Following a well-documented test at the Fiat Group’s proving ground at Balocco in June, this latest test session took place at the Wächtersbach complex in Germany, which incorporates a short circuit and handling course. According to the project’s official website: "Wächtersbach’s tight handling course put different demands on the vehicle than the Balocco track had done thus far.”

Once again at the wheel of the new sports car prototype, and leader of the development program, was former F1 driver Tiago Monteiro. The Portuguese driver competed in 37 grands prix with Jordan, Midland and Spyker, and collected a podium finish in the controversial United States Grand Prix in 2005. He currently races in the FIA World Touring Car Championship for a SEAT satellite team, and also piloted the New Stratos prototype during its initial Balocco test. Behind the wheel in Germany, too, was Michael Stoschek, the German automotive sector industrialist and historic rally driver who has brought the ambitious project to fruition, as well as his son Maximilian.

According to the official website, “an enhanced Porsche 911 GT3 RS was used as the reference car”, and, as at Balocco where an insider told Italiaspeed that “all the benchmarks had been exceeded”, this time the sports car seems to have been equally as impressive in what was a very different scenario. “All in all, the test confirmed that the vehicle is both extraordinarily agile and a phenomenally fun drive,” the report stated. Matthias Mohr, a test engineer from Sachs ZF, was also able to try out individual damper adjustments while the sports car was being driven on the track. Following that test the New Stratos will be fitted with harder suspension springs and a more direct steering ratio before its next test takes place, once again at Balocco, in mid-September.