From my own point of view, I don't really care what the Top Gear perception was. I don't think many people on here (or anywhere else for that matter) really take anything Clarkson says seriously on any subject let alone Stratos related topics. By todays standards, the Stratos is not a fast car nor does it need to be proven to be. It's a unique piece of motoring history and that should be enough to preserve it's reputation. I remember a few years ago, Phil (Bernard) took his Hawk round the Chatsworth rally stage and then went round the same stage with Steve Perez in his original Stratos. Conclusion...no difference in overall peformance.
Another thing, if you wanted to field a fast stratos replica, I don't think you could get faster than Neil's (turbonutter) Corse with 500+ bhp. Now that IS awesome.
I say let sleeping dogs lye. The Top Gear episode is forgotten, leave it that way. Just my two penneth.
Mick