Osella

Osella is a notable name in motorsport, particularly in hill climbs and endurance racing. The company was founded in 1965 by Enzo Osella in Italy. It originally started as a tuning and engineering firm, but quickly transitioned into producing its own race cars, primarily for hill climbs. Osella gained significant attention in the 1970s and 80s due to its performance in these events, earning a reputation for producing lightweight, powerful prototypes known as “barchettas” (small open-topped sports cars). 

One of Osella’s most remarkable contributions to motorsport came through its endurance racing cars, which were particularly successful in the 1970s. The Osella PA-series, a range of sports prototypes, became highly competitive in both hill climbs and circuit racing across Europe. These prototypes, with their balance of weight and power, dominated Italian and European motorsport events. Even to this day, Osella continues to manufacture these high-performance racing cars, which remain popular among private racers, especially in hill climb competitions. 

In addition to hill climbs, Osella also entered Formula 1 in the late 1970s and 1980s. However, their Formula 1 team struggled to achieve consistent success. Osella’s entry into Formula 1 was marred by financial difficulties, technical setbacks, and inconsistent results. Drivers such as Piercarlo Ghinzani and Riccardo Paletti were part of the team’s efforts, with Paletti tragically losing his life in a crash at the Canadian Grand Prix in 1982. Despite limited success in Formula 1, Osella managed to score a few points but struggled to keep pace with larger, better-funded teams. The team eventually transitioned ownership to Fondmetal in 1990, marking the end of their Formula 1 journey.