Cross back to rallycross with Retro Lancia Stratos
Former rallycross Supercar racer John Cross will debut a Lancia Stratos in the next round of the Retro Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill on August Bank Holiday Monday.
Cross returned to rallycross last year racing a front-wheel-drive SEAT Leon, having left the discipline for circuit racing, but has been working on the restoration of the Stratos to use in the Retro RX series that runs alongside British RX.
“I wanted to find a car that was capable of taking on the likes of the Porsche and Beetle in Retro Rallycross,” said Cross. “My career began in 1975 in stage rallying and the Stratos was my dream car. I was looking for a mid-engine car for Retro Rallycross and I realised it would be the perfect choice. I found an ex-rally car, the owner had originally planned to convert it back for road use and I was lucky enough to acquire before he did that.”
The car will be powered by a V6 Volkswagen engine, built by Julian Godfrey, and uses a Gemini gearbox and Ohlins suspension similar to the type run on EKS’ World RX Supercars.
Cross said: “It’s been an easy project because the chassis came with an MSA log book and all other relevant paperwork as verification of its origin. The plan is to race at Lydden Hill and then go to Loheac in France to take part in the Rallycross Legends display at the World RX round.”