Sandro Munari passed away yesterday, Italian rally legend. He was 85 years oldhe would have turned 86 on March 27th.
Nicknamed “The Dragon of Cavarzere”remains in history as the first Italian driver to win the FIA Drivers’ Cup, won in 1977 at the wheel of the Lancia Stratos.
The beginnings
Born in Cavarzere in 1940, Munari made his debut in high-level road racing in 1964 as navigator for Arnaldo Cavallari on the Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Super of the Jolly Club team, immediately winning the Sardinia Rally and the San Martino di Castrozza Rally.
Rally legend
In 1965 he began racing in the Italian rally championship, winning the national title in 1967 and in 1969. In 1972 he achieved victory in the Targa Florio and a fourth place in the 1000 km of Zeltweg on a Ferrari 312 PB, paired with Arturo Merzario. The European title arrived in 1973.
The king of Monte Carlo
However, his name remains inextricably linked to Lancia and above all at the Monte Carlo Rallywhere he triumphed in 1972 with the Fulvia Coupé HF and then for three consecutive years, from 1975 to 1977, with the Stratos. With the same car he won the drivers’ world title in 1977.
In 1973 he received an offer from Frank Williams to compete in the Formula 1 Grand Prix in South Africain place of the injured Nanni Galli, but the agreement fell through due to the veto of Lancia sporting director Cesare Fiorio, who wanted to keep him in rallies.
After the races
After retiring from the World Rally Championship (which ended with 7 world championship victories), Munari continued to race in desert races until 1984, taking part in the Dakar and the Rally of the Pharaohs also with the Lamborghini LM 002. Once his racing activity was over, he worked as a consultant for Lamborghini, taking care in particular of the development of the Diablo VT with all-wheel drive, and started safe driving courses.
In the world of journalism he collaborated for a long time with KmMotori (portal of Espresso Group) and with Repubblica. On Kataweb Motors for years he held the regular column “A tutto gas”, flanked by the historic “In reverse” by Michele Serra. In 2008 he published the book with Sergio Remondino “Sandro Munari. A life sideways”which traces his entire extraordinary career.
One of the great protagonists of Italian motorsport is passing away, a driver who made entire generations of enthusiasts dream with his exploits on the Lancia Fulvia, Stratos and beyond.
