+++ New Stratos going Racing? SWEET!

I like this new interpretation of an iconic and hugely successful design from yesteryear.  I think that using the 458 Challenge might be a suitable substitute for the donor car.  Or maybe there are mechanical engineering aspects that make it more difficult than the 430 Scuderia.  Either way, wouldn't kick her out of bed for eating crackers.

New Stratos goes racing

Investors behind resurrected Lancia Stratos plans to build a GT2 race version to take to the track.

By Tom Phillips

02nd December 2010

The Stratos is going racing! Despite originally planning to commission a one-off modern interpretation of the Lancia Stratos road car, the investors behind the project are now thinking big. Thanks to the warm reception of the Pininfarina-designed supercar, 25 special road cars will now be built for wealthy collectors in a limited production run.

However, that’s not the only plan German entrepreneur and Stratos fan Michael Stotschek has for his creation. Like Ferrari collector James Glickenhaus did with his custom Ferrari P4/5, Stotschek has commissioned a racing version which will be built to the GT2 endurance racing rules.

The racer is previewed here, complete with improved aerodynamics, by this detailed 1:8th scale model created by Amalgam. The road car is based on the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, a car with an excellent GT2 race pedigree. Turin-based Danisi Engineering will carry out the racing preparation work.

The original Stratos has some circuit racing pedigree, but was predominantly a rally car in the 1970s, hence why the model bears the name of rally legends Sandro Munari, Bernhard Darniche, and long-term supercar test driver Loris Bicocchi.