A deafening roar of engines, the smell of hot rubber and shimmering asphalt, shining eyes of drivers and fans - and plenty of endorphins could be experienced and felt in the Italian region of Abruzzo at the beginning of June.
The picturesque hills and villages of the region in central Italy and the glistening light of the Adriatic Sea provided the perfect backdrop for one of the most important motorsport events of the year. "Stratosferica" was the name of the official celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Lancia Stratos, the rally car that revolutionized the world of motorsport.
Cars from all over Europe
More than a dozen vehicles rolled through the Abruzzo province of Teramo from June 4 to 8, 2025. The drivers, who had traveled from all over Europe, were accompanied by numerous fans, Stratos mechanics "from the very beginning" and prominent personalities from the motorsport scene.
Among them: the "father" of the Lancia Stratos
Guest of honor and even present on several rally days was Cesare Fiorio - the key figure in the history of the Lancia Stratos HF. He was accompanied by his granddaughter Mariapaoloa, herself a rally driver.
Abruzzese-born and ex-Formula 1 driver Jarno Trulli was unfortunately unable to attend, but sent a video message in which he paid tribute to the event and his "motorsport home".
Historic automobiles
Among the historically significant rally cars was Claus Aulenbacher's Lancia Stratos, which won the Lana Rally in the 1970s and was painstakingly and patiently rebuilt after a devastating fire in the mid-2000s by Aulenbacher from Mainz together with Stratos specialist Udo Sparwald, who was also present.
Through the beautiful Abruzzo region
In addition to time trials and hill climbs, the panoramic tour from the coastal town of Alba Adriatica to the impressive Bourbon fortress of Civitella del Tronto was a key part of the program. Various stopovers took the teams to numerous picturesque towns and villages, which led from the sea to the hinterland and ended the day with a typical, sumptuous dinner.
The foreign drivers and their companions were delighted with the still relatively unknown Abruzzo region.
Great impressions
"What struck us was the incredible contrast in the landscape between the mountains, which are still covered in snow in June, and the sea, which is only 30 km away," says Aulenbacher. "In terms of geography, the mountains are naturally interesting, especially with the Lancia Stratos as a driver. As a driver, you benefit from the diversity - from this rapid change between plains and mountains."
The emotional highlight for driver Udo Sparwald from Saarlouis was the signing of his Stratos by Cesare Fiorio himself. "I was very impressed that Cesare Fiorio was here despite his advanced age, and I had goose bumps. And I still get them."
The opportunity to get to know other Stratos drivers, whom Sparwald had previously only known from historical starter lists, was also valuable for him. "The Italian Francone brothers, for example, I had only read about them. Meeting them here was very emotional. We talked a lot and exchanged phone numbers. The communication? Italian, English, French, German and, if necessary, with our hands and feet."
To be continued
The aim of the event was not only to pay tribute to Lancia's sporting heritage, but also to showcase the deep automotive tradition of the Abruzzo region, which with the "Stratosferica" was also able to present itself as an innovative location for the automotive supplier industry with a racing tradition.
Even 50 years after its homologation in Group 4, the Lancia Stratos remains a technical and stylistic icon - a symbol that unites generations and cultures.
"Above all, it was very nice to meet so many Stratos enthusiasts and to drive these enchanting routes with these special cars 'among friends'. It was very moving," said rally participant Giovanni Zanzoni from San Marino. There is no better way to summarize the event.
Motivated by this successful premiere, the organizers - above all Dr. Claudio Alfonsi together with Ascom Abruzzo and Confassociazioni, 'Scuderia Cuore Rosso - Villa Rosa' in cooperation with the Gentleman Drivers, and the Abruzzo region as well as numerous local partners - are already working on repeating the event.
