Osella

Osella is an Italian motorsport engineering and racing-car brand founded in Volpiano in 1965 by Enzo Osella, a former rally driver. It began by competing with Abarth sports cars in local and national Italian events, later taking over Abarth’s sports-car factory program in 1974. That transition gave Osella a broader technical and manufacturing base and led it into single-seater construction, including Formula Two and Formula Three cars. The company’s first important single-seater period came in European Formula Two. Osella entered the championship in 1975 with the BMW-powered FA2, withdrew during the following season because of financial and competitive difficulties, and subsequently supplied cars to private entrants. The manufacturer returned to Formula Two in 1979 with Eddie Cheever, whose three victories and fourth-place championship finish helped demonstrate that Osella could compete at a high level. Sponsorship obtained through Ente Tabacchi Italiani and its MS brand supported the company’s move into Formula One. Osella competed in Formula One from 1980 through 1990. Across 132 Grands Prix, it achieved two classified points-scoring finishes and five World Championship points. The team was typically constrained by limited funding, small-scale manufacturing resources, unreliable equipment and difficulty keeping pace with the increasingly sophisticated turbocharged era. Its first Formula One car, the Ford Cosworth-powered FA1, was designed by Giorgio Stirano. Later cars used technical concepts derived from Alfa Romeo’s works machinery, and Osella received Alfa Romeo naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines during the 1980s. The partnership provided vital technical and commercial support but did not produce sustained competitiveness, particularly because the Alfa Romeo 890T turbo engine was difficult to operate reliably. The team’s strongest Formula One result was a fourth-place finish for Jean-Pierre Jarier at the 1982 San Marino Grand Prix, which delivered Osella’s first championship points. Piercarlo Ghinzani later scored fifth place at the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix. Osella also developed drivers including Eddie Cheever, Alex Caffi and Gabriele Tarquini, although many of its later seasons were marked by qualification failures, retirements and limited resources. The company ended its Alfa Romeo agreement after 1988, switched to Cosworth power for 1989 and entered 1990 with one car for Olivier Grouillard. During that season, metalwork entrepreneur Gabriele Rumi acquired an interest in the team through a Fondmetal sponsorship arrangement. Rumi subsequently acquired the remaining operation and renamed it Fondmetal, ending Osella’s Formula One identity. Osella continued building racing sports cars alongside and after its Formula One activities. Its cars became particularly associated with hill-climb competition, where models such as the PA9, PA9/90 and PA20 were used by factory and private teams. Osella’s works program achieved major success in the European Hillclimb Championship: Pasquale Irlando won all nine races in the 1995 season with a PA20 and later secured championship titles in 1997, 1998 and 1999. The brand also participated in sports-car and Can-Am competition, including a third-place result in the two-litre class during the 1984 Can-Am season with the PA10. The company moved to Atella in southern Italy during the 1990s, where it established a modern production facility, and transferred its factory back near Turin, to Verolengo, in 2001. Its modern business is centered on low-volume competition cars for hill climbs and smaller sports-racing categories rather than mass production. At the end of 2022, Osella Motorsports LTD merged with Osella Engineering. The combined operation, known as Osella Corse, continued under the joint leadership of Enzo Osella and Giuseppe Angiulli and produced cars including the PA21 JrB for E2B competition, with engine configurations ranging from 1000 to 1600 cc. Osella remains associated with specialist engineering, customer racing and events such as the Cronoscalata Monte Erice.

