Tuesday 12th December 2023

Race for Glory brings Group B to the big screen

You've seen Ford vs Ferrari - time for Audi vs Lancia

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We’re in something of a golden era for car movies. While we love a film with a cheesy B-movie plot acted out by Z-list celebrities overdoing their lines, it’s seriously satisfying as a car enthusiast watching legendary automotive stories getting the glossy Hollywood treatment. Ron Howard nailing the frenemy relationship between Hunt and Lauda in Rush, the frankly heartbreaking tale of Ken Miles in Le Mans ’66 and, soon, the titanic battle between WRC greats in Race for Glory: Audi vs Lancia. 

Yep, you’ve read that right. The WRC’s epic 1983 season, where Lancia took the fight to the all-wheel drive Quattro with its rear-wheel drive 037, will very soon be immortalised in movie form. And if the action-packed trailer is anything to go by, it looks as though it’ll be right up our street. Several shots conjured audible gasps from yours truly - mainly the appearance of the 037 test car and the rows of Beta Monte Carlos lining the Lancia factory grounds (there can’t be that many left in existence, surely?). It’s all live-action by the looks of it, and the cacophony of turbo and supercharger noises will surely sound incredible blasting out of cinema speakers.

Daniel Bruhl clearly finds car films as irresistible as we do, having played Niki Lauda in 2013’s Rush, and now taking on the role of Audi Sport chief Roland Gumpert in Road for Glory. Meanwhile, Lancia team manager Cesare Fiorio will be played by Riccardo Scamarcio, who’s also one of the film’s producers and screenplay writers. Walter Rohrl (played by Volker Bruch) also appears to be one of the main characters, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the likes of Stig Blomqvist and Michele Mouton in the movie, too.

Granted, there’s a whiff of cheesiness to some of the lines in the trailer, but who cares? It’s a B-movie about Group B, and one of the all-time great rallying stories that absolutely deserves a movie adaptation. Bring on 5th January, we can't wait. 

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• Watch Ken Block's final Electrikhana here
• Behold the limited-run Kimera EV037 Martini 7

[GreatScott2016]

Call me bias, but I'd rather see Evo v Impreza . Have a feeling I'll still watch this though and why not!

[Justin-ow582]

I'm looking forward to this.

Nit-picking, but the reference in the article to the "Beta Monte Carlos" should be "Beta Montecarlos" due to Chevrolet having already used the "Monte Carlo" name.

[bmv6197]

Should be a good nostalgia hit for all us old Group B fans. Shame the other key players (and classic Group B cars like the awesome Peugeot 205 T16) were just a bit later to this party and probably won’t feature…

[Slowlygettingit]

Looking forward to that - will wait for it on the little screen though.
All the bobble hats might get in the way if sat behind them in the cinema

[Milkyway]

bmv6197 said:

Should be a good nostalgia hit for all us old Group B fans. Shame the other key players (and classic Group B cars like the awesome Peugeot 205 T16) were just a bit later to this party and probably won’t feature…

The statement that it is inspired by a true story... but expect the usual manipulation of facts & poetic licence.
So...you may be surprised what pops up.
( Think Bohemian Rhapsody for accuracy).

[Earl of Petrol]

As a rally enthusiast (especially of that era) I’m looking forward to this. Don’t care what the critics think this is a film for car people. Some won’t ‘get’ it and they don’t matter. Bring it on.

[Earl of Petrol]

As a rally enthusiast (especially of that era) I’m looking forward to this. Don’t care what the critics think this is a film for car people. Some won’t ‘get’ it and they don’t matter. Bring it on.

[Gecko1978]

So i watched the Carol shelly film it was ok, the Lamborghini film was dire, rush was ok ish and le man's with Steve McQueen is a little special but mostly car films just suck. What was the film with Silverstor stalone about indy car

[cerb4.5lee]

I always enjoy stuff like this too. I watched the Gran Turismo movie last night and I thoroughly enjoyed it for example.

[hiccy18]

Well I'll go to watch it, favourite era of rallying watching Lancia (and Opel!) taking on the rising 4WD menace. Yes I mostly spent the time cheering on Jimmy McRae and Manta 400's, but Mouton and THE Stig were firm favourites, whilst Röhrl and Alén had, sometimes grudging, but very well deserved respect, especially that brutal German bloke.

Not sure about the side by side racing in the trailer.

[Numeric]

I still think Clarkson nailed this - worth looking at the youtube vid that is about.

But yes I would love to see this in a film.

[gruppeb86]

I usually go to the cinema with my wife. Am uncertain that will be the case on this occasion!

[generationx]

I guess the Lancia accident is a mish-mash between Bettega’s and the later Toivonen incident, we’ll see how it’s handled. I guess with something set 40 years ago the producers hope all the anorak Group B fans are long gone and present-day viewers will take it at face value.

We’ll see…

[S600BSB]

Yes please!

[Milkyway]

There was a reporter who watched the film being made.
They used some of the actual stages & the attention to detail was amazing.
The starting ramp & the advertising for that time was spot on.

[dukeboy749r]

Hell, yes!

[wistec1]

And the sequel should be the Sunbeam Lotus taking the crown from the Ford Escorts and the rest of the field.

[Leins]

Looks like a cheesy re-telling of a story I’m not sure too many are going to care about, all to an annoying background “action” score

I’d much rather watch the likes of the excellent Michelle Mouton documentary on the big screen

[anonymous-user]

wistec1 said:

And the sequel should be the Sunbeam Lotus taking the crown from the Ford Escorts and the rest of the field.

The PH server will be at risk of crashing once the armchair scrutineers pull the escorts apart.

[Jon_S_Rally]

Definitely looks cheesy from the trailer, but hopefully it will be decent. Rush and Le Mans '66 were good efforts so, if it can capture that kind of spirit then it should be enjoyable. If it's like Driven or the Lamborghini one, then it will be dross. I know a few hardcore rally fans who have decided they hate it already