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Vol.15 : 26, August 2005 
A Visit to Barattero in Argentina - South America's top rally preparation company, Barattero, were paid a visit recently - South America's top rally preparation company, Barattero, were paid a visit recently by STI Group N Project General Manager, George Donaldson. The tour through their state-of-the-art facility was an eye-opener for the rally veteran.
As well as their reputation for excellent preparation and set-up of winning rally cars, Barattero are the sole agent continent-wide for STI-prepared SUBARU cars and components, supplying teams and drivers from over half a dozen countries. The company was founded and is run by brothers Fabio and Mario Barattero, proud owners of a firm that has grown year-on-year since they began. Continued high demand for their expertise means the main facility at Barattero has just been extended - and was completed just the day before this year's Rally Argentina got started. GD: "I had the privilege of stopping by and having a look round the whole operation. Immediately I was amazed at the level of cleanliness, attention to detail, and overall hospital-like efficiency of the place.The structure too, is imposing, with a tremendous entryway and a long staircase before leading to offices. They build all their own suspensions, and that includes the manufacture of all the parts of that suspension; most of which (over 95%) is done in-house. They also have a CNC machining facility and a fabricating facility, as well as a full workshop for fabfricating and manufacturing rally parts." Now in their 7th year with SUBARU, Barattero staff are considered some of the most experienced providers of Group N services in the world. As a result, this team from the Cordoba region are regularly responsible for national, regional and international wins - and not only in South America... In addition to its international Group N obligations, Barattero also builds and maintains as many as half a dozen cars in the regional Argentine championship. This doesn't count the teams they assist in the South American championship. Leading the South American championship at the moment, Peruvian driver Ramon Ferreyros is another Barattero customer - and a happy one, having just won the fifth round of the championship in the area of the mountainous Andean country where grew up.
The newly-opened facility is something in which the Barattero brothers can be proud, its gleaming glass and aluminum facing reflecting the modernity and expertise found within its walls. The entire complex - from its neatly cut lawn out front, to the machine shop areas inside, presents a fabulous image - one of quality and expertise, coupled with a modern cutting-edge feel. The workshops themselves are immaculate. All work areas are perfectly prepared - and look clean enough to eat off of! Personnel In terms of employees, the Barattero brothers employ approximately 30 staff in total. These range across the team's various areas of discipline, including: CNC, manufacturing facilities, workshop preparation, the re-build team, engines, transmissions, suspension re-build, engineering and engineering maintainence facility, the design facility - with CAD and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture) facility. With the right tools and expertise behind them, the engineers here have the ability and the equipment to undertake even the most advanced and intricate manufacture of precision parts and components. To give an idea of where they might like to be in the future, the team are also running a fully-managed package in the WRC from this season. Barattero is a preparation specialist with a distinguished history, a thriving present, and a very bright future as the leading light in rally preparation, manufacture and maintainence throughout South America. |
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