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The Story of Supercar Driver - 15 Years in the Fast Lane
Not many people know the full story of Supercar Driver, where it started, why it started, and how it’s evolved over the last fifteen years.
October 22, 2025
From IndyCar to Le Mans and F1, here’s how Dallara has shaped the racing grids of the world.
If you’ve heard of Dallara, chances are it’s because of the Stradale — the featherweight, carbon-clad rocket that looks like it’s escaped from a pit lane onto a mountain pass. But while the Stradale is their recent road-going statement piece that intends to take Dallara to new heights, the company’s DNA is pure motorsport.
Founded in 1972 by Giampaolo Dallara, a man who cut his teeth at Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and De Tomaso, the company has quietly shaped the world of racing for decades. From Formula 3 to IndyCar, Le Mans to Formula E, if there’s a grid somewhere on Earth, odds are there’s a Dallara chassis on it — and it’s probably winning. Their cars might not always wear their name on the nose, but make no mistake: Dallara is one of the true engineering powerhouses of modern motorsport.
Here’s a rundown of some of Dallara’s most notable cars of recent years, and a few bonus cars that you probably didn’t know Dallara had a hand in.
Series: IndyCar Series (2012 - Present)
The current universal chassis for all IndyCar teams. Reliable, modular, and built for both road and oval configurations with a 2.2-litre turbocharged V6 that produces upwards of 700hp. Named after Dan Wheldon, who had a hand in testing the chassis and tragically died at the final round of the IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011. Intended to prevent similar crashes in future, the DW12 introduced major safety improvements to the series, such as a partial enclosure around the rear wheels and a redesigned front end.
Series: Super Formula (Japan, since 2023)
A lightweight, high-downforce, open-wheeled single-seater powered by hybrid technology, used across Japan’s top open-wheel series. Materials derived from flax fiber, cork and recycled carbon fibre reduce carbon dioxide emissions of the production process by 75%. A modified version named EAV-24, capable of self-driving, is being used in the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League.
Series: LMP2 (2017 - 2021)
Competes in WEC, IMSA, and ELMS. It was the first LMP car built by dallara since the original le Mans-winning Audi R18 TDI. Known for strong straight-line speed and efficiency, the car took three wins and nine podiums, and was driven by big names such as Nick de Vries, Felipe Nasr and Harrison Newey.
Series: FIA Formula 2 Championship (2018 - 2023)
Dallara’s first turbocharged Formula 2 car was the spec chassis for Formula 2 in 2018, directly below Formula 1 in the FIA ladder and a natural feeder series for the F1 drivers of the future. Big names of today’s Formula 1 grid, such as Oscar Piastri and George Russell, won the F2 championship at the wheel of the Dallara F2 2018. Since succeeded by the Dallara F2 2025.
Series: FIA Formula 3 Championship (since 2019 - 2024)
The official chassis for the rebranded FIA F3 series since 2019. Since succeeded by the Dallara F3 2024.
Series: GP2 Series (2011–2017)
Until Formula 2 replaced GP2 in 2018, this was the car used for the series as a development and recognition platform for many future F1 drivers like GP2 champions Romain Grosjean, Stoffel Vandoorne and Pierre Gasly.
Series: IndyCar Series (2003–2011)
A long-serving chassis that dominated the early 2000s American open-wheel scene. Starting life in 2003 as the IR-03, by 2007, all IndyCar Series drivers (bar the Indy 500) used the IR-05 chassis. From 2009 to 2011, that included the Indy 500. Replaced by the DW12 in 2012, the IR-05 remains one of the most successful cars in IndyCar history with Dan Wheldon taking the championship in 2005, and Dario Franchitti taking four titles between 2007 and 2011.
Series: Indy NXT (since 2015)
The chassis used in IndyCar’s primary feeder series, previously known as Indy Lights, since 2015. Much like F2 to F1, this is the series where talent and the big names of tomorrow are discovered.
Dallara’s first fully self-branded road car launched in 2017, combining extreme lightness with aerodynamic precision. There’ll be a full in in-depth blog of the Stradale coming and a video of Paul being let loose in one too, so stay tuned!
Dallara co-developed the carbon-fibre monocoque.
Dallara assisted with aerodynamic and chassis development.
Dallara manufactured the chassis of Ferrari's three-time Le Mans-winning Hypercar.
Dallara designed the racing versions of the Lamborghini Huracán.
Dallara builds and develops the chassis for the Haas F1 Team.
