Lancia Stratos

History
Before Lancia Stratos could enter Group 4 Special GT cars class in the rally championship, it had to be homologated. 500 units had to be built and offered for sale. While the production was still running, Lancia Stratos team, under the colours of Marlboro and under management of Gianpaolo Dallara (ex Ferrari Formula 1 driver and currently involved with Formula 1 cars) entered a few unhomologated races and proved itself to be a superb performer by winning important Tour de France. Next crucial victory was the one just prior to its dedication to the World Rally Championship - the victory at Targa Florio in 1974.

World Domination
The assembly of the homologation lot was completed in 1974, and Lancia Stratos was ready to start its domination. For three consecutive years, the sight of the multi-eyed monster was greeted by spectators who watched it win the World Rally Championship in 1974, 1975 and 1976. Under many drivers, most famous one being Sandro Munari and Bernard Darniche (in 1979 Bernard managed to win Monte Carlo Rally causing renewed interest in the model) , Lancia Stratos won hundreds of different racing events.

Technical Data
There was a number of engine and suspension configurations. In its standard (homologated production car) guise, Lancia Stratos runs 9:1 compression which develops 190 bhp out of the 2.4 litre four cam Ferrari engine. The most radical version is the turbo version for the Group 5 Touring Car World Championship. There is 11:1 compression ratio Group Four tune which develops 280 bhp at 7600 rpm. With special 4 valves heads, it can produce 320 bhp. On some competition cars gearing is kept so low that they can barely touch 100 mph in the fifth, but does it work for acceleration. Transmission is a multi-plate dry clutch, the gearbox is a five-speed close ratio Ferrari with ZF limited slip differential. The Chassis is of unitory steel construction and bodywork is fibreglass. The suspension is a mixture of unequal length wishbones with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers at the front and wishbones with vertical struts, coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers at the rear. The brakes are unassisted ventilated disks and require quite a lot of force to get fully applied.

Driving
The steering is very responsive and demands great concentration. On the track the car's handling can be kept under control more by use of throttle then by the steering wheel. On the road (in the road guise), the car is relatively quiet and well behaved cruising at 100 mph on motorways. Front visibility is excellent due to the huge panoramic windscreen, while the rear view is hampered by the plastic screen limiting visibility to four rectangular openings. The car is equipped with a heater and the ventilation system is good. Windows are of rear-pivotted design and open only half way but the draught and rain is kept out successfully.

Conclusion
Lancia Stratos is a very rare car. It has a huge following, though, and because of the high prices, many enthusiasts build replicas which convey the spirit of the real thing quite well. As a pure sports machine with enviable competition track record, Lancia Stratos will always be an important part of motor racing history.