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THEDEREKBELLTOUR
IBERIA 16 – 21 September all-Australian affair last time around thanks to Covid-19 rules, but entries from further afield are expected again in 2023 vhrr.com
17-18 March
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Three Legs of Mann ‘Relentless action’ on the Isle of Man: crews will tackle 21 tricky regularity sections and 26 special tests on closed roads heroevents.eu
18-19
March
Herefordshire Trial
The arrival of spring is again heralded by the VSCC’s two-day trial in Herefordshire. vscc.co.uk
23-26
March
Un Homme, Une Femme
This event for couples does away with all competitive elements, allowing the entrants to enjoy cruising along some beautiful routes in the South of France. happyfewracing.com
24-26 March
Generations Rally
Created to introduce the young ’ uns to the joys of endurance rallying, this event, based in the North Pennines, is open to multigeneration crews in pre-1986 cars. rallytheglobe.com
24-26 March
NEC Restoration Show
Barnfirnds, pristine restorations and groaning trade stands fill Birmingham’s NEC, and in the workshop area you can pick up tips on how to tackle that project car languishing in your garage. necrestorationshow.com
We will be setting off from Lisbon on a 5-day adventure through such exotic regions as the Alentejo, Extremadura and Guadalajara, before we arrive at our final destination, Madrid. Along the way there will be lazy lunches, mind-blowing scenery, gourmet food and wine tastings, and plenty of time each day to relax and unwind at the wonderful hotels.
I hope you can join us for what promises to be an unforgettable week
Please contact Verity Campbell for a brochure Call +44 (0) 1635 867705 or email verity@v-management com v-events co uk
Restomods 2.0 –the next generation
400bhp Maturo Stradale heads a barrage of cars taking the trend way beyond Porsche 911s
WE’RE ENTERING A GOLDEN era for the restomod scene Although improved and reimagined classics are not a new idea, 2022 saw the concept applied to an increasingly diverse set of cars, from Prodrive’s ‘ultimate Impreza’ P25 to Tolman Motorsport’s subtly upgraded Peugeot 205 GTI (see column). Now we have the Maturo Stradale, a 400bhp re-engineered Lancia Delta Integrale Some will cry sacrilege, but the original Delta Integrale could well be the ideal base for a restomod project. It’s an undisputed icon, and a certified Group A rally champion, yet the build quality and durability of the standard road cars – especially the Evos – left a lot to be desired That’s certainly the thinking of Maturo This Dutch company has many decades of rallying experience with the Integrale, which means its engineers are well aware of all the car ’ s weak points – and how to fix them Starting with a 16v Integrale, the ’shell is stripped bare and repaired, before being strengthened at more than 250 points, as well as being fitted with an integrated roll-cage Although the body looks like that of a standard Evo, Maturo has replaced pretty much every single one of the panels with carbonfibre alternatives Advantages include a weight-saving of around 50kg and far superior panel fit, plus they’re corrosion-proof Mechanically, the Stradale will be rebuilt to Group A-plus specification, taking advantage of 30 years of technological advancements to make it more powerful, easier to drive and more reliable Thanks to a modern motorsport ECU, rebuilt forged bottom end, optimised cylinder head, carbon airbox and larger
The only exterior change from the TR is staggered 17- and 18in alloy wheels, while inside much of the plastic has been replaced with custom billet aluminium But it’s all about the mechanicals: new pistons, camshafts and engine management raise power from 385bhp to 492bhp, with a scintillating 9000rpm redline
Left and above, from top New Dutch take on the Lancia Delta Integrale is based on the 16v, apes the Evo but is lighter and with better panel-fit; Maturo promises a safe 400bhp from heavily modified engine; integrated roll-cage is the icing on the cake, fitted to a bodyshell that has been strengthened in 250 places intercooler, its engine will produce a safe 400bhp The five-speed gearbox has been re-engineered to cope with the additional power, and for that true rally feel there’s an optional straight-cut gearbox with dog-leg shift pattern New plated limited-slip differentials front and rear, plus a viscous centre diff, provide perfect power distribution
Maturo’s motorsport expertise has influenced the suspension set-up, with four-way adjustable dampers and an optional electronic ride height control system The 330mm front and 282mm rear brakes are taken from the rally car, too, complete with a competition-spec pedal box and hydraulic handbrake
The whole package is finished off with an all-new bespoke interior It’s intended to combine aspects of the Group A rally car and the original road car, as well as some pieces of the S4 Stradale – with a focus on the use of high-quality materials. Although prices and final specifications for the Maturo Stradale have yet to be confirmed, the company has plans to build just ten of them.
Updated, improved and reimagined icons were once the preserve of Porsche 911s and Jaguar E-types, plus the occasional 105-series Alfa Giulia, but while those models still dominate, enthusiasts now have a considerably broader and more exciting selection to choose from.
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