The origins of the Modena-Lamborghini team lie in the early months of 1990 as the GLAS team, a Mexican-backed effort which approached Lamborghini for a supply of engines and for assistance with chassis design. Lamborghini in turn were interested in expanding from engine supply into having their own team, and seconded Mauro Forghieri and Mario Tolentino to the team to design the chassis. In mid-1990 with the chassis nearly complete, the main backer, Gonzalez Luna, disappeared with his money, so in order to keep things going Lamborghini decided to invest the money themselves. However, the firm wanted to keep things at arm’s length to avoid the illustrious name being attached to a high-profile flop, so the team was registered under the name “Modena Racing Team” after the town where the factory was based (sadly, driver Stefano Modena, also from Modena, was with Tyrrell). Fans and commentators alike simply referred to them as Lamborghini or “Lambo” for short – which was after all the name of the constructor on the entry papers. Confused? Nicola Larini, an experienced test driver, was signed after his stint with Ligier, and would partner Belgian rookie Eric van de Poele.
34. Nicola Larini 
Larini was another driver like Gachot with evident talent but never having had the machinery to make the most of it. Coloni, Osella and then Ligier had all been pretty average at best, though in 1990 he had at least managed to qualify for every race and clearly outshone his more experinced team-mate Alliot. The Lamborghini engine had been pretty good in 1990, though, and while the new package was unlikely to win straight out of the box, it might allow him to do better.
35. Eric van de Poele 
The Belgian driver from Verviers began life in single-seat racing, moving from karts into French F3 but also kept a sideline in touring car racing, and indeed in 1987 he won the German Touring Car series despite not winning a race all season as well as the Spa 24 Hours. In 1989 he moved to British F3000, finishing fourth and then as runner-up to Erik Comas with three wins in 1990. His long-term sponsor Lease Plan decided to back him into F1 with the new Lamborghini outfit.
Turbos and Tantrums 