World Rally Championship: The Legends of Group B

Which cars were the legends of Group B of the World Rally Championship?

1. Audi Quattro
2. Lancia Delta S4
3. Peugeot 205 T16
4. MG Metro 6R4

A world rally class with a short 4-year history cemented its name in the hearts and minds of race fans forever. From 1982 to 1986, the no holds barred Group B of the World Rally Championship allowed cars to surpass the limits of technology and engineering to produce the fastest road, snow, and dirt going vehicles on the planet.

While in the Philippines, steel tubes are used for roll cages, Group B race cars would simply make use of fragile aluminum in order to shave weight. With virtually no regulations placed on the cars, engineers and mechanics had access to limitless possibilities and produced the most ferocious vehicles that matched their fearless drivers. Here are a few of the most iconic cars in the most legendary race series ever to exist:

Audi Quattro

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Arguably the most important rally car of the era, the Audi Quattro was a giant that stood as the tallest in Group B. It was a car that exposed the unfair advantage of four-wheel-drive in the world of rally. With its early iterations, the A1 and A2 started the onslaught of Group B championships and with their highly developed inline-5 screaming Quattro S1 E2, nothing came close to Audi. The Quattro was piloted by some of the world’s finest drivers including Hannu Mikkola, Walter Rohl, Michele Mouton, and Stig Blomqvist.

Lancia Delta S4

Source: Wikipedia

No other car in Group B embodied raw power and brute force like the Lancia Delta S4. A successor to the rear-wheel-drive giant slaying Lancia 037, the Lancia Delta S4 adopted its own four-wheel-drive system to keep up with the competition. On top of that, it was powered by a supercharged and turbocharged inline 4 engine located inside the cabin where the rear seats were supposed to be. With a 550 horsepower motor sitting behind the driver, a solid four-wheel-drive system, and a highly skilled pilot — Henri Toivonen behind the wheel, the Lancia Delta S4 won the championship in 1985 on its debut. After the end of Group B, the Group A spec Delta continued the legacy of its Group B brethren to become the most successful rally car of all time.

Peugeot 205 T16

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Believe it or not, Peugeot once dominated the rally stages and became the team to beat in the latter portion of the Group B era. Who would’ve known that a common car, the likes of which can be seen in Philippine traffic, was once a beast of rally racing. The punchy little hatchback claimed titles in 1985 and 1986. And in its short-lived career, it was handled by legends of the scene such as Michele Mouton, Juha Kankkunen, and Ari Vatanen.

MG Metro 6R4

Source: Wikimedia Commons

You can never mention Group B without talking about the MG Metro 6R4. The quirky little hatchback’s looks are deceiving. You may never expect to see a V6 engine located in the center of the car, right behind the driver. Although its powertrain was not equipped with forced induction, its 410 naturally aspirated horsepower was enough to slay the competition because it’s extremely lightweight. The MG Metro 6R4 weighs less than a ton. Though the car never won any championships due to reliability issues, it was one of the most loved cars in its era. But just when the car’s problems were starting to be resolved, Group B was abolished. Though the MG Metro 6R4 was never given a chance to redeem itself, it has left a lasting impression on many rally fans.

Key Takeaway

The World Rally Championship bracket of Group B is known as the golden age of rally racing. This era produced some of the world’s best rally cars, which pushed the limits of both drivers and engineers. Sadly, due to its high risk of danger and deaths, the FIA put a stop to the competition. It was an amazing time in automotive history which was too good to exist. Today, the limits of safety in the Philippines with steel tube roll cages and even in Philippine traffic are strictly enforced. Due to this we probably won’t get to see the rebirth of Group B and cars that are built on the ragged edge of ingenuity.