Lancia Delta S4: 1000 Lakes Rally 1986

Every time I see a Group B rally video, I can imagine Bernie Ecclestone on the phone trying to put an end to it. It doesn’t take a genius to recognise that the sound, spectacle and danger of Group B was a big threat to F1 as the pinnacle of motorsport.

This clip features the inspired Lancia Delta S4. The clever four cylinder engine was both supercharged and turbocharged and delivered  550 horsepower through all four wheels. It weighed just 890kg, meaning it could rocket to 100km/h in under 3 seconds.

The Lancia won the RAC Rally on debut in 1985 with Henri Toivonen at the wheel and for two weeks Markku Alén was the 1986 World Champion, before the FIA annulled the results of the Sanremo Rally (which Alén had won) due to a technical infringement.

This clip shows the Lancia team gunning for victory in the 1000 Lakes Rally of Finland. The Rally was won by Timo Salonen in a Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 ahead of Juha Kankkunen in another Peugeot, with Alén in the Lancia, 3rd.

Via: ColdTrackDays.com