Top Six Group B Rally Cars!

With the death of Group B coming up 30 years back were there was no rules when Group B regulations fostered some of the quickest, most powerful and sophisticated rally cars ever built. However, Thirty-one people were injured and three were killed during 1986 Portuguese Rally when one of the Group B rally cars lost control by an inexperienced driver. Then the death of Henri Toivonen and his co-driver Sergio Cresto in the 1986 Tour de Corse which finished off Group B rallying altogether to end the golden era of rallying. So this post will be top six Group B rally cars starting with Number 6:

Number 6: 1985-86 MG Metro 6R4
Story: The MG Metro 6R4 uses a mid-engine 3-litre (2.5 litre in Group B due to weight) MG V6 engine producing 250 bhp for street form and 410 bhp for rallying. The MG Metro 6R4 only managed one podium finish in 1985 with Tony Pond taking the honours with third place at the 1985 RAC Rally.





Number 5: 1986 Ford RS200
Story: The Ford RS200 uses a mid-engine Ford 1.8 litre in-line 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 250 bhp in street form. But, in Group B rally form the Ford RS200 produces 420 bhp. The Ford RS200 only managed one podium finish in 1986 with Kalle Grundel taking the honours with third place at the 1986 Rally Sweden.





Number 4: 1982-86 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. 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 was the way to win rallies. Overall, the 037 took six WRC wins in four seasons altogether in the WRC in the hands of Walter Röhrl and Markku Alén. The Lancia 037 took Lancia to one WRC Manufacture titles in 1983.





Number 3: 1985-86 Lancia Delta S4
Story: The Lancia Delta S4 uses a mid-engine Lancia 1.8 litre in-line 4-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged engine that produces over 480 bhp. In competition the car won its first event, the 1985 RAC Rally in the hands of Henri Toivonen and carried Markku Alén to second in the drivers' championship the following year in 1986. Overall, the Delta S4 took five WRC wins in two seasons altogether in the WRC in the hands of Henri Toivonen, Markku Alén, and Miki Biasion.





Number 2: 1983-86 Audi Quattro
Story: The Audi Quattro used a front-engine Audi 2.1 litre in-line 5-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 197 bhp in street form and in Group B rally form produces over 590 bhp. The Audi Quattro was the first rally car to take advantage of the then-recently changed rules which allowed the use of four-wheel drive in competition rally. Overall the Audi Quattro took twenty-three WRC wins (thirteen WRC wins in Group B spec) between 1981 to 1986 in the hands of Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist and Walter Röhrl. The Audi Quattro took Audi to one WRC Manufacture titles in 1984. And two WRC Drivers' titles with Timo Salonen in 1983 and Stig Blomqvist in 1984.





Number 1: 1984-86 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
Story: The Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 is possibly the best rally car Peugeot has ever created. The Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 uses a mid-engine Peugeot 1.8 litre in-line 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 197 bhp in street form and in Group B rally form produces over 450 bhp. Overall, the 205 Turbo 16 took sixteen WRC wins in three seasons altogether in the WRC in the hands of Ari Vatanen, Bruno Saby, Timo Salonen and Juha Kankkunen. The Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 took Peugeot to two WRC Manufacture titles in 1985 and 1986. And two WRC Drivers' titles with Timo Salonen in 1985 and Juha Kankkunen in 1986. To give the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 the best Group B rally car ever!