UNDER THE DIRECTION OF TONY PALMA, TECHNICIANS SALA AND NERI,
PREPARE THE REBIRTH, ALMOST A REVOLUTION, IN SEARCH OF IMPROVEMENT

Translated from an excellent article by Maurizio Masini for the 1988 issue of the Italian magazine "Autosprint".

From early November on the outskirts of the Modena, just a few hundred yards from the ring-road, in an area of 4,000 square metres, Pro Team has set-up its new technical base. Here a group of technicians led by William Sala and Gianni Neri are working on the Maserati Biturbos that will form the backbone of the team in the forthcoming season beginning in late March. In a 1,000 square metres workshop, complete with offices and reception area, Pro Team has arranged the building to be as independent as possible and in which are utilised all the experiences gained last year. Certainly creating a specialized workshop from scratch, and at the same time working on cars, by investing a large part of its 1988 budget, with the aim of completely reviewing the suspension, brakes, chassis, roll-bar and cooling system. From here comes confirmation of their participation in the Group A European Championship and the use of professional drivers, considered superfluous to the needs of the more accessible Italian Championship. Still a mystery, perhaps even more so than last year, is the support that Maserati will want to give the team. In Via del Canaletto, a few hundred yards from the Maserati headquarters, Tony Palma pondered over all the possible responses:

"We will provide the engines." ?

"We have not yet opened the new technical division." ?

"As soon as possible we will invite Sig De Tomaso." ?

These are some of the replies that come to mind from the desire to gain, first of all, some results without giving weight to past controversies and current rumours that would suggest Maserati could be setting up a pair of Biturbos for a Swedish team. To Giampiero Lauro, the team's sporting director, goes much of the credit for having organized the Romano-Modenese factory: "After having trusted the cars to a third party last year, today Pro Team has a direct organization with highly qualified technical staff. In doing so we have created a permanent structure that can prepare and assist any type of car on the track at any time. Today we are working on the Maseratis, tomorrow it could be the cars for the National Championships or a Formula 3000."

- What are the actual problems ?

"The technical problems are many. The cars will go on track with a series of radical modifications which haven't yet been totally resolved. The standard car being already quite complex, but by solving three or four key points it can become a winner."

At their Modena workshop, surrounded by bodyshells in preparation, William Sala, assisted by his sons Wilmer and Werther, and Gianni Neri are trying to complete the first vehicle for track testing by the end of February. "At the moment, time is our greatest enemy," declares Sala, "with Neri we have completely rebuilt the front and rear suspension which will now allow for infinite adjustments, and we have redesigned the hubs. For the bodyshells we have followed two different routes to avoid the flexing that the car has always suffered from. Finally, we have addressed the overheating problem by installing much larger intercoolers and radiators, which should ensure a better heat dissipation. The craftsmen, specialists and specialized workshops in Modena have given us great support in this work. Unfortunately, we could not draw anything worthwhile from last year's experiences, and must not repeat those same mistakes. That's the reason for the delay." This passion for mechanics and his friendship with Sala and Palma has infected Neri, connoisseur of the best machine shops in the area. "The complete overhaul of the suspension is what has taken most of our time. Having gained nothing from the experiences of last year and having no time for testing, we have had to devise a system that would adapt to any conditions and any type of tyre."

ALMOST A REVOLUTION...

This year, the engines will once again be the mysterious object of these Maserati Biturbo? "The car - Sala points out - has always had far too many problems that quite honestly, if necessary, we will have to think about the engine later. In terms of power we think we are only second to a few, if anything, we must try to sweeten the torque. The acceleration is so brutal and that the car is difficult to drive under those conditions. The complete rebuilding on our part of the intercoolers and radiators, resulting in excellent water circulation, should guarantee us excellent reliability."

- What do you expect from the 1988 season ?

