This year, a new era begins for the rally, with the advent of the hybrid. But in 1982, 40 years ago, another period remained in the memories that opened, that of the famous Group B. Back to an ephemeral category that gave birth to many legends.
Thanks to the addition of an electric motor, the all-new hybrid WRCs reach the 500 hp mark. Powers that we had not seen in the world rally championship for a long time. To find such figures, we must indeed go back to the time of Group B. A category that appeared exactly forty years ago, in 1982, and was abolished at the end of 1986 after several fatal accidents. With Group A taking over, the cavalry of cars will be restricted by the regulations to 300 hp, a limit which will remain in place until 2016 when it will be raised to 380 hp. But before exploding in full flight, the Group B allowed several cars to enter the legend: Peugeot 205 T16, Lancia 037 and Delta S4, Ford RS200, Audi Quattro Sport…
>>> Find the most emblematic Group B in pictures <<<
Lancia and Citroën, the first to draw
It all started with a simple… Citroën Visa. Yes, it is the city car with Chevrons which will be the first to comply with this new regulation, thanks to its Trophy variant produced by Heuliez. But with its 100 hp and its front-wheel drive, it is not aiming for the leading roles. The only other Group B that appeared in early 1982, the Lancia 037, was already much more ambitious. Moreover, it managed to win the constructors’ world title the following year, under the nose and beard of Audi, whose Quattro was still entered in the old Group 4. This feat is all the more notable as the beautiful Italian, powered by a compressed four-cylinder, still retains rear-wheel drive. It will thus be the last propulsion to win the crown.
A dominating Peugeot 205 T16
The future is all-wheel drive, and Peugeot has understood this well. Its 205 T16 thus displays only a very distant relationship with the 205 GTI: here, the engine is turbocharged, in the rear central position and all four wheels are driven. This will not prevent the Lion brand from having to produce 200 copies for the road, the regulations of Group B being intransigent on this point.
But if the civilized model is content with 200 hp, the competition version starts at 340 hp and will go up to 550 hp before being forced into retirement. Enough to allow him to dominate the discipline for two years in a row. Although the 205 T16 started the 1984 season too late to deprive Audi of another title, still in Group 4, it offered Peugeot the constructors’ titles in 1985 and 1986. The crown was also there for two of its drivers, Timo Salonen in 1985 and Juha Kankkunen in 1986.
Many interested builders
Spectacular, Group B attracts spectators to the edge of the stages and unleashes the enthusiasm of the media. Inevitably, this also arouses the appetite of many manufacturers, such as Ford with its RS200 or MG with its cubic Metro 6R4. Lancia finally converted to all-wheel drive with its Lancia Delta S4, and Audi ended up entering the category with its Sport Quattro, shortened to gain agility. The Porsche 959 and Ferrari 288 GTO supercars are also designed to meet this regulation, although they will never be seen on rally stages. As for Citroën, it tries in vain to reach the highest level with its BX 4TC, a memorable fiasco. A non-exhaustive list.
TO HAVE. Slideshow: all monsters in group B
A fireworks quickly interrupted
Alas, this sublime fireworks will end in a sad final bouquet. During the 1986 Portugal Rally, the death of three spectators, hit by a Ford RS200, already sounded the alarm. But it was the death of Henri Toivonen and his co-driver Sergio Cresto, after their Delta S4 plunged into a ravine during the Tour de Corse, which prompted the International Motorsport Federation to end Group B. His successor announced, group S, will be taken away at the same time in favor of group A, which favors models much closer to the large series. The 205 T16, Ford RS200, Sport Quattro and other MG Metro 6R4s will not all be retiring, however. We will find many of them in rallycross and the Lioness will even be entitled to a new harvest of victories in rally-raid, despite a power reduced to 360 hp.
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