WRC -- Group B

scoobyonline200

scoobyonline200

638
United States
Los Angeles, CA
scoobyonline2000
I did a search and nothing came up, but if any of you know of a thread on this can you please point me there.

Ok so anyways, I saw this video recently of a Yellow and White Audi Quattro in a rally from the 80's (group B) and the footage was amazing. They showed onboard footage that was of both his feet work and looking out in front. What amazed me was that as he was going at that high rate of speed the spectators were like a wall on each side of the road!! I was like :eek: when I saw this. And in some parts of this video some spectators moved out of the way just as he was approaching them. And well here is the reason for this thread. I dont know much about this except that it was Group B, and Audi Quattro (I think) and it was during the 80's. So my questions to you are (1) Why was group B done with? (2) How fast were those cars and were they faster than the modern cars? (3) How much power did they have? (4) Anyone seen this video?


If anyone finds a thread where this is talked about, please link me to it and get a mod to close this one. Thanks. 👍
 
please, someone correct me if i'm wrong
1) group b was killed because the FIA wasn't paying enough attention to them. The cars were rediculously fast and powerful yet very little was done to make them safe at those speeds. After a while, there were a few major accidents which ended in fatalities. The FIA finally took notice of this and disbanded Group B entirely
2) The cars were rediculously fast :). In terms of being faster than today's WRC cars, I'd say they were MUCH faster. However, the Group B cars raced in longer tracks with fewer curves than today's WRC cars. In a long stretched out course with few sharp corners, it would be Group B that would win. In something really twisty like today's courses, it would be the significantly lighter and smaller WRC cars that would win. It is also important to mention that back then, the drivers literally pushed themselves and their cars to their absolute limits. You don't see drivers taking as many risks nowadays
3) I think most of them had 400 to 500 hp, but they were also a lot heavier than today's cars.
4) no, i haven't seen the video but I have seen videos of Group B cars racing
 
emad
However, the Group B cars raced in longer tracks with fewer curves than today's WRC cars. In a long stretched out course with few sharp corners, it would be Group B that would win. In something really twisty like today's courses, it would be the significantly lighter and smaller WRC cars that would win.
Click to expand...

Why dont they use those courses again? I may be wrong but didnt Germany have a course that had big straights? if im right, how did the modern WRC cars perform compared to the Group B cars.
 
This is the car that was on the video, this one has a little bit more stickers on, but it was the same color, body type and everything.

mex663.jpg
 
scoobyonline200
This is the car that was on the video, this one has a little bit more stickers on, but it was the same color, body type and everything.

mex663.jpg
Click to expand...

That is an Audi Quattro S1 (which I have seen in person, well a replica...) It is the definitive rally classic, and anyone into rally's will pretty much start drooling at the site of it.....

The Group B rally cars had anywhere from 400hp to 600hp generally (with some getting near the 700hp mark)... It was indeed disbanded because of fatalities surounding the class....

The Ford RS200 is another great car specific to Group B....


;)
 
silviadrifter
That is an Audi Quattro S1 (which I have seen in person, well a replica...) It is the definitive rally classic, and anyone into rally's will pretty much start drooling at the site of it.....

The Group B rally cars had anywhere from 400hp to 600hp generally (with some getting near the 700hp mark)... It was indeed disbanded because of fatalities surounding the class....

The Ford RS200 is another great car specific to Group B....


;)
Click to expand...

Is This it?
Dave_Bramwell_RS200_Marlboro.jpg
 
emad
3) I think most of them had 400 to 500 hp, but they were also a lot heavier than today's cars.
Click to expand...
What does todays WRC cars weigh in at ?... The old S1, IIRC, tipped the scale at the 1200kg mark... With 600Bhp :D Wicked...
 
Group B cars were more powerful than todays WRC's - but, their 4WD systems and suspension were much less sophisticated than todays cars. I suspect that WRC cars put their power down much more efficiently than the old Group B cars. So i think there's probably not much difference between them.
 
Looking at the video again I also noticed that the drivers of that era in rallying were more "Demanded" I think because thid did far more while driving. I could be wrong but looking at the video I noticed how the driver Used both the gas, brake, and used the clutch all at the same time. it was AMAZING! and then having to deal with the road lined with spectators who I swear were about 1 foot or less away from the car as it flew past them. Im not saying that the drivers of today's WRC Machines are less, but that the drivers of the Group B era were more.....demanded on. But correct me if Im wrong. :)
 
I have the Group B rally vid.... I love it.... Group B will always be remembered fondly, and the question, "what if?", comes to mind while watching it.... What if Group B was not disbanded, but was allowed to continue and evolve as WRC has... Imagine... The suspension/braking/structural/drivetrain/and computer systems would be just as revolutionary as current WRC systems, and drivers would have the experience that only years of driving in a given class can provide....

