Rally History Archive

The Audi Quattro family revolutionized rally racing in the 1980s as the first successful four-wheel-drive car in the World Rally Championship, fundamentally altering the landscape of motorsport competition with its groundbreaking drivetrain and turbocharged power.

The BMW M3 E30 brought high-revving rear-wheel-drive precision to Group A rallying, becoming a tarmac terror in the European Rally Championship and a cult favorite for purists who valued balance over brute force.

The Citroën BX 4TC was a rushed and flawed attempt to enter the Group B arena, remembered more for its quirks and failures than for any competitive success — yet it remains an unforgettable footnote in rallying history.

The Dacia 1300 was Romania’s rally staple throughout the 1980s — a modest, rear-wheel-drive sedan that became a national symbol of endurance, competition, and motorsport ambition in the Balkans.

The Fiat 131 Abarth entered the 1980s as a proven champion, carrying over its Group 4 success into the early years of the decade before stepping aside for more radical designs in the coming Group B era.

The Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2 carried over its rally dominance into the early 1980s, remaining a gravel weapon of choice for top-tier drivers and privateers even as the sport began transitioning toward AWD and Group B machines.

The Ford RS200 was a purpose-built Group B rally car that combined a mid-engine layout, advanced four-wheel drive, and striking design — a technical marvel held back by late development and the abrupt end of its era.

The Ford Sierra RS Cosworth bridged the gap between rear-wheel-drive tradition and the AWD future, proving itself as a tarmac specialist in Group A with a turbocharged punch and unmistakable motorsport attitude.

The Lancia 037 Rally stood tall as the last rear-wheel-drive car to win the World Rally Championship, using lightweight design, supercharged power, and expert handling to defeat the emerging AWD threat in the early Group B era.

The Lancia Delta HF 4WD and its Integrale evolutions became the benchmark of Group A rallying, dominating the WRC with unmatched consistency, speed, and adaptability starting in 1987.

The Lancia Delta S4 was a terrifyingly fast Group B machine that pushed the boundaries of rally car design with its twincharged engine, all-wheel drive, and explosive performance, becoming both a legend and a symbol of the category’s excess.

The MG Metro 6R4 was Britain’s wild card in Group B — a naturally aspirated V6, all-wheel-drive machine that stood out for its unique engineering and incredible agility, especially in short, twisty stages and national events.

The Mazda 323 GTX was a compact, turbocharged Group A contender that proved surprisingly capable in harsh endurance rallies, particularly in Africa, where its durability and traction made it a tough underdog.

The Nissan 240RS was Japan’s contribution to Group B — a rear-wheel-drive, naturally aspirated machine built more for endurance and toughness than sheer speed, earning its reputation on the unforgiving stages of African rallies.

The Opel Ascona 400 was the last great rear-wheel-drive champion before the rise of Group B AWD monsters, capturing the 1982 World Rally Championship with a balanced chassis, bulletproof durability, and the finesse of Walter Röhrl behind the wheel.

The Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 redefined rally dominance in the mid-1980s with its mid-engine layout, advanced four-wheel-drive system, and relentless pace, capturing back-to-back World Rally Championships and cementing its place as a Group B icon.

The Renault 5 Turbo flipped the hot hatch formula on its head, moving the engine to the middle and powering the rear wheels to create a rally weapon that excelled on tight, technical tarmac stages throughout the early 1980s.

The Subaru RX Turbo marked the brand’s quiet entry into international rallying, laying the AWD groundwork that would later define Subaru’s iconic status in the sport during the 1990s.

The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus was a no-nonsense rear-wheel-drive hatch that shocked the rally world by winning the 1981 Manufacturers’ Championship with raw pace, mechanical simplicity, and agile handling.

The Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 marked the beginning of Toyota’s all-wheel-drive rally dynasty, launching in the late 1980s as a powerful and reliable Group A car destined for WRC glory.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 and Mk2 became staples of European rallying in the 1980s, offering privateers an affordable, front-wheel-drive platform with surprising pace, especially on tarmac stages.

The Škoda 130 LR was Czechoslovakia’s lightweight Group B entry, a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive machine that held its own in Eastern European rallies and national championships with simplicity and grit.