Forghieri joins Lamborghini

Mauro Forghieri, the chief engineer who presided over Ferrari’s Formula One fortunes from 1963-83, has left the company to join Lamborghini, the rival Italian supercar manufacturer now owned by Chrysler. He will concentrate on advanced special projects which include the development of a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre Grand Prix engine. This lends weight to speculation that Chrysler is anxious for a Formula One involvement, although it is not yet clear whether Lamborghini’s engine will power a car from an established constructor or whether a complete car/engine package will be produced.

Public relations and competitions director of the new set-up is Daniele Audetto, who worked closely with Forghieri throughout the 1976 Grand Prix season when he was team manager of the Ferrari effort.

Forghieri was first introduced to Ferrari by his father, Reclus, who originally worked as a pattern maker on the original Alfa Romeo 158s just before the war and later joined the Maranello workforce. Mauro studied at Bologna University, from which he graduated in 1959. He joined Ferrari in 1961 as assistant to Carlo Chiti and was elevated to the forefront of the design process when Chiti left to join the ill-starred ATS organisation.

His move to Lamborghini ends a 50-year family relationship with Enzo Ferrari.