I can dream can't I?....


;)
 
emad
it's not the video you guys were talking about but this one is still awesome 👍
http://www.alexking.com/movies/quattro.html
Click to expand...

That video is awesome.......weapon of choice brings back christopher Walken though...but still awesome video!! I have the S1 video im talking about...but I cant put it online...its 11.0MB at I dont know of any free services that can host that file for me. Does anyone else know?




Nevermind...that video you linked us too has the video in there. After that guy (I wish I knew the drivers name, sorry) afte he says: "It Seems To Me That Thoughts are already too slow for that car" they show the footage i am talking about. Not the exact footage, but almost.
 
emad
it's not the video you guys were talking about but this one is still awesome 👍
http://www.alexking.com/movies/quattro.html
Click to expand...

Nice find.... The S1 will forever be one of my favorite cars of all time... I'll have to show this to my friend Alex (the owner of the S1 replica)... Although, I'm sure he has probably seen just about everything (he is quite the Audi fanatic)...

Personally, I go to rally's all the time (have taken some cool pics at a few of them)... I have another rally coming up in the first part of September that I'm looking forward to quite a lot, because I won't be a road marshall, flying finish, or any of that stuff... I will just be a spectator, so I will be able to get some really cool pics (great photo op spots)....


;)
 
where can i see the video scooby is talking about???!!! :scared: I'm Downloading the Audi Quattro video 👍 :) Lol, well, now u guys know how the papparazzi gets those awsome pics... and why the ones taken from under tha car at high speeds cost so much :ill:
 
I have the video...its 11.0MB big and I dont know where to upload it for free for access to you guys. I asked if there was a way so that I can place it in one folder and have that folder be available online for anyone to get files off of it. Is that possible, I really want you guys to see it.
 
thx for the vid man, i'm downloading it now... i probably wont get to see it anytime soon though cus my dad hates me.

I just saw the vid... omg... walls of people on the sides of the roads..... that is crazy..
 
Yea thats the thing that made me be like Holy XXXX!!!! and i dont think any of the drivers ever slowed for those few people who were in the way. Talk about nerve and skill.
 
Anyone have any bit torrent links to group B movies or anything, damn i love them, them and the hill climb cars, how can you beat 700kw 900kg cars, hah, i lose my breathe just writing that.

The group b era is one that will never be forgotten, the best drivers, in the best cars, in the most exciting conditions, with the best spectators, and the best courses, NOTHING, in my opinion compares to it, not even now, and i don't think anything ever ever will.
 
The modern WRC cars are far quicker over a stage than the Group B cars simply because they have far more sophisticated suspension, gearboxes, brakes etc. Plus the engines, although limited to 350bhp have huge amounts of torque and are very effiecient and driveable. The group B turbo cars had huge power but they were very difficult to drive. The power was very on or off, with either full throttle/power, or mnothing at all. The turbo lag was that bad.

In fact Group B was due to be phased out in in 1987/8 to be replaced by Group S. This class only required 20 road cars to be produced, which allowed much more speciallised cars to be built.

Theorectically they were meant to be restricted to 300-350BHP like the modern WRC cars, by limiting engine size. However due to the development of turbo technology in particular, even small turbo engines were capable of producing 600BHP+.


Lancia Group S

http://freespace.virgin.net/shalco.com/lancia_gp_s.htm

This is the Audi Group S concept car

http://homepage.mac.com/wazu33/PhotoAlbum4.html

Toyota MR2, all carbon chassis, 4wd and 600BHP
mr2.jpg
 

Similar threads

05XR8
Holden Commodore VK SS Group A 1986
Replies
0
Views
1K
05XR8
05XR8
Spirit
2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Replies
0
Views
469
Spirit
Spirit
Cornerstrike
Daily Race B (4/29/24) Livery Error
Replies
1
Views
556
Famine
Famine
Famine
Fanatec’s GT World Challenge Sponsorship is Over
Replies
7
Views
2K
05XR8
05XR8
H
Rally Entries/Rumours that never happened
Replies
9
Views
1K
Har1MAS1415
H

Latest Posts

Back