Fire in the hole

The Huayra Pronello Ford combined advanced aerodynamic ideas with brutal V8 power for a long-lost Argentinian sports-prototype series

- MICK WALSH

Motorsport fever around the globe has produced some special national championships, and none more so than in Argentina. One of South America's most spectacular race series was the short-lived Sport Prototipo Argentino, which from 1969-'73 produced some of the wildest-looking racers. With bulbous rooflines to meet the odd height regulations, dramatic streamlined bodies with audacious extensions and precarious aerodynamic wings, these front-engined, V8-powered machines looked more like full-scale slot-cars. Then there were the names of Chevun, Liebre, Poto, Numa and Baufer, which made the series' entry list sound like an online gaming scoreboard.

But this dramatic series involved visionary designers including Oreste Berta, who was later invited to the Nürburgring 1000km with his team's LR prototype, and Heriberto Pronello, a talented aerodynamics specialist.

At home, these new prototypes were cover stars of Parabrisas Corsa magazine, but outside the Argentine Republic the cars and their aces were little reported in Europe, other than in stories about rising star Carlos Reutemann. So the surprise entry of a sensational Huayra Pronello Ford coupé at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed in July led to fascinated enthusiasts Googling the Sport Prototipo series, with many voting the restored 200mph prototype their standout car of the event.