The Driver’s Seat: Henry Catchpole on the Maturo Stradale

The Lancia Delta Integrale is one of the most revered road and rally cars of all time, and the Maturo Stradale aims to take the best of the Group A WRC car and put it into a road car. You might think that an original homologation road car would already be pretty close to the competition version, but, as Henry Catchpole discovers, under the skin they are really quite different.

To really show off the changes the Dutch company has made with the Stradale, we have gathered all three variants-the racer, the road car, and the restomod-in Belgium and closed some roads to make a proper rally test stage. We've also brought along some timing gear and a professional driver, Kevin Abbring (who has won Rally Ypres on these very roads) to pit restomod and rally car against each other.

With 360bhp, the Maturo Stradale has considerably more power than a standard Lancia Delta Integrale Evo, but in order make use of it, there has also been plenty of stiffening in the chassis. To help save weight, there is carbon fiber bodywork, which stays very true to the gorgeous original in terms of aesthetics, so that a casual glance wouldn't arouse suspicion. However, look closer and you will see delightful details like the 'M' supports for the rear wing.

Inside, the car has been beautifully trimmed with tan Alcantara that contrasts with the naked carbon fiber. The bucket seats in the front place the driver much lower behind the wheel and there is a lovely, simple, tall gear lever. Although there is a full roll cage, the brace across the rear can be removed in order to make use of the rear seats, retaining the original's practicality.

This Maturo pre-production prototype is light on sound deadening, but the customer cars will have a little more refinement (should they want it). Nonetheless, this is very much a rally car in spirit. Just like the Prodrive P25 Impreza, the Kimera EVO37, and MST's Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts, the Maturo places a premium on dynamics and faithful recreation of the genuine WRC articles.