Group B rally fans?

Merlins Beard

*Beard not included
Anyone else share a passion for Group B rally racing? I can't get enough of the wicked cars, the sounds they made, and the fearless drivers. Here's my favorite videos and pics and I want to see yours.

If anyone wants a detailed but brief history of Group B racing, shoot me a PM and I'll send you back something I put together of the Group and how it met it's tragic end.

One of my favorite videos, 11 min of clips showing the different cars & conditions without any sound editing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sJVZO9xUB4

A clip showcasing the true skill and control the drivers had - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44iibIEeWGM

Another clip showing drivers, cars, and conditions - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHe1aq-dkNg

Renault R5 Turbo 2:

Peugeot 205 T16:

Metro 6R4:

Lancia Delta S4:

Lancia Monte Carlo 037:

Ford RS200:

Audi S1 Quattro:


RIP- Wyder, Toivonen, Bettega, Cresto, and the countless others who died racing and spectating Group B racing.
 
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Merlins Beard

*Beard not included
Here is the basic info/history of Group B (sorry its so long - didnt want to leave anything out)

In 1979 FISA legalized AWD for use in the WRC (world rally championship). All teams did not change the reliable RWD cars already in use for AWD because of fears of the additional weight or mechanical problems. Audi was the only exception and developed the Audi Quattro in 1980 and used the 1980-1981 seasons as development years. The Quattro was used in a 1980 event as the course opening vehicle but did not compete. If the Quattro was entered into the event, its time would have won by nine minutes. The next era of rally racing had begun.

In 1983, FISA wanted to get more manufactures involved into the WRC and founded Groups A and B. Group B offered almost no restrictions on the cars that could be used. A minimum of 200 of the cars must be made as a "production" car and allowed about 20 of those to be turned into an Evolution model, which was used for the races.

Group B's popularity soared as producers built some of the most powerful and advanced cars ever made. Boasting Kevlar bodies and "space frames" most of the cars weighed less than 2,300 lbs and produced around 450-500 whp. These cars included the Audi S1 Quattro, Lancia Delta S4, Peugeot 205 T16, Ford RS200, MG Metro 6R4, Lancia Monte Carlo 037, Renault R5 Turbo, and many others. The only N/A car was the Metro 6R4, all others were turbocharged or supercharged except the case of the Delta S4 which was both. Most of the later cars (1984-1986) were also AWD, again with an exception. The Lancia 037, the first true Group B spec car, was only RWD. It has been said the Delta S4 could accelerate accelerate from 0-100 kph in 2.3 seconds, and that's on lose gravel. This era produced the best drivers the world has and will ever see. Their split-second reaction times were cut in half over normal rally drivers and unparalleled control over their cars has had no equal. By the 1986 season most of the cars had over 600 whp and were so fast that a drivers eyes could not properly focus in the time between corners.

However, a series of horrible accidents occurred.
1985, Tour de Course, France - a Lancia Monte Carlo 037 lost control and left the roadway. The car crashed into a tree which ruptured through the drivers seat, killing driver Attilio Bettega. His co-driver, Maurizio Preissinot walked away unharmed.

1986, Port Wine Rally, Portugal (spectator stage) - an RS200 was put off its line trying to avoid 2 spectators in the road at the crest of a hill. The car was forced to take the next corner very fast and too wide. The car was launched into the crowd killing 4 and injuring 31 more. All factory teams withdrew from the rally because their drivers refused to race. (I have seen the clip of the accident but it is in part of a larger video)

1986, Hessen rally, Germany - an RS200 left the roadway at high speed, hitting 2 trees which cut the car in half, and exploded instantly, driver Marc Surer barely survived with major burns (it is said that he survived because the rescue team threw him into a river to extinguish the flames over his body), co-driver Michel Wyder died in the crash (seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xokJEbfsDe0 )

Finally- May 4 1986, Tour de Course, France, stage 18 (tarmac) - a Delta S4 lost control and went tumbling down the mountain side and exploded at the bottom, driver Henri Toivonen and co-driver Sergio Cresto were both killed - there were no eye witnesses (only footage of the crash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYGgwgNmJuY&feature=related ) The only remain from the crash was the blackened space frame of the car, everything else either burned or melted.

These four accidents caused FISA's immediate cancellation of the 1987 season. Ford and Audi withdrew from the season while the remaining factory teams decided to wrap the season up.

The legendary cars that emerged from Group B are still outlawed for WRC by FISA today. They are still used in similar events such as WRX (world rally-cross) and the Pikes Peak International Hill-climb. Many current WRX cars are still overpowered by the mid 80's Group B supercars.
 
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