Four-wheel-drive was authorised in rallying from 1979, but for a time no serious car-manufacturer even tried to harness it to their cars. Soon, though, it was Audi who produced the world ?s first rally-winning four-wheel-drive car ? the Quattro. However it was Peugeot who designed, developed, campaigned and won with the first truly sophisticated four-wheel-drive Group B Car ? the 205 Turbo 16. It was the first truly great, purpose-designed, Group B car. Determined to win at almost any cost, Peugeot hired Jean Todt (who would later transform the fortunes of the Ferrari F1 organisation) in 1981, and set him an ambitious target. His dream car had to be running in 1983, homologated in 1984, and capable of winning World Championships by 1985. Nothing, no excuses and no lack of application, was to get in the way of that. Apart from being obliged to use the silhouette of the still-secret new 205 road car, Todt was able ask for anything. Getting approval for whatever he needed and fast-tracking the engineering of the four-wheel-drive rally was not an issue in reaching one simple objective ? victory. This is precisely what was achieved. This book tells the detailed story, and lists all the cars, the influences, and the personalities behind a magnificent success story. No sooner had the new turbocharged, transverse-mid-engined car started competing than it was ready to win, yet its dominant career was cut short at the end of 1986 by an abrupt change in rallying regulations. Not only is the engineering story laid out in great detail, but the interaction between company personalities, super-star drivers (including Ari Vatanen) and the highly-charged atmosphere of motorsport at this time is all analysed. Because Group B was cancelled even before the 205 T16 had reached maturity, it went on to have a successful career in desert ?Raid ? rallies, and at Pike Peak in the USA, all of which is described in this amazingly authoritative study.Packed with illustrations, technical details, facts, figures and successes of this innovative car this book is a must for any rally fan.
O autorze
Graham Robson possesses a worldwide reputation as a motoring historian, and has been close to the sport of rallying for many years, as a competitor, team manager, organiser, reporter, commentator and observer; in more than forty years he has never lost touch with the sport. Not only has Graham competed in many British and European events, he’s also reported on marathons in South America, and acted as a travelling controller in the legendary London-Mexico World Cup Rally. As a recognised authority on many aspects of classic cars and motoring of that period, he is the most prolific of all authors, with more than 120 published books to his credit. Over the years he has owned, driven, described and competed in many of the cars featured in this Rally Giants series, and his insight into their merits is unmatched.
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