The Dallara F382 marked the Italian manufacturer Dallara’s first foray into the highly competitive world of Formula 3, and it set the stage for the company’s future dominance in lower formula categories. Built for the 1982 Formula 3 season, the F382 was designed by Giampaolo Dallara, who applied his expertise to produce a car that was lightweight, aerodynamically efficient, and mechanically reliable.
Constructed around an aluminium monocoque chassis, the Dallara F382 was fitted with engines from various manufacturers, though the Toyota 2T-G was among the most popular choices due to its balance of power and reliability. The car’s suspension setup featured double wishbones, which provided a good balance between handling precision and adaptability to different circuits.
In its debut season, the Dallara F382 was driven by a number of promising young drivers. Nannini, in particular, showcased the potential of the car with several strong performances in the Italian F3 Championship. The car also proved to be successful in other national championships, such as the German and British F3 series, where its light weight and excellent aerodynamics helped it stay competitive against the likes of Ralt and Reynard.
Despite its relatively modest power output of around 160-170 hp, the Dallara F382 excelled thanks to its aerodynamic design, particularly its low-drag bodywork and effective rear wing, which helped generate downforce without excessive drag. This allowed the car to be quick in both straight-line speed and through corners, crucial factors in Formula 3 where the emphasis was on maintaining momentum.
Although not a dominant force immediately upon release, the Dallara F382 laid the groundwork for what would become a long line of successful Dallara F3 cars. The lessons learned from this initial model would later be refined and improved, establishing Dallara as a premier constructor in the junior formula categories.
