“Come to St. Moritz and drive my Lancia Stratos HF Group IV in the Passione Engadina.” It’s the kind of invitation which has you scrabbling to RSVP. As you’re probably aware, the Stratos is a car that’s rather close to my heart and one in which I’ve enjoyed a lot of ‘seat time’. At Girardo & Co. we’ve rehomed over 10 of the homologation specials in various guises and I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to call a very early Group IV my own. You might have seen it launching skyward in our most recent Christmas film – click here to refresh your memory. 

If Passione Engadina is an event with which you’re unfamiliar, I’d heartily recommend ringing next year’s edition on your calendar. Oriented around St. Moritz and the breathtaking Engadine Valley which surrounds it, the three-day event’s backbone is an epic 240km rally which encompasses the greatest roads Switzerland has to offer, including the Bernina Pass.

The breadth and quality of the 140-strong entry list was something to behold, ranging from brut-iful pre-War Bugattis and sultry post-War Ferraris to a crop of hugely desirable younger supercars built in the 1990s-onwards. I thought the display of fabulous Ferraris from Niki Hasler AG was especially impressive. Despite the drizzle, on Saturday morning I found myself snuggly sat in the cockpit of this magnificent Group IV-specification Lancia Stratos surrounded by a multicoloured gaggle of other excellent examples of the Italian rally legend.

Part of a private collection and not seen in public for many years, 'my' car for the weekend (chassis number 1788) was delivered new to Turin in 1974. With a view to competing with the car, a subsequent Italian owner decided to upgrade it to full-fat Group IV specification in 1978, with the permission of the top brass at Lancia. The man entrusted with undertaking the project was none other than Claudio Maglioli – the former national touring car champion turned tuner extraordinaire, whose competition Lancias (especially Stratos') scored over 100 victories and frequently got the better of the Works cars. 

Finished in the striking and oh-so-1970s livery of Team Tejanos John, chassis 1788 contested the 1979 Spanish Rally Championship in the hands of Mariano Zapata Martinez. An advantage this Lancia enjoyed over most of its counterparts is that it was fitted with a Kugelfischer fuel injection system, which lent the Stratos a dollop more top-end torque. The system was developed in period by Mauro Ambrogi of University Motors, amazingly the very same man who so fastidiously restored chassis 1788 back to its former glory in 2018–2019. It’s always a pleasure to see historically significant cars going full circle.

Climbing back into this Stratos was like slipping on an old pair of jeans. Every Italian-labelled switch was exactly where it should be. The short gear lever fell to hand just so. The engine fired with the same rapturous bark.I found the increased top-end power from the fuel injection most welcome at the altitude of the Swiss Alps during last weekend’s Passione Engadina. I’ll tell you something: for the passes comprising endless series of hairpins, I honestly could not have found myself in a better car than the Stratos. The steering is so direct and precise, the handling so nimble and satisfying, the V6 bark so sharp and hair-raising. It’s pure escapism – the perfect antidote to the stresses of day-to-day life.

I’m going to throw something out there that’s perhaps a little bit contentious: the Team Tejanos John livery is every bit as cool as the Works Lancia Alitalia warpaint. In and around St. Moritz during the Passione Engadina weekend, the snake of Stratos' naturally commanded attention. But chassis 1788, especially, garnered the most adoration, both on the ground and, from what I saw, across social media. A talking point it most certainly was.

Suffice to say, giving the keys back to this Lancia’s rightful owner was not so easy. Now chassis 1788 and I are at one with each other, I can only hope the very same kind invitation arrives in my inbox next year. There aren’t many authentic and highly original Lancia Stratos’ with period competition history, so to be lent the car on such a special occasion was a privilege for which I’m extremely grateful. Chassis 1788 really is a top-tier example. And the Passione Engadina was an unforgettable event. A jaw-dropping setting of staggering natural beauty, exquisite food, the world’s finest cars and even better company. What’s not to like?In the meantime, I’d invite you to enjoy these excellent photos from Passione Engadina captured by the one and only Amy Shore. Oh, and since I’m still on a high, I think I’ll wake my car up from hibernation and head out for a drive. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: every great collection needs a Lancia Stratos - Group IV or Stradale…Photos courtesy of Amy Shore