Scalabroni was born in Cordoba and studied mechanical engineering at the National Technological University in Buenos Aires before being recruited by the Formula Renault Fama team in 1975.

There he designed the first company wind tunnel and one of the pioneer carbon monocoque chassis for small single seaters: a trend setting Formula 3 car with rearward sloping sidepods, for the 1983 season.

Before leaving the Hethel team, Scalabroni left one audacious project: an F1 car with the four wheels set up as a cross or rhomboid, two at the sides, protruding from the middle section and one each at the front and rear.

Towards the end of 1992, Scalabroni went to Peugeot Sport, then concentrating on the "avant projet" Formula One car under the watchful eye of Andre de Cortanze and Jean Todt.

When the PSA top executives denied Todt the resources necessary for an F1 team, the mercurial racing boss left for Ferrari and, soon afterwards, Scalabroni was on his way to a company owned by Takeo Ikuzawa.

At the end of the 2008 season, Scalabroni sold the GP2 license and cars to a group of companies represented by Portuguese driver Tiago Monteiro, who set up the new Ocean Racing Technology team.