Lots of love has been shared on BangShift for the Group B cars, a rally class so absolutely mental that it ended up banned in the matter of a couple of years. We all know and love the better-known rides that came from the era: The Audi Quattro and Quattro Sport, the Ford RS200, the Renault R5, the Lancia 037, Delta S4, and Delta Integrale. We’ve even covered the Opel Manta 4ooi and the Ferrari that was meant to compete, the 288GTO. But what we have failed to do is cover the Group B car that whooped ass wherever it went, the most winningest car that was made for the series. And that title, oddly, goes to Peugeot for the 205 T16. Yes, out of all the cars from the Group B era, a sociopathic all-wheel-drive French supermini with a turbocharged four-banger was the most successful.
The 205 started it’s production life in 1983 as a tiny little car meant for tiny little European roads. Nothing about it was really sporting…even the top of the line GTI edition was making do with 129hp on a good day. However, as Group B gained in popularity swiftly, manufacturers could not ignore the call. Boasting at least the same popularity level as F1, having a combatant in Group B meant that you were a high-performing manufacturer, and with Peugeot having recently taken over Simca and as such, Talbot. Both of those companies had recently been attached to the disastrous Rootes Group-Chrysler grouping, and had the most recent rally success, campaigning a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus (a hot version of what started life as the Chrysler Sunbeam) in 1981-82. Utilizing the 205 body shell, a mid-engine layout scheme was used with a clamshell back, similar to a Renault R5 Turbo, but instead of being rear-driven, Peugeot made the car all-wheel drive with an adjustable differential as a response to the early successes of Audi. The engine was a 1.9L four, which was composed of the 1.7L diesel’s block converted for gas and punched out, with a 16-valve head specifically designed for the engine. The motor was set as far right as it could be mounted in the tube frame of the car.
The T16 did very well for Group B, narrowly missing out on the 1984 Manufacturer’s Championship and taking it for 1985. 1986 was the year where it all came apart, as this was the deadly year for Group B: Joaquim Santos’ Ford RS200 went into the crowds, injuring 31 and killing 3 and Lancia’s Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto died when their Delta S4 went off of a cliff at Tour de Corse. The remainder of the year for Peugeot was a series of disqualifications and contesting over legality: at San Remo inspectors disqualified the Peugeots for illegal bodywork and Peugeot cried foul, claiming that the judges were trying to give an advantage to Lancias. At RAC the inspectors approved the exact same cars, and after reviewing the protests, FIA nulled the standings from San Remo and Peugeot took home the final Group B championship in 1986.
After the FIA shut down Group B, a lot of manufacturers were left holding the bag with high-dollar rally cars that weren’t legal for WRC races. Some cars ended up on rallycross circuits across Europe, but a few, including Peugeot, set their sights on other forms of racing. Peugeot decided to focus on three different racing series: the Dakar rally, the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, and LeMans. The 205 T16 was converted into a rally-raid style car for Dakar and with driver Ari Vantanen at the wheel, won the event in 1987, 1989 and 1990. Vantanen also went to Pikes Peak, setting a record in a 405 T16 that used technology from the 205 program. That particular run was used in the well-known short film Climb Dance, which shows Vantanen blasting up the mountain.
Was the 205 T16 the winningest Group B ? Why yes it was . It also spawned the most successful homologation road legal version as well [ bot sales and quality wise ]
But was it the best of the breed ? Thats the real question that the numbers cannot answer due to the FIA cutting off Group B rather than instituting a few safety changes that all the manufactures wanted [ versus going to Group A ] way before its time .
In my [ never ever humble ] opinion the Lancia Delta S4 was the best of the breed by a long shot . Between the way it easily dominated on almost every rally it was entered in .. the fact that the technology in the S4 made an F1 car look like a CART racer in comparison … as well as the advances made by the S4 that would of taken everyone else at least two seasons to catch up
The bats*** crazy Lancia Delta S4 was the very best of the best … cut off by an FIA run by a French megalomaniac despot intent on his own personal glory
But … the above takes absolutely nothing away from the 205 T16 and its accomplishments … in Group B … Dakar .. as well as Pikes Peak 😉
The best boils down to opinion. Personally, it’s a tie between the Lancia 037 (last successful RWD car) and the Ferrari 288GTO (never did race rally, but that was it’s entire reason for existing). Then again, I like the Manta 400i and Opel barely had a dog in the fight.
Tell me I’m allowed to drive any Group B car, and so long as I can fit my big ass into the roll cage, you can bet I’ll jump at the chance.
Oh Bryan ! The 037 … not perhaps the ‘ best … but damn well the most beautiful not only Group B .. but Rally car of all time …. period
The 288GTO was absolutely gorgeous as well . In my opinion the most beautiful of the modern era Ferrari’s … again … period .But like you said a non – starter having been replaced by the F40 … which err … never got to rally either [ then again other than Dakar neither did the 959 ]
But as far as my personal and absolute favorite Group B ? [ and yes I’ve driven a few Group B road car homologations as well as one or two competition versions ]
By far the absolutely bat***t insane over grown Tonka Toy for adults ..
The Renault R5 Turbo .. any version will do . Memories of stomping a Corvette into the ground along with a 911 Turbo later in the day on Trail Ridge Road in Estes Park with a car looking like a child’s toy remaining to this day and still capable of bringing on a s*** eating grin that won’t disappear for hours
The R5 Turbo . It aint the bestest … but it is by far the funnest !
Here’s hoping you get to stuff your tail in a Group B someday yourself … competition or road version . Guaranteed … you’ll never forget it 😉
PS; Sometime Bryan … you and I need to hook up seeing as we’re both obviously hard core Group B fanatics ! Play nice [ humor intended ] and I might just hook you up with a couple of ‘ interesting ‘ acquaintances of mine . A certain Herr Reinhard Klein & Son 😉
PS ; So here’s a group B trivia moment for you Bryan . Know about the mid engine group B car Audi was in the process of developing right up until the FIA canceled Group B … and even a little while after which later led Audi to produce the badge engineered R8 for the street ?
If only Balestre would of had his head screwed on straight … the things we might of seen
R5 Turbo is my absolute favorite. Michelle Moulton raced harder, faster, and better than any of the current crop of women racers. She e en gave Uncle Bobby a run for his money at Pikes Peak.
Was it Walter Rohl who said if you are driving by the seat of your pants it takes to long to get from your ass to your brain?