"I have something to add," it is Sala who replies, "namely that the Biturbo has significant potential and the same can be said of the team. We are not a large team, and we lack neither the enthusiasm nor will to succeed. We work at it day and night, and eventually the rewards will come."

- But what has Sala been left with from the experience of the second half of the I988 World Touring Car Championship ?

"I wasn't new to this environment, even though I have been away for several years. However, I received confirmation that the technique of the car runs so inhuman, staying still for a month is like losing a year. Working hard but you can sometimes get there too quickly. They are all very fast, although I would not bet on the regularity of certain cars that would need to be checked with more thoroughly."

MODENA is almost a challenge, one that the Roman team manager carries forward between curiosity, admiration, criticism and the smiles of the usual few pundits always ready to shoot down any courageous initative. "At the presentation I gave last year," Palma declares, "I pointed out that our first year of racing was experimental. No one was expecting any results, on top of that, for half the season we had to use carburettor engines that gave us a even more problems. 1988 on the other hand is our year of truth, there are no excuses." - What did the first year of racing leave you with ? "The experiences of 1987 has taught us that a solid, clear and transparent organization both technically and logistically is essential. With these assumptions we are building suspensions that don't resemble gates, bodyshells that do not flex, and cooling systems that make practical sense because the flow rates have been measured in anticipation of the eventual rise in temperature. At this time we want to talk less, and look for the results. By that time even De Tomaso will be better placed to decide whether to support us or just consider us to be simple customers."

- Why did you choose Modena as the the technical base for the team ?

"Sala and Neri, to whom I have entrusted the technical side, are from Modena. But beyond that we would like to convince Sig De Tomaso that Maserati could have its own racing team which, while not excluding others, can be expressed by giving us some tangible help. Supporting the activities of Proteam at that point would not be considered charity, but aiding an activity that can bring positive returns to Maserati."

- What are the team's plans for 1988 ?

"By the time of homologation on the 1st March, we should have a copletely new suspension and some updates to the gearbox, roll-bars and brakes. We will be competing with at least four cars in the Italian Championship and a few of the better European races. At the moment, the Italian Championship seems to offer the best opportunity for its revival."

THE PROTAGONISTS:

TONY PALMA: is from Rome, but Sicilian by birth, the team manager of Pro Team has behind him a great experience of motor sport as the driver of a number of saloon cars with which he competed all over Europe and the United States. In 1982 with an Alfa Romeo GTV 2.5 he raced in the 24 Hrs of Spa winning the Coppa del Re with Lella Lombardi and Marcello Gallo. In the following years he raced with Brancatelli, Lella Lombardi, Naddeo and Gasparri gaining many notable results.

GIAMPIERO LAURO: was born in Turin, following a great experience in motor racing, will put the fruits of his knowledge of the many European circuits and his excellent grasp of the English language, devoting himself to his position of coordinator, responsible for everything that happens in the team. Within Proteam, Lauro has the delicate task of gelling, with his typically "German" organisation, the best way for people to work in order to achieve the success and expectations of the team.

GIANNI NERI: was born in Bomporto, just outsida Modena, and until last year, a partner in a machine shop started 40 years ago with Ing Bellentani who had worked with Ferrari and Maserati. La passione per l'automobilismo e la conoscenza con molti tecnici della Maserati ha portato Neri nell'officina di Via del Canaletto ove spesso e al tavolo da disegno per abborzzare cio che domani dovra essere montato sulla vettura.

WILLIAM SALA: born in Modena, on finishing his technical studies, Sala specialised, whilst still a young lad, as a car repairer so he was adopted by Maserati to prepare the cars for the sportier demands of some of its customers. He then started his own workshop in Maranello where he was discovered in 1973 by Palma, who convinced him to prepare a Ferrari Daytona with which he competed in the Giro d'Italia together with Merzario. Following this, he continued by preparing many De Tomaso Panteras. After a long break, once again Tony Palma brought him back to motor racing entrusting him, together with Neri, with the technical management of Pro Team.