Whether a die-hard fan or not, I believe most car enthusiasts will agree that rally racing requires a distinct set of talents and a unique attitude from its competitors. The 80s decade saw the birth of Group B rally car, which displayed some of the most innovative racing cars ever produced. All these cars had something in common: a homologation special that was produced by the participating brands in limited numbers, two hundred by the regulations, and sold to the public.

Are you curious to find out which cars have rocked the scene during the 80s? 

Audi Sport Quattro S1 

The mid-80s started to be challenging for Audi's presence in Group B when smaller, purpose-built, four-wheel-driven competitors began to appear. For this reason, the Audi top executives decided to save face and revamp their already known "athlete."

The new Sport Quattro had a shorter wheelbase, with the intent to improve their turn-in capabilities and reduce weight. In addition, several steel components were replaced with lighter materials like Kevlar or aluminum while radiators, batteries, and other accessories were placed on the car's back. The Audi Sport Quattro Group-B rally car also enhanced the unique 2.1L inline-5 power plant, capable of producing in excess of 500 hp. In the Audi Sport Quattro S1 road version, the same 5 cylinder engine achieved 306 hp, propelling the car from 0-100 km/h in a staggering  5.6 seconds. 

In 1981, the Quattro won the Austrian round of the European championship, proving that the four-wheel-drive experiment had paid off. Audi continued enjoying success with Manufacturers’ titles in ‘82 and ‘84 as well as Drivers’ titles in ‘83 and ‘84 at the hands of Hannu Mikkola and Stig Blomqvist respectively and earned even more publicity when Michèle Mouton, the first woman to win an international rally, won the 1981 San Remo rally.

Audi is so proud of Quattro's legacy that still uses this nomenclature for all four-wheel-drive models they launch.