If you saw all or part of the television broadcast of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and you are not well versed in the behind-the-scenes of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), you will have been surprised to see, among the leaders of the race, a car from compound name called Isotta Fraschini.
Isotta Fraschini is a historic Italian brand founded in Milan in 1900, and which manufactured elegant vehicles at the beginning of the last century, which we normally find in the main elegance competitions in the world. They are widely valued for their beauty and exclusivity.
Like many of these brands that had to put their factories at the service of the war industry during World War II, Isotta Fraschini could not withstand the post-war ups and downs and by 1949 it declared bankruptcy. Over the years there have been several attempts to revive it, but the current process, led by a group of Milanese businessmen, appears to be the most promising.
Isotta Fraschini Milano Fabbrica Automobili was born in 2018 with the aim of launching electric vehicles, but along the way it decided to focus first on competition, and this is how this year it debuted in the WEC with the Isotta Fraschini Type 6 LMH-C hypercar, which has It turned out to be quite a surprise.
With a chassis developed by Williams Grand Prix Engineering and an engine from HWA Engineering, a company formed by the founders of AMG, the Type 6 LMH Competizione has stood out for its reliability more than its speed, finishing the races in Imola, Spa and Le Mans. It has all-wheel drive, a 272 HP electric motor on the front axle, a 707 HP 3.0 turbo V6 behind the driver, a carbon fiber monocoque and a weight of 1,030 kilos.
Isotta Fraschini’s spirit in the WEC is to gain presence, respectability and, of course, sell cars.
The first of them will be exclusive for track use. Basically, it is the same prototype that runs in the WEC, but without the limitations of the FIA Balance of Performance, so it offers even better features. The brand speaks of a weight/power ratio of 0.98 kilos per horse, for 0 to 200 km/h in 4.5 seconds.
But Isotta Fraschini also has a version called Tipo 6 Strada, which, as its name indicates, is approved for circulation on the streets. In fact, for its presentation, the brand made a 260-kilometer trip from Milan to San Remo.
It is the same configuration of the race car, but with some changes to obtain homologation for use on public roads. It modifies the lights, eliminates some aerodynamic elements such as its immense rear spoiler, and increases the ground clearance so it can overcome potholes. In addition, it grows the fuel tank to 100 liters, and enlarges the wheels to 19″ at the front and 20″ at the rear (from 18″ on the race car).
The brand indicates that the Isotta Strada can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and reach 200 km/h in 6.0 seconds, with a maximum speed of 370 km/h.
Isotta Fraschini will produce 12 units of this street version, at a price of 3.2 million euros each, and will add another 25 units of the Type 6 Pista, at an unconfirmed price, but it should be higher.
