RE: The Early Group A Heroes of WRC

[300bhp/ton]

GravelBen said:

The old Legacies are great, quite a few of them still rallying here in NZ - there is a Classic 4wd / Group A class for them and the Galant VR4s etc.

DSC_7675 by Ben, on Flickr

I went round Prodrives facility a while back. Lots of interesting cars there, although this was my personal favourite.

[Usget]

Turbobanana said:

Slightly OT, but does anyone remember the Network Q RAC Rally,1996? That year it had been dropped off the WRC (along with Monte Carlo) and many works' teams didn't bother. Not so Skoda, who fielded Stig Blomqvist - then 50 years old - in a 1600cc Felicia Kit Car. It snowed, and the original Stig went on to finish 3rd overall, behind a Celica GT4 and an Impreza 555. He was only 15 mins off the total time of the leader, and 7 mins ahead of his nearest class rival.

Yep! I remember this, it was one of the last ones that the BBC covered in full.

I went to the launch event at Cheltenham Racecourse a few years afterwards too aged about 11.

[Turbobanana]

rastapasta said:

Armin Schwartz won it and Martin Brundle entered as i recall.

Correct on both counts, although Brundle's Escort Cosworth caught fire and he retired. One way to keep warm, I suppose.

[iiievolution]

Fantastic article!!!
Where is the Mitsubishi Galant VR4 E39A!!!!! It won the 1989 Lombard RAC Rally. Overwhelmingly more advanced than any of the early Group A cars. The technology was subsequently used, more or less unchanged, in the Lancer Evo range and the rest is history.

[Baron von Teuchter]

big_rob_sydney said:

I tend to agree with the fact that this period is a little lost in the overall discussion.

Its how I feel about rallying today, actually.

For me, it was either the monsters of group B, or that period when Mitsubishi and Subaru dominated. I know Loeb did well, but by that stage I had fallen out of love for it.

Try following the irish tarmac rallying. Often highlights on motorsport TV (sky 429 i think)

It's awesome. Escorts (including the class 14 monsters), Chevettes, AE86's, Darrians etc

[aeropilot]

300bhp/ton said:

I went round Prodrives facility a while back. Lots of interesting cars there, although this was my personal favourite.

I can remember visiting Prodrive's workshops when they were building/running them when new

[KillianB4]

Baron von Teuchter said:

Try following the irish tarmac rallying. Often highlights on motorsport TV (sky 429 i think)

It's awesome. Escorts (including the class 14 monsters), Chevettes, AE86's, Darrians etc

On the limits post the highlights on their youtube channel a few weeks after they show it on telly also. Hard to beat something with a millington diamond and a sequential box!!! I'll be enjoying plenty of it from the ditches this weekend for the Cork 20, had to turn down a seat in a historic 1600 mk2 for it due to work though

[ArnageWRC]

I certainly remember the 1996 RAC; ran from Saturday - Monday, and as already mentioned, was only an 'F2' round.

Did Kershope on the Saturday, and it was freezing, came home and watched the Live Sunday stage on TV; both Gwyndaf & Robbie Head crashed after hitting a large tree stump. Went to Hafren for 6:00am stage on the Monday morning - followed by Clocaenog late afternoon.

I thought it was amazing that Masao Kamioka in 2nd didn't speak English, and his English co-driver, Kevin Gormley didn't speak Japanese.....

[Pericoloso]

I went to Kershope in 96 too in my Fiesta RST.
One word......Snowy.

[Escy]

ArnageWRC said:

both Gwyndaf & Robbie Head crashed after hitting a large tree stump

I remember watching those crashes live on TV, as a 9 year old it got me hooked on rallying.

[BricktopST205]

Mr Peel said:

Good piece. But we only managed a single post before all the "it's rubbish these days" stuff started up. Must try harder PH!

Only a week to go to Rally GB

On the contrary I would argue that WRC is one of the only top flight motorsports that is on the way up!

[KillianB4]

BricktopST205 said:

On the contrary I would argue that WRC is one of the only top flight motorsports that is on the way up!

I agree. And with the drivers market getting really juicy, 2019 could shape up to be epic!

[300bhp/ton]

KillianB4 said:

BricktopST205 said:

On the contrary I would argue that WRC is one of the only top flight motorsports that is on the way up!

I agree. And with the drivers market getting really juicy, 2019 could shape up to be epic!

It just a shame all the cars are boring. I hate they are built to a “formula”. They all look and sound the same. Which ultimately makes it boring to watch.

Look at the cars in this article above or even Group B. It was the huge variety and that was partly the appeal. Along with the fact you could go and buy something for the road that was similar.

Was at Rallyday at Castle Combe last week. Great day out despite the constant heavy rain. But the most interesting vehciles running were not the modern ones.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 28th September 21:02

[Baron von Teuchter]

Dave Richards (Mr Prodrive and now chairman, I think, of the MSA?) was quoted in Classic Ford recently whilst testing some old escorts musing about the future of rallying:

“Perhaps rallying should be more focussed on simple road-going cars”

Or something along those lines. Couldn’t agree more!!!

[aeropilot]

Baron von Teuchter said:

Dave Richards (Mr Prodrive and now chairman, I think, of the MSA?) was quoted in Classic Ford recently whilst testing some old escorts musing about the future of rallying:

“Perhaps rallying should be more focussed on simple road-going cars”

Or something along those lines. Couldn’t agree more!!!

Indeed.

And maybe then we can get back to proper rallying, none of this poncy office hours only short stage nonsense we've had for the past 20+ years.

[EXMX5]

loskie said:

Much talk but no pics of the Renault, why?

Totally agree, why isn't there any Renault 11 pics?

[EXMX5]

loose cannon said:

v.a.g would never allow there website to post it

Lovely!

[300bhp/ton]

Baron von Teuchter said:

Dave Richards (Mr Prodrive and now chairman, I think, of the MSA?) was quoted in Classic Ford recently whilst testing some old escorts musing about the future of rallying:

“Perhaps rallying should be more focussed on simple road-going cars”

Or something along those lines. Couldn’t agree more!!!

I suppose the irony here is, Mr Richards was one of those pushing for more of a “formula” setup and using things like the sequential gearboxes, moving away from production cars.

[EDLT]

BricktopST205 said:

Mr Peel said:

Good piece. But we only managed a single post before all the "it's rubbish these days" stuff started up. Must try harder PH!

Only a week to go to Rally GB

On the contrary I would argue that WRC is one of the only top flight motorsports that is on the way up!

It's the first time in about 15 years where the championship (probably) won't be won by a man called Sebastian.

[GravelBen]

iiievolution said:

Fantastic article!!!
Where is the Mitsubishi Galant VR4 E39A!!!!! It won the 1989 Lombard RAC Rally. Overwhelmingly more advanced than any of the early Group A cars. The technology was subsequently used, more or less unchanged, in the Lancer Evo range and the rest is history.

Here you go. But it will never sound as good as a Subaru.

DSC_4838 by Ben, on Flickr