The Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo is one of the defining machines of the late-1970s silhouette era — a period when factory programmes pushed turbocharged engineering and visual drama in equal measure. IXO Models captures car No. 51 as it appeared during the 1979 6 Hours of Silverstone, a round of that year's World Championship of Makes, with Riccardo Patrese and Walter Röhrl sharing the cockpit.
A Group 5 Silhouette Machine Built by Abarth
Developed by Abarth under the FIA Group 5 Silhouette regulations, the Beta Montecarlo Turbo retained the road car's basic body outline while being extensively modified for endurance competition. Its 1425 cc inline-four turbocharged engine — prepared by Abarth — produced approximately 370–420 hp, taking full advantage of the 1.4× equivalency factor to run against larger naturally aspirated rivals. The result was a compact, mid-engined racer that belied its production origins entirely.
The 1979 World Championship of Makes was a landmark season for Lancia. The factory Abarth operation entered the Beta Montecarlo Turbos at multiple rounds, with the cars taking Group 5 class victories throughout the year. Car No. 51 at Silverstone paired Riccardo Patrese — a fixture in Lancia's factory endurance line-up that season — with Walter Röhrl, a rally specialist who made selective appearances in endurance events for the team. The combination of disciplines represented by these two drivers makes this particular entry historically distinctive.
IXO Models and the 1:43 Scale Model
IXO Models produces this 1:43 scale model as part of their dedicated racing car range. The replica reproduces the No. 51 entry in full Martini Racing livery — white base with the characteristic red, blue and dark-blue stripes synonymous with Lancia's factory endurance programme of the late 1970s. IXO's 1:43 range is well established among collectors for accessible, race-accurate replicas of significant competition cars.
In the Display Cabinet
This model fits naturally into a 1979 World Championship of Makes collection alongside other Group 5 rivals of the period, including Porsche 935 entries from the same season. Within a Lancia-focused display, it pairs directly with other Beta Montecarlo Turbo entries from the 1979 WCM rounds — Vallelunga, Nürburgring or Le Mans. Collectors drawn to the Martini Racing livery will find it a coherent match with the Lancia Stratos from the rally programme of the same era, sharing identical stripe graphics across a very different type of competition car.
Frequently asked questions
What race does this model represent?
It represents the No. 51 Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo entered at the 1979 6 Hours of Silverstone, a round of the 1979 World Championship of Makes.
Who drove car No. 51 at Silverstone in 1979?
Riccardo Patrese and Walter Röhrl. Patrese was a regular Lancia factory driver that season; Röhrl, better known as a rally driver, made select endurance appearances for the team.
What is the Martini Racing livery on this car?
A white base with red, blue and dark-blue diagonal stripes — the factory livery used by Lancia's Abarth-run endurance programme throughout the late 1970s.
What is the Group 5 Silhouette formula?
An FIA regulation class from the late 1970s that required cars to retain the road car's basic body silhouette while allowing extensive mechanical modifications. The Beta Montecarlo Turbo ran a 1425 cc turbocharged Abarth engine producing around 370–420 hp under this formula.
