RX7 Rally car with its unique rotary engine and rear-wheel drive layout, the Mazda RX-7 sports car seems an unlikely choice for the demands of professional rally racing. But in national and international events throughout the 1980s and 1990s, specially prepped RX-7s became giant slayers besting more powerful rivals. Through extensive modifications and smart driving, Mazda…
Rally car group B from 1982 to 1986, the FIA’s Group B formula revolutionized rally racing, allowing nearly unrestricted development of the most outrageous supercars ever turned loose on public roads. Group B’s short reign left an indelible mark through advanced engineering and extreme performance before dangers forced its cancellation. Let’s examine the in credible…
What is WRC Brimming with white-knuckle action showcasing finely tuned driving machines battling challenging off-road routes, the World Rally Championship (WRC) offers thrill-seekers an unparalleled motorsport spectacle. What exactly makes WRC rally so special versus other racing leagues, and why do millions of fans relish this form of racing? The Roads Less Traveled Unlike circuit…
Rally car classes unlike circuit racing’s open competition, rally utilizes specific classes to maintain fairness and encourage participation. Cars contend based on attributes like drivetrain, displacement, and degree of modification rather than outright performance alone. Let’s examine the major national and international rally car classes, how they differ, and what types of vehicles compete in…
Quattro Rally Car by Audi’s racing reputation was defined in the 1980s by their revolutionary Quattro all-wheel drive rally car. With its unique architecture packing a turbocharged inline 5-cylinder powering all four wheels, the Quattro became a dominant force in the World Rally Championship. Let’s explore the engineering and rally racing success that made the…
Porsche 914 Rally Car is not what most motorsports fans associate the Porsche 911 with legendary rally exploits like winning the East African Safaris and Monte Carlo through the 1960s and 70s. But Porsche found earlier rally success in the 1970s with an unexpected upstart model – the modest mid-engine 914. Against formidable machinery, properly…
MG Rally Car – Most car enthusiasts know MG only for classic British roadsters from decades past. But in the early 2000s, the MG brand enjoyed rally racing success campaigning an unlikely hot hatch contender – the MG ZR. An affordable roadgoing warm hatch available with 160hp, engineers from MG and their motorsports division turned…
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…