The latest in Veloce Publishing’s series Rally Giants, Lancia Stratos describes the birth, development, and rallying career of this Europe’s very first purpose-built rally car, in the mid/late 1970s. It provides a compact and authoritative history of where, when, and how it became so important to the sport, as well as telling the story of the team. Author Graham Roberts is an automotive historian, and expert in rally racing. Fans of this great sport won’t want to miss this incredible series.
| Foreword |
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5 | (2) |
| Introduction & acknowledgements |
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7 | (2) |
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7 | (1) |
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8 | (1) |
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9 | (41) |
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9 | (3) |
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The Stratos' importance in rallying |
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12 | (2) |
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14 | (1) |
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14 | (2) |
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Manufacturing - meeting the rules |
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16 | (3) |
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19 | (3) |
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22 | (8) |
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30 | (5) |
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Homologation, and running changes |
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35 | (3) |
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Building and maintaining the works cars |
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38 | (4) |
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Personalities and star drivers |
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42 | (8) |
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50 | (70) |
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50 | (5) |
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55 | (52) |
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Which new cars took over, and why |
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107 | (3) |
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110 | (3) |
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Chequered Flag and Stratos - a long story |
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113 | (2) |
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Four cars, one colour scheme |
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115 | (5) |
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Stratos works rally cars - World Championship rallies (and when first used) |
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120 | (1) |
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World/major European rally wins |
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121 | (6) |
| Index |
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127 | |
After a varied career in the automotive industry Graham Robson has gained a worldwide reputation as a motoring historian, and has more than 160 books to his credit. Born in 1936, and educated at Ermysteds Grammar School in Yorkshire, Graham then went on to study Engineering at Oxford University. He joined Jaguar Cars as a graduate trainee, becoming involved in design work on the Mk II, E-Type and Mark X. Beginning as a hobby, he became a rally co-driver, eventually joining the Sunbeam 'works' team in 1961, and took part in rallies up to International level (once with Roger Clark), but stopped rallying by 1968. During this time he joined Standard-Triumph in Coventry, in 1961, as a Development Engineer, mainly on sports car projects. He then ran the re-opened 'works' motorsport department from 1962 to 1965, this being the period of the birth of Spitfire Le Mans cars, TR4, Vitesse, Spitfire and 2000 rally car developments. Graham Robsons writing began with rally reports for magazines which evolved into a job with Autocar from 1965-1969. He was recruited back to industry at Rootes to run the Product Proving department, then after a brief period in 1972 as technical director of a safety belt company, became an independent motoring writer. Graham has lived 'by the pen' and 'by the voice', not only writing but commentating, presenting and organising events of all types.