Osella was established in Volpiano, Italy, in 1965 by Enzo Osella, a former rally driver. Its earliest activities involved running Abarth sports cars in Italian local and national races. In 1974, Osella took control of Abarth’s factory sports-car program, providing the basis for a more ambitious role as a constructor. The company expanded into single-seater racing in the middle of the 1970s, entering the European Formula Two Championship in 1975 with the BMW-powered FA2. Financial difficulties limited the program, and the team withdrew before the end of the following season. Some FA2 cars continued to appear through private entrants, while Osella also experimented with the FA3 Formula Three car, using Toyota or Lancia engines in German and Italian competition. After concentrating on local sports-car events in 1977 and 1978, Osella returned to European Formula Two in 1979. Eddie Cheever drove an older BMW-powered FA2 to three victories and fourth place in the championship. The result, combined with sponsorship from Ente Tabacchi Italiani through its MS brand, encouraged Osella to enter Formula One. Its first Formula One car, the FA1, was designed by Giorgio Stirano and used a Ford Cosworth DFV engine. Osella’s small-scale, largely in-house manufacturing approach reduced costs but also contributed to design and reliability limitations. Eddie Cheever qualified regularly during the 1980 season but completed only one race. The team expanded to two cars in 1982 for Jean-Pierre Jarier and Riccardo Paletti. Technical staff including Giorgio Valentini and Tony Southgate worked on the car, with Enzo Osella also contributing, but the team could not finance the advanced engineering needed to close the gap to larger competitors. Jarier’s fourth place at Imola, in a race begun by only 14 cars, delivered Osella’s first championship points. The season was overshadowed by Paletti’s fatal start-line accident at the Canadian Grand Prix. Osella rebuilt its driver line-up for 1983 with Piercarlo Ghinzani and Corrado Fabi. Inconsistent reliability and a lack of funding made it difficult for either driver to qualify consistently, and Fabi’s tenth place at the German Grand Prix was the team’s best result. Ghinzani stayed for 1984, joined by Jo Gartner. Ghinzani scored fifth at Dallas, while Gartner also finished fifth at Monza; however, Gartner’s result did not produce championship points because of the team’s entry status at the beginning of the season. Huub Rothengatter partnered Ghinzani in 1985 without scoring. During the mid-1980s, Osella received Alfa Romeo engine support. It used naturally aspirated Alfa Romeo engines in 1983 and 1984 and turbocharged units from 1984 through 1988. The partnership gave the independent team access to factory-derived power and technical input from Alfa Romeo designer Carlo Chiti, but the 890T turbo engine was heavy, unreliable and difficult to run at competitive power levels. From the FA1F onward, Osella’s cars were based to varying degrees on the Alfa Romeo 183T design. In 1988, Fiat objected to continued use of the Alfa Romeo name because of the negative publicity associated with the team, so the engine was described as the Osella V8. The FA1L proved uncompetitive and was also excluded from the 1988 San Marino event after failing scrutineering because of illegal chassis modifications. Osella ended the Alfa relationship after the season. The 1989 FA1M used a Cosworth DFR engine and showed occasional qualifying speed, including Nicola Larini’s tenth-place qualifying performance in Japan. Its race record remained poor, however. At the Canadian Grand Prix, Larini reached third place before an electrical failure caused by water ingress ended his race. At the Australian Grand Prix, Ghinzani suffered a high-speed collision with Nelson Piquet’s Lotus and subsequently announced his retirement. In 1990, Osella ran a single car for Olivier Grouillard. Gabriele Rumi’s Fondmetal company became involved as sponsor and shareholder, and Rumi ultimately acquired the operation and renamed it Fondmetal. Osella therefore left Formula One after the 1990 season, having participated in 132 Grands Prix and scored five World Championship points. Sports-car construction continued alongside the Formula One program and became the company’s long-term focus. Osella cars were particularly successful in hill climbs, where the PA9 and PA9/90 were used by Mauro Nesti and other drivers. The company also made a limited appearance in Can-Am competition: the PA10 achieved third in the two-litre class during 1984, driven by Armando Trentini. In the 1990s, Osella relocated to Atella and built a modern facility for producing sports cars for private customers and works entries. The works team’s strongest period included Pasquale Irlando’s nine victories in the 1995 European Hillclimb Championship season with a PA20, followed by championship titles in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Driver Fabio Danti later died in an Osella car during the 2000 championship. The factory returned to the Turin area in 2001, moving to Verolengo, where Osella continued producing specialist sports cars for hill climbs and smaller racing categories. At the end of 2022, Osella Motorsports LTD and Osella Engineering merged. The resulting Osella Corse operation, jointly led by Enzo Osella and Giuseppe Angiulli, produced cars such as the PA21 JrB for E2B competition. The modern brand remains a specialist constructor rather than a volume automotive manufacturer, with its identity centered on customer racing, hill-climb performance and bespoke competition engineering.

