Twenty-six years after its last Grand Prix the Lamborghini powered Minardi M191B is back on the track.
Equipped with a Lamborghini LE3512 V12 engine, the car chassis #003 was one of the protagonists of Formula One in 1992.
It’s result of a meticulous restoration project carried out by Lamborghini Polo Storico with the support of former Lamborghini engineering personnel who were active on the Lamborghini F1 project in the early ’90s.
After being on display at the Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese, the car underwent seven months of work to return to its original efficiency, with most of the original components maintained.
The Minardi M191B #003 is the first single-seater to be restored by Polo Storico.
The tires, fuel tank, engine control unit, seat belts, and fire extinguishing system were replaced, while the other components were carefully restored, starting from the engine designed by Mauro Forghieri.
The 12-cylinder LE3512 is still able to deliver the original almost 522kW.
Guests of honour on at the track return were Lamborghini factory driver Mirko Bortolotti and Giancarlo Minardi himself.
The founder of the Faenza-based team recalled the fruitful collaboration with Lamborghini that lasted for the entire 1992 season.
“Seeing the models of 25 or 30 years ago is still exciting,” he said.
“They are the last cars before the beginning of telemetry and automatic transmissions.
“Apart from the growling noise, which still today brings back those wonderful times, it was a very flexible engine with enormous power starting from the low rpms.”
The best result achieved by the single-seater was 11th place with Christian Fittipaldi at the wheel at the Spanish GP.
The car is now ready to return to racing and competing in the championships dedicated to historic F1 races.
Testing has been very positive, with the car able to run more than 20 laps without problem, with the same Lamborghini V12 that so impressed Ayrton Senna during tests at Estoril in 1993.
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