Scuderia Barzetti

Davide Damico (Project of Chassis)

Charlie Scott (Head of Supply Chain & Manufacturing)

**Scuderia Barzetti S.p.A.** is the racing division of luxury italian car manufacturer Barzetti, competing in the Formula A World Championship since its' inception in 2023. Historically, the team is one of the most successful in motorsport history, amassing a record amount of drivers' and constructor's championships throughout the history of top level open wheel racing, including GPWC, IFS and Formula A.

## History

### Early History

Founded by Luca Barzetti in 1957, the small Italian automaker would produce cheap cars that the public would find reliable and efficient. In the 1960s, Barzetti would change the direction of the company, founding Scuderia Barzetti, who quickly became one of the most dominant racing forces in the motorsport world. They dominated multiple sports car series with revolutionary engine technology, along with many famous Italians aiding them in their conquest of multiple racing series. Most of their success from this time would come from the now defunct North American Road Racing Championship, NARRC, where they could easily take advantage of the lax engine and aerodynamic regulations, allowing them to utilize V12s, engines that would become staples of the brand. In the GSC (Global Sportscar Championship), they would also achieve much success, accumulating many victories in marquee endurance events. With this, they expanded into the luxury car market, creating vehicles inspired by their great racing pedigree. Barzetti cars quickly became status symbols for rich people across the world, creating some of the most revered and beautiful cars ever designed. To this day, cars such as the Barzetti Aurora and the Barzetti Misano are two of the most expensive and sought-after cars in the world.

### Entry Into Open Wheel Racing

During the mid-1970s, Barzetti would begin entering various regional formulae series, achieving many victories and championships in Italy and Europe with their great resources. They would enter the GPWC, clashing with teams such as Silver Leaf, SAMB, Kruse, and McKenzie. Barzetti would become notorious for their team organization, with a very bureaucratic structure contrasting many of the smaller teams. Along with this, they would also form a long-lasting partnership with Imperia, a tabacco sponsor, maintaining them as their title sponsor to this day. In the GPWC, they would find success starting in 1975 in the hands of James McLennan and Enzo Marchesi, drivers that would become pillars of the brand and their success moving forward. The team would finish second in the Constructors', falling behind the dominant Silver Leaf cars, who would constantly revise the aerodynamic landscape of the series. They would follow up with a championship win, narrowly stealing it from the clutches of the seemingly immaculate SAMB team, who won 6 races in a row mounting a title comeback. Barzetti would follow this up with 2 more 2nd place Constructor’s championship finishes, and a Driver’s championship for Marchesi in 1980, and as the GPWC declined, Barzetti would leave the championship 1 year before its demise in 1982.

### IFS - 1980s

Barzetti would join the IFS in its inaugural season in 1983, with their early efforts proving to be unsuccessful. Engine regulations would prove to be a thorn in their side, as they would have to develop their cars with a completely different philosophy compared to their early success. Despite this, in 1985 they would prove to have a successful season, rallying back late in the season to achieve a successful 3rd. During the offseason of 1985, Enzo Marchesi would lose his life in a horrifying accident, tragically putting an end to one of the greatest Italian talents the sport had ever seen. This wouldn’t stop Barzetti, who signed George Weston, winner of 3 straight titles from 1983 to 1985. In 1986, James McLennan would narrowly lose the championship to Francois Martin. Barzetti achieved Constructor’s and Driver’s championships in 1987 and 1988 with McLennan. Until the end of the decade, they would be consistent front runners, contending for titles with McLennan in 1989 and 1990, however, they were beaten out by Weston and SAMB respectively.

### IFS – 1990s: Fall, and Rise Again

New regulations in the 1990s that shrunk the cars, reduced the power output, and reduced the amount of downforce. The regulations were brought in to improve racing and reduce the costs, which were quickly spiraling out of control at the end of the century. During this time, Barzetti would struggle, unable to produce a competitive or reliable chassis, attempting to use some of their previous engines which they believed would still be competitive. In 1990, James McLennan would finish his illustrious career, stepping down from full-time racing. In 1991, they would achieve a record-low position in the constructors’ championship, finishing 6th, accompanied by a record-low of 11th and 13th in the drivers’ championship. In 1993, their luck would turn around, producing a competitive car to accompany a slew of quick drivers, including Thierry Colin, who would help Barzetti return to form with a constructors’ championship in 1993. After his departure, they would sign rising star David Mrázek, who would impress achieving 4th in the driver’s championship and constructors' championship, achieving multiple podiums in the season. In 1996, he would post an incredible season, winning the drivers' championship, however, Barzetti would still fall short of SAMB in the constructors’ as they struggled to find a consistent second driver to accompany Mrázek. In 1998, they would win both championships, capitalizing on a faltering SAMB, who suffered at the start of the season attempting radical new aerodynamic designs which proved to be unreliable and slow. They would close the season with another constructor’s championship; however, Mrázek would narrowly be beaten out by Anton Hackl in an incredibly tense season, fighting alongside Christian Stroemqvist, proving to be an incredible talent in his first season with Barzetti.

### IFS – 2000s: Domination

Starting in 1999, after Christian Stroemqvist would join the team, a new era of unprecedented domination would come from Barzetti. Stroemqvist went on to achieve one of the most accomplished careers of any IFS driver, winning the championship in dominant fashion 4 times in a row, leaving teammate Mrázek in the dust. The only person able to stop his reign of terror on the championship would be his teammates, in 2004 Flavio Torres would take the championship, and soon after in 2005, Guilherme Cerqueira would follow suit. Barzetti would claim yet another constructor’s championship in 2006, however, would be beaten out by SAMB in 2007, with Michael Fowler winning the driver’s championship twice in a row. In 2007, Luca Barzetti’s tractor would be hit by a car bomb during a festival celebrating the 50th anniversary of the team, protesting climate change. The entire Barzetti family and team was devastated by this news, and they would run tribute liveries for all of 2007 in memoriam. Barzetti would be a consistent front-runner at the top of the grid throughout the rest of the 2000s, however, they would not manage to win another championship, being beaten out by the dominant SAMB cars and the rising Tsukuda team, which would dominantly win 2009.

### IFS – 2010s: Turbulence

Barzetti would come into the 2010s immediately on pace, proving themselves to make the most out of new regulation changes. The team would win out in 2010 and 2011, fighting off McKenzie, Tsukuda, and SAMB in one of the most competitive seasons in the history of the series. The man to win it would be Giovanni Marchesi, grandson of the late Enzo Marchesi. He would win 2010 by just 2 points, coming down to the final round and narrowly edging out title rival Alexander Thompson in the McKenzie. 2011 would prove to be close in the constructor’s as well, with Barzetti topping SAMB by only 5 points. 2012 and 2013 would see the tides change, with Barzetti taking a backseat to McKenzie as the two British drivers Alexander Thompson and Daniel Lyons would win the championships respectively. Barzetti would fluctuate between multiple positions in the championship, being uncompetitive in 2014 and 2015 but managing to win the title with Jordan Smith in 2017. Barzetti would not win another championship in IFS, constantly being stuck in a turbulent position as they had a revolving door of various drivers come through and none managing to establish a consistent title fight.

### FA and IFS – 2020s: Transition to FA

With the demise of the IFS, many teams would begin gearing up for the new FA series, shifting gears to new cars, new drivers, new teams, and new locations. In 2023, Barzetti would take the inaugural FA constructor’s championship and Vincenzo Accardi would finish runner-up in the championship to the Polaris driver Floris Van Velzen in an incredibly tense title fight.