1982 World Rally Championship videos: Walter Rohrl becomes first person to win the title twice

Walter Rohrl became the first person, in 1982, to win the World Rally Championship for a second time.

Driving the Rothmans Opel Ascona 400 Rohrl found himself embroiled in a bitter battle with Audi quattro queen Michele Mouton which the media hyped up to the max.

Mouton drove the season of her life that year (her performance under extremely trying circumstances on the Ivory Coast particularly stands out… Continue reading

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Duke video trailers featuring Henri Toivonen his Rally Days and the Monte Carlo Rally collection 1986-1991

Featured below are a couple of video trailers for Duke’s new DVD releases featuring a look at the career of Henri Toivonen from between 1977-1986 and a compilation box-set release of the Monte Carlo Rally 1986-1991.

The Toivonen DVD traces his career fom the early days in the Avenger to the Total backed Ford Escort, the Talbot Sunbeam, Opel Ascona and Manta, Lancia Rally 037 and the Porsche 911 SC RS… Continue reading

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Rally Group B video clips which are relatively new to YouTube and Dailymotion

Some recently uploaded clips to YouTube and Dailymotion featuring the Group B cars in all their glory. The usual suspects feature such as the Audi quattro S1, Lancia Delta S4, Peugeot 205 T16, MG Metro 6R4, Ford RS200 etc etc.

Familiar names feature prominently like Walter Rohrl, Markku Alen, Ari Vatanen, Henri Toivonen, Stig Blomqvist, Timo Salonen, Michele Mouton and all the rest.

Sit back and turn the speakers… Continue reading

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Benson & Hedges Circuit of Ireland Rally 1980: Ari Vatanen vs Jimmy McRae, the event’s greatest ever epic duel

The battle between Jimmy McRae and Ari Vatanen on the Benson & Hedges Circuit of Ireland Rally 1980  must go down as the greatest duel in the rally’s illustrious history. 

Vatanen was in the Rothmans Escort Mk2 which had caused controversy even before the start of the rally as Benson and Hedges (event sponsor) weren’t to keen to have a rival tabacco company competing. Also, the car couldn’t carry Rothmans… Continue reading

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Group B rally videos featuring the mechanics at work and some European rallies from 1986

The mechanics during the Group B period were having to work with new technologies and materials as they sought to keep their drivers on the road. Below, in the first two videos, is a tribute video to their skill in keeping the fragile Group B projectiles going.

The rest of the videos featured concentrate on Group B rallying from European championship and national championship rallies in 1986.

Enjoy!

Group B rally… Continue reading

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Group B rally car helicopter video footage featuring the Audi quattro, Lancia Delta S4 and 037, Peugeot 205 T16 etc etc

Here’s a great video montage from helicopter footage taken of the Group B supercars during the early to mid-eighties. Some of the footage is very rare while other bits are more familiar. Cars featured include the Delta S4, Audi quattros of various evolutions, 205 T16, Toyota Celica TC, Ford RS200 etc etc.

Video entitled; Group B - Flying with the Eagles:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JZ5wZrgkto[/youtube]

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