• 2022

  Osella Corse established

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  Osella Motorsports LTD merged with Osella Engineering and continued under the Osella Corse name.

• 2001

  Factory returns to the Turin area

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  Osella transferred its factory from Atella to Verolengo near Turin.

• 1997

  European Hillclimb Championship title

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  Pasquale Irlando began a run of three consecutive European Hillclimb Championship titles with Osella.

• 1995

  PA20 dominates European hill climbs

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  Pasquale Irlando won all nine races of the European Hillclimb Championship season in an Osella PA20.

• 1990

  Formula One operation becomes Fondmetal

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  Gabriele Rumi acquired the team and renamed it Fondmetal, ending Osella’s Formula One participation.

• 1988

  Alfa Romeo engine rebranded as Osella V8

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  The turbo engine was renamed the Osella V8 after Fiat restricted use of the Alfa Romeo name.

• 1984

  Alfa Romeo-derived FA1F introduced

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  The FA1F began Osella’s extended use of designs derived from Alfa Romeo’s 183T Formula One car.

• 1982

  First Formula One points

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  Jean-Pierre Jarier finished fourth at Imola, giving Osella its first World Championship points.

• 1980

  Formula One debut

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  Osella entered Formula One with the Cosworth-powered FA1.

• 1979

  Formula Two revival

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  Eddie Cheever won three Formula Two races in an Osella FA2 and finished fourth in the championship.

• 1975

  European Formula Two debut

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  The team entered European Formula Two with the BMW-powered Osella FA2.

• 1974

  Abarth sports-car program acquired

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  Osella took over Abarth’s factory sports-car program and expanded its constructor activities.

• 1965

  Osella is founded

  [1]Osellaen.wikipedia.org

  Enzo Osella founded the company in Volpiano and began competing with Abarth sports cars in Italian racing events.

A specialist Italian constructor positioned around lightweight, low-volume racing cars and practical competition engineering, with a particularly strong reputation in European hill climbs and smaller sports-racing categories.

• Formula Two racing car · 1975

  Osella FA2

  The FA2 was Osella’s principal early single-seater. Powered by BMW engines in its main Formula Two use, it first appeared in the European Formula Two Championship in 1975 and later returned in 1979 with Eddie Cheever. Its performance in 1979, including three race victories, helped establish the credibility that supported Osella’s move into Formula One.

• Formula One racing car · 1980

  Osella FA1

  The FA1 was Osella’s first Formula One car, designed by Giorgio Stirano and powered by the Ford Cosworth DFV. It reflected the company’s resource-conscious approach, with many components manufactured in-house. The car was able to qualify regularly with Eddie Cheever but suffered from aerodynamic shortcomings and severe reliability problems during the 1980 season.

• Formula One racing car · 1982

  Osella FA1C

  The FA1C was the Formula One model associated with Osella’s first championship points. Jean-Pierre Jarier drove it to fourth place at the 1982 San Marino Grand Prix. The result was significant for the small independent team, although the car and its successors remained limited by funding and development constraints.

• Formula One racing car · 1984

  Osella FA1F

  Introduced for 1984, the FA1F was based on the Alfa Romeo 183T and marked the beginning of Osella’s extended use of Alfa Romeo-derived Formula One technology. It formed the basis for later Osella models during the turbo era and was part of the team’s effort to remain viable while competing against better-funded constructors.

• Formula One racing car · 1988

  Osella FA1L

  The FA1L was the final Osella Formula One model derived from the Alfa Romeo design lineage. It used the turbocharged engine then described as the Osella V8. The car struggled in 1988, frequently failing to qualify or pre-qualify, and was excluded from the San Marino event after scrutineering found illegal chassis changes.

