Group B

In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A and Group B referred to two sets of regulations for competition vehicles in touring car and rally racing. Group B was introduced by the FIA in 1982 as replacement for both Group 4 (modified grand touring) and Group 5 (touring prototypes) cars.

Group 2 and Group 4

Until 1983 the two main classes of rallying were called Group 2 and Group 4. Major manufacturers competed in Group 4, which required a minimum of 400 examples of a competition car. Notable cars of the era included the Lancia Stratos, Ford Escort and Fiat 131 Abarth.

Related Topics:
1983 - Group 2 - Group 4 - A minimum of 400 examples - Lancia Stratos - Ford Escort - Fiat 131 Abarth

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1979 the FISA (then the name of the FIA's motorsport regulatory division) legalized all wheel drive (AWD). However, at the time it was generally felt that the extra weight and complexity of AWD systems would cancel out the performance benefits, so the car companies were not keen on using it.

Related Topics:
1979 - All wheel drive

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This belief was shattered when Audi launched the AWD Quattro in 1980. While the new car was indeed heavy and cumbersome, its levels of off-road grip were staggering: That year a quattro was used as an official race car and driven by professional driver Hannu Mikkola. At one particular rally its combined time for all the stages was nine minutes quicker than that of the rally winner.

Related Topics:
Audi - Quattro - 1980 - Hannu Mikkola

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Quattro was officially entered in the 1980 Janner Rally in Austria and easily won. Audi kept on winning throughout 1980 and 1981 seasons, although lack of consistent results meant that Ford took the driver's title in 1981 with Ari Vatanen driving a rear-drive Escort. The team's victory at the 1981 Rallye San Remo was particularly historic: Piloted by Michèle Mouton, it was the first time a woman won an international rally. Mouton placed second in the drivers' championship the next year, behind Opel's Walter Röhrl.

Related Topics:
1980 - Janner Rally - Austria - 1981 - Ari Vatanen - Rallye San Remo - Michèle Mouton - Opel - Walter Röhrl

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~