season, before returning to C2 in one of Hugh Chamberlain's Spices in 1989

The car was never modified, some years later it was seen racing in Italian hillclimbs, driven by "Kabibo", saw it some years ago for sale from an USA owner, returned recently to Italy, the owner has plans to race it in historic Group C. It's a shame that it never realized its potential, at the time was built to finishing standards unknown to the best part of other Italian racing car manufacturers. Maybe what they missed was a capable driver.

[Euromontagna]

kabibo car - http://www.euromontagna.com/photo.ph...evico-1993-323