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THE LANCIA
STRATOS 1970-1979 |
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In 1970, at the Turin
Motorshow, Bertone showed a radical concept car called
Stratos powered by a Fulvia HF 1600 engine, but mounted in
the centre of the chassis driving the rear wheels.
With the approval of Lancia, development began of a more
practical sports car based on this design and one year
later, again at the Turin Motorshow, the Lancia Stratos HF
was shown.
Retaining the same basic idea, but with many
changes (such as the addition of doors !), the Stratos HF
was now powered by a transverse 2.4-litre Ferrari Dino V6
engine.
This prototype was actually later fitted with a Fiat 132
2.0-litre engine, but that project went no further. A second
development prototype was also built. These early cars used
double-wishbone suspension at the rear, but problems in
development led to this becoming a modified MacPherson strut
system.
With
homologation requiring the production of 500 cars, Lancia
began entering the Stratos in events which also allowed for
prototype cars in 1972 (its first event was the Tour de
Corse of that year, driven by Munari) and continued through
1973 (its first victory was in the Spanish rally of that
year, again driven by Munari).
That year also saw the appearance of the first 24 valve
versions, producing around 270bhp compared to the 230bhp of
the 8V cars. At the end of 1973 production of the actual 500
began, but although Bertone had built all 500 chassis by
March 1974 homologation was first achieved in October of
that year.
That allowed enough time for the Stratos to take victory in,
amongst others, the Sanremo and Tour de Corse. Together with
the points gathered by the Fulvia,
it was enough for Lancia to win the World Makes
Championship. 1974 also saw the first Stratos turbo, with
350bhp, make some racing appearances.
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The fragile-looking Lancia Stratos won a whole host
of major rallies during its life, including the
Monte Carlo, Tour de France, Swedish , Tour de Corse
and Sanremo Rallies |
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The Lancia Stratos has
taken up its rightful place as one of the rallying
greats, a car that pushed the technology forward |
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1975 saw Lancia dominate and win the World Makes
Championship, including victories on the Monte Carlo,
Swedish, Tour de France, Tour de Corse and Sanremo. A
semi-works Stratos turbo, prepared by Facetti, was also
entered in the European GT Championship, but proved
uncompetitive.
The opportunity was used, however, for further development,
and in 1976 as well as the Facetti cars, there appeared
works Lancia Stratos turbo's in the new World Championship
for Makes for Group 5 cars. these cars used a KKK turbo and
Kugelfischer fuel injection to produce 480bhp with a 12V
cylinder head and 0.8bar of boost. A longer rear body was
designed by Bertone to improve the aerodynamics.
In
rallying in 1976 Lancia again won the World Makes
Championship (winning the Monte Carlo, Portugal, Tour de
Corse and Sanremo), whilst Darniche won the European Rally
Drivers Championship driving a Stratos, and Franz Wurz won
the European Rallycross Championship also in a Stratos.
A Stratos turbo also finished 20th at Le Mans in that year.
Although
the works effort was toned down to avoid competing with the
new Fiat 131s, in 1977 the winning continued. Darniche again
won the European Rally Drivers Championship although the Le
Mans entry that year retired. New regulations in 1978
resulted in only the 12V cylinder head being allowed, and
numerous other changes. This dropped the power down to
around 270bhp from the 300bhp which the 24V cars had been
giving. Despite ths Carello won the European Rally Drivers
Championship.
In 1979
the Stratos ceased to be an official works car, but the
winning still went on, primarily by Darniche who even
managed a historical win on the Monte Carlo that year.
Finally a
brief comment on the number of cars actually made. The
figures quoted range from about 450 up to 1000. There is no
'official' figure, but the generally accepted number is
around 490.
Text
courtesy of
CarsFromItaly |
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