• Formula One racing car · 1989

  Osella FA1M

  The FA1M was Osella’s 1989 Formula One car and used a Cosworth DFR engine after the Alfa Romeo relationship ended. It showed occasional qualifying potential, most notably with Nicola Larini in Japan, but repeated technical failures prevented the team from converting speed into consistent race results.

• Hill-climb sports car

  Osella PA9 and PA9/90

  The PA9 family became closely associated with Osella’s hill-climb program. These lightweight sports cars were used by the works team and private competitors in Italian and European events, including campaigns involving multiple European and Italian championship winner Mauro Nesti. Their success helped define Osella’s post-Formula One identity.

• Can-Am sports-racing car · 1984

  Osella PA10

  The PA10 was a two-seater Osella sports-racing car used in Can-Am competition. During the 1984 season, Armando Trentini drove it to third place in the two-litre class. The result was notable because the rest of that class was largely made up of covered-wheel versions of single-seater Formula Two cars.

• Hill-climb sports car · 1995

  Osella PA20

  The PA20 was one of Osella’s most successful hill-climb models. Pasquale Irlando used it to win all nine rounds of the 1995 European Hillclimb Championship season and later won three consecutive championship titles between 1997 and 1999. The model was also used by other leading hill-climb drivers.

• E2B sports-racing car · 2022

  Osella PA21 JrB

  The PA21 JrB is a modern Osella Corse competition car for the E2B class. It can be configured with motorcycle-derived engines in the 1000 to 1600 cc range and adapted for both hill-climb and circuit use. The model represents Osella’s continued focus on compact, low-volume racing machinery after the 2022 corporate merger.

• 2022

  Merge Osella Motorsports and Osella EngineeringM&A

  Background

  Osella sought to consolidate its engineering and motorsport activities around its specialist racing-car business.

  Action taken

  Osella Motorsports LTD merged with Osella Engineering to form the Osella Corse operation.

  Aftermath

  Under Enzo Osella and Giuseppe Angiulli, the combined company continued developing cars such as the PA21 JrB for hill climbs and circuit racing.

  Source

• 1990

  Sell the Formula One operation to FondmetalM&A

  Background

  Osella needed additional financial support to continue in Formula One.

  Action taken

  Enzo Osella sold shares to Gabriele Rumi as part of a Fondmetal sponsorship deal, after which Rumi acquired the remaining operation.

  Aftermath

  The team was renamed Fondmetal and Osella’s Formula One activities ended after the 1990 season.

  Source

• 1989

  Switch to Cosworth DFR powerStrategy

  Background

  The Alfa Romeo relationship ended after the 1988 season, while turbocharged engines were approaching their regulatory phase-out.

  Action taken

  Osella introduced the Cosworth DFR-powered FA1M for the 1989 Formula One season.

  Aftermath

  Qualifying performance improved at selected events, but technical failures continued to prevent strong race results.

  Source

• 1988

  Rebrand the Alfa Romeo engine as the Osella V8Strategy

  Background

  Fiat became dissatisfied with the publicity generated by Osella’s Formula One results and restricted the use of the Alfa Romeo name.

  Action taken

  Osella continued using the engine but referred to it as the Osella V8.

  Aftermath

  The FA1L remained uncompetitive, and Osella ended its agreement with Alfa Romeo after the season.

  Source

• 1984

  Adopt Alfa Romeo-derived technologyStrategy

  Background

  Independent teams faced rising technical costs as Formula One entered the turbocharged era.

  Action taken

  Osella adopted the Alfa Romeo 183T as the basis for the FA1F and subsequent cars while using Alfa Romeo naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement helped the team remain in Formula One but did not resolve engine reliability and competitiveness problems.

  Source

• 1980

  Enter Formula One after Formula Two successStrategy

  Background

  Osella’s return to Formula Two in 1979 produced three wins for Eddie Cheever and attracted sponsorship through Ente Tabacchi Italiani and its MS brand.

  Action taken

  The company expanded from specialist sports and Formula Two racing into the Formula One World Championship with the FA1.

  Aftermath

  Osella competed in Formula One for 11 seasons, but limited funding and reliability prevented sustained competitiveness.

  Source

1. 1Osellaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Osella websiteosella.it