Let’s put it this way: the Delta Integrale, in all of its versions, has six consecutive WRC titles under its belt. The race car absolutely dominated the rally realm between 1987 and 1992, sparking that sort of passion that still resides in the heart of every gearhead.
By modern standards, Lancia isn’t the most successful carmaker we’ve known. In fact, the brand’s decline makes us ask ourselves if it will manage to survive for the next five years or so. The Delta Integrale Evoluzione homologation special, though, will keep the Lancia name alive for us. That and this 700-horsepower Integrale Evo ripping a hillclimb course.
Of Course This Is Not Your Standard Lancia Delta Integrale Evo
For starters, the video’s description on YouTube says that it packs 700 horsepower. To put things into perspective, the stock Integrale Evo made 215 horsepower. Torque is unspecified, but we also know that the factory-spec car had to make do with 231 pound-feet of twist sent to all fours. This hillclimb special (by the way, it is owned and manhandled by Milan Bubnic from Slovenia), well, could pack three times the torque.
Surely, you can’t pump a 2.0-liter engine’s output to 700 horsepower without some massive tweaks. In this case, the hike came as a result of “aggressively turbocharging.” Fair enough. Then there’s the Delta’s kisser. Forget about a standard grille and headlights: the whole fascia is pretty much a giant air intake and radiator holder. Sure, it has a Frankenstein-y vibe about it, but it does the job and let’s be honest, the Delta Integrale was never a beauty contest winner.
You also want as much downforce as you can harness during a hillclimb run. That comes courtesy of the giant rear wing balanced out by the burlesque rear diffuser.
Oh, and did we mention that you’ll want to turn the volume up because this Delta Integrale shrieks and screams like a banshee? It also spits flames from time to time, so you’ll be getting the whole audiovisual treatment over the clip’s four minutes.
Having said that, we still can’t decide what to love about this hillclimb Delta Integrale. The sound? The fact that it spits flames? Or the fact that the driver is able to steer it through those corners with such ease, as if the wheels were glued to the asphalt.