In outright acceleration from a standing start a WRC is MUCH slower than Group B. The current championship winning Citroen does 0-60 in 3.9 sec on tarmac while a Delta S4 did 2.5 on gravel. I agree that many group B stages times were beaten in the group A era but it is generally because of a combination of 'dynamic' performance improvements like 20yr of tire development, semi auto gearboxes, anti-lag, lower centre of gravity and better weight distribution.

I think that the one that decided to put so many pylons on the track should be banned from ever organising a motorsport event.

For the record F1 in 1986 had no restrictions on power. A 1.5 Turbo V6 could run up to 5.3 bar boost in quaifying which would be about 1,350bhp. In race trim it was around 4.0-4.1 bar and 900-950bhp. From 1987 restrictions were added to reduce power down to 4.0 bar and then 2.5 bar in 1988 and around 630bhp all this in a car that weights 505kg.

These Group B cars really need two pairs of steel balls and nerves to be driven. Would've been a real treat to watch them live

I believe the Estoril myth claim was that Henri Tovenien did a time which would of quailifed the rally car as 6th fastest on the F1 grid of the 1986 race.

Most people remember the Stratos but the delta was the daddy. Not blessed with good looks this had a superb chassis and that super charged and turbo charged engine is my mind one of the best motorsport engines ever made. Such a great marque and such a shame that their badge is being used to sell cars made in korea for companies in the states. That's not right.

Great car shit circuit.

What would be funny if the driver said to himself "Fuck those cones" and drove right through them.

the s4 is like a siren, gorgeous and the voice of an angel, but a real monster

Love this in car vid...... fantastic speed for the 80's and still amazing today. Shame Group B finished so early. Amazing era.

blame spectators like me for the ban after all this sport was lovely and free to watch live i wonder what would have happened if audi got to launch their 1000HP beast on the monte? mitsubishi was also prepping a rival and the ford evo 2 was a done deal imagine your country shut down for a week to host these titans....freaking EPIC!

@markandrach Actually Cesare Fiorio, Lancia Martini team manager at the time, stated that Lancia and Abarth did some tests at Estoril on a secret proget, the now famous ECV1. It was a lot lighter than the S4 and it had a biturbo engine that had 700-800 hp. I'm not saying it woald have qualified 6th, I'm just saying that the ECV really did some test at Estoril during 1986 Portugal Rally.

Great Video!!!! People will never understand what these cars were like until they have stood near the road and felt and heard them go past .

Mother of Acceleration!

Superb video!!! Class car!!!

the performance is just SCARING :O

Just watched an interview with Markku Alen saying in the last rally with the S4 it was 960kg and had 550-600 bhp. He was comparing it to the step down from Gp B S4 to Gp A 8 valve HF Integrale with 1200kg and only 250hp. I guess if anyone would know, Alen would!

Very well said.

Sounds like my Dyson vacuum cleaner hoovering up the road lol also 2.5 to 60 in the 80s was crazy that was probably quicker than an F1 car of the day

OMG....that engine sounds WICKED! I want one now....