Despite its last victory in 1992, Lancia still to this day sits third in the all-time winners list, racking up over 70 world rally wins; a testament to the time, effort and money Lancia invested into the WRC at this time. Along with that impressive figure, no other marque has come anywhere close to challenging Lancia in terms of manufacturers' titles, totalling 11 overall. For context, that’s three more than Citroën, and a whole six more than Peugeot. While cars like the Fulvia and Delta Integrale certainly helped rack up those impressive figures, there is one car that stands out in Lancia’s rich heritage: the Stratos.
Sleek yet muscular, dainty yet fierce, the Stratos was, and still is unlike any other rally car ever created. Its low-slung, aerodynamic body would most likely be better suited to brushing rumble strips on racetracks, and its Ferrari Dino-derived V6 offers plenty of power when desired, making it something of a handful at the best of times. However, in the hands of the bravest drivers, it was simply unstoppable out on the dirt.
One of those fearless hotshoes was Adartico Vudafieri. Born in 1950, near to Venice, Vudafieri tried his hand at rallying for the first time in the early 1970s, making is name in the plucky Fiat 131 Abarth, before moving to Lancia by 1978. He would go on to win the Italian Rally Championship in 1978, and narrowly miss out on a back-to-back win in 1979, falling short to Antonio "Tony" Fassina in another HF Stratos.
Watching old footage of these supercars on dirt is one thing, but seeing one in the flesh is truly an unforgettable experience. Thanks to Passione Engadina, this August will be your chance to see Vudafieri’s championship-winning car, as it lines up alongside 15 other breath-taking Lancias inside the Pavilion in St Moritz.
Entry to the Pavilion is free and will be open in the weeks leading up to Passione Engadina 2023, commencing on the 25th to 27th August 2023. To find out more, click here!
