Top Six Martini liveried Race/Rally Cars, Celebrating Martini's 150th Birthday

This year is Italian multinational alcoholic beverage Martini & Rossi 150th Birthday, in motor racing it has liveried many race and rally cars. As so, this post is the top Martini liveried Race/Rally Cars.



Starting with number six of the top six is:

Number 6: 1974-75 Brabham BT44
Story: Story: The Brabham BT44 was designed by Gordon Murray, the Brabham BT44 was powered by the 3 litre V8 Cosworth DFV engine that produces 430 bhp. Brabham BT44 took five victories between 1974 and 1975, four for Carlos Reutemann and one for Carlos Pace. Although the Brabham BT44 never took a drivers' championship in those two seasons. It did took Brabham to second place in the Constructors championship in the 1975 season behind Ferrari in the standings.



Number 5: 1999-2010 Ford Focus RS WRC
Story: Replaced the old Escort WRC back in 1999. The Ford Focus RS WRC uses a 2 liter 4-cylinder turbo engine that produces 300 bhp. Took 44 WRC wins (11 times in Martini liveried in four seasons) in twelve seasons altogether in the WRC in the hands of Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz, Markko Märtin, Marcus Grönholm, Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala. Close to few WRC Drivers titles but not close enough. But, the Ford Focus RS WRC did took Ford to two WRC Manufacture titles in hands of Marcus Grönholm and Mikko Hirvonen in 2006 and 2007.



Number 4: 1970-71 Porsche 917K
Story: This was the first Porsche race car that dominated at Le Mans and took two of Porsche's 16 wins at Le Mans. Designed by Norbert Singer, the Porsche 917K used the Porsche 4.9 litre Flat-12 engine to create 600 bhp back in the early 1970s. Which took Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood to the 1970 Le Mans race win to make a Porsche one-two-three finish (second place was using the Porsche 917L, while third was using a Porsche 908/2L). Then in 1971, Dr. Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep (in Martini livery) took victory in their Porsche 917K to finish off a Porsche one-two in the 24 hour race.



Number 3: 1982-85 Lancia 037
Story: The first of the Group B rally cars, The Lancia 037 uses a 2.1 litre 4-cylinder supercharged engine that produces 350 bhp. Took 6 WRC wins in four season altogether in the WRC in the hands of Walter Röhrl and Markku Alén. The Lancia 037 never won the WRC Drivers' titles in 1983. But, it did win the manufacturers' championship in the 1983 season. And it would be the last rear-wheel drive car to win the manufacturers' championship in the WRC, after that four wheel drive the way.



Number 2: 1976-77 Porsche 936
Story: The Porsche 936 took Porsche to it's third and forth victories at Le Mans in 1976 and 1977. Porsche 956 uses the Porsche 2.1 litre twin turbo flat-6 engine that produces 540 bhp. In 1976 Jacky Ickx and Gijs van Lennep took victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And then again in 1977, Porsche drivers Jürgen Barth, Hurley Haywood and Jacky Ickx took victory in that years 24 hours race.



Number 1: 1987-92 Lancia Delta Integrale
Story: Replaced the banned Group B Lancia Delta S4 rally car back in 1987. The Lancia Delta Integrale was for Group A rally rules and uses an in-line 4 cylinder two litre turbo engine that produces 318 bhp. In total, the Lancia Delta Integrale won 46 WRC wins in six seasons altogether in the WRC in the hands of Miki Biasion, Juha Kankkunen, Markku Alén, Franz Wittmann, Jorge Recalde, Bruno Saby, Mikael Ericsson, Didier Auriol, and Andrea Aghini. Took Lancia’s to six consecutive manufacturers’ titles (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992), which remains a record. And took Juha Kankkunen (1987 and 1991) and Miki Biasion (1988 and 1990) to four WRC Drivers' titles altogether. Which, possibly gives Lancia Delta Integrale the most successful Lancia rally car in history.



Happy Birthday to Martini.

End of blog for how, new post soon. Bye.