The utterly brilliant Dallara Stradale is very much a race car that you might just use on the road if you really really have to. It’ll come as no surprise then, to hear that the Italian motorsport legends have ditched the awkwardness required to make it road-legal and have launched this – the Dallara EXP. Crikey. 

Now, we don’t know too much about this bonkers-looking thing just yet. Well, other than the fact that if you’ve already bought a road-going Stradale, Dallara can transform it into the hardcore EXP while still leaving you with the option to reverse your decision if you ever want to put the number plates back on.

We do know that the Ford-sourced 2.3-litre turbocharged four-pot remains present and correct, though, and that it now makes a frankly terrifying 493bhp and 700Nm of torque. That's compared to the ‘standard’ Stradale which 'only' gets 395bhp. The EXP's power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox.

Also, despite having no option of a windscreen, the EXP is slightly heavier than the Stradale (890kg plays 855kg) – although that’s no real surprise given the MASSIVE swan-neck rear wing, the new aero bits and the larger diffuser. We also know that it’ll generate up to 2.7g in high-speed corners and that it makes 1,250kg of downforce at its 290kph top speed. Sticky. 

Given Dallara’s experience in the track-only domain, we also know that it’ll be mind-bendingly quick. In fact, it’s apparently already setting the equivalent of GT3 pole-position lap times at Mugello.

So, first impressions folks? Is there anyone better placed to build the ultimate trackday toy, and is the EXP the one you'd go for over all others?