Almost a year after stepping down as CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares continues to live his lifelong passion: motor racing. Now settled in Portugal, far from the arcanes of industrial power, the former CEO shares in his book "Un pilote dans la tempête" (A pilot in the storm) some striking memories of his life as a gentleman driver. After evoking its Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprintit's another Italian icon that returns to his memories: the Lancia Stratos HF.
"Another intense and perfectly happy moment in my racing career was my participation in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally a few years ago at the wheel of a wonderful Lancia Stratos in the iconic Alitalia colors, having been driven by Sandro Munari," he writes.
This Stratos, owned by his friend Richard Mille, is not just any car. It's true to the spirit of the 1970s, when Lancia dominated the world rally championship. Under its central hood, the original Ferrari Dino 2.4-liter V6, developing around 190 hp in its road version and up to 280 hp in competition configuration, propelled this compact car with its sharp lines and unrivalled sound and responsiveness.
Tavares recounts having had the privilege of driving it on the snowy and icy special stages of the Ardèche, during the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique.
"What happiness and responsibility," he confides, before underlining a message that still resonates today:
"Europe's autophobic technocrats should realize the passion and joy that people get from the mere passage of this car through the villages! It's unheard of!"
It's a powerful statement from a man who has long had to reconcile his passion for cars with the imperatives of a group committed to the electric transition...
The former boss concludes his anecdote with a touch of humor: despite a traffic offence unjustly attributed by the marshals, he returns the Stratos "without a scratch" to Richard Mille, acknowledging "from the bottom of his heart" his generosity.
Even today, the Lancia Stratos remains a legend. Designed by Marcello Gandini for BertoneWorld Rally Champion in 1974, 1975 and 1976, it symbolizes an era when Italy knew how to combine design, technology and emotion.
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Overdosing on this "captain of industry"!
Enough of Carlos Tavares, who has done nothing but harm to Italian brands, and whose record is scandalous.
I completely agree with you, even if we don't know each other, what he says about stratos is true, but has nothing to do with his actions at the head of steletis where we have to deal with a competent in the technical automotive world, this guy, for whom the money allowed him to do rallying, doesn't prevent me from saying that today, given the industrial scrap he has made, he should largely be in prison.