Lancia Rally Car 1970s during the unforgettable Group 4 and Group 5 era of rallying spanning the late 1960s through the 1970s, Italian automaker Lancia established dominance through advanced competition cars like the Stratos and Fulvia. Driven by legends, Lancia rally cars outshone rivals to capture championships worldwide. Let’s examine these pivotal 1970s rally models…
Jetta Rally car seems an unlikely basis for a competitive rally car. But in the late 1980s, VW’s motorsport engineers managed to morph the affordable front-wheel drive family car into a potent rallycross and Group A rally contender. This unique racing Jetta combined an advanced all-wheel drive powertrain, customized suspension, and weight reduction regimen showing…
Golf Rally car of Volkswagen’s venerable Golf/Rabbit hatchback seems an unlikely candidate for the brutal demands of professional rallying. But Volkswagen Motorsport cleverly optimized generations of Golfs into podium-winning underdogs punching far above their weight class through reliability and suspension expertise. Let’s explore the various variants like the GTI and Golf Syncro that proved front-engine,…
GC8 Rally car Subaru’s motorsports reputation was cemented largely by the Impreza generation’s rally success throughout the 1990s. Introducing turbo engines and sedan practicality to the Subaru badge, the new Impreza quickly formed the foundation for their leading rally racers as soon as it debuted. Extensive competition modifications transformed the GC8 from just another economy…
Aston Martin rally car conjures images of James Bond’s road cars or LeMans racers, not traversing muddy rally stages. But the prestigious British sports car maker boasts an unsung history of rally competition successes dating back to the 1950s. Elegant yet potent Aston rally cars proved giant killers against more established brands. Let’s unearth Aston…
American Rallycross racing possesses a dedicated but niche fandom in America. But the condensed, intense format of rallycross has built grassroots momentum thanks to compact dirt and tarmac courses featuring big jumps that showcase car control and door-to-door racing. Let’s explore why rallycross resonates with US motorsports fans through its accessible regional events, standout drivers,…
AE86 Rally Car hatchback enjoys a towering reputation among enthusiasts as the drift icon beloved in Initial D. But long before drifting fame, the nimble AE86 built an esteemed rally racing pedigree from the mid-1980s onward, humbling more advanced machinery. Thanks to brilliant weight distribution and handling finesse, modified AE86s became giant slayers in rally…
1992 Celica Rally car – Toyota’s third generation Celica GT-Four debuted in 1988 as a highly capable contender in the competitive Group A era of rallying. But peak success arrived with the ultimate ST185 version campaigned in the 1992 World Rally Championship, claiming Toyota’s first driver’s and manufacturer’s titles. Through evolutionary improvements to nearly every…