Entries for the ever-popular Adelaide Motorsport Festival continue to grow, with five celebrated cars from the iconic years of Group 4 and Group B now entered in the event.
Taking place in March around the Victoria Park section of the famous Adelaide Street Circuit, the Adelaide Motorsport Festival will welcome a plethora of classic cars from multiple disciplines and eras over a jam-packed weekend.
The latest set of cars to confirm a place in the Invitational class of the event all bear a rich and colourful competition history, including successful stints at the top level around the world.
At the top of the list is the Fiat 131 Abarth, which was built in the late 1970s and went on to win the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) Manufacturers’ title on three occasions – 1977, 1978 and 1980.
Another decorated champion car entered, a Group B Lancia Rally 037, was built at the start of the 1980s and went on to win the 1983 WRC Manufacturers’ title – the last rear-wheel drive car to do so.
The next famous set of wheels is an Audi S1 E2 Quattro – a car that revolutionised world rallying in the early 1980s.
A title winning car, Hannu Mikkola (1983) and Stig Blomqvist (1984) both piloted the Audi S1 E2 Quattro to their respective WRC Drivers’ titles before Audi withdrew from the championship, with the model heading to Adelaide was built in 1985 and was Audi’s last factory Group B car.
Adding to the heralded handful of cars making the way down under is a Renault 5 Turbo that ran in both the Group 4 and Group B eras, which included a victory on debut at the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally.
Rounding out the list is a rare commodity to feature in rally events throughout the Group 4 and Group B eras – a Ferrari 308 GTB.
While the legendary Italian manufacturer is more known for its Formula 1 and Sportscar endeavours, it did dip its toe into the world of rally.
Unfortunately, the results were far from desirable, but the car was still beloved by many rally fans from the around and became a classic due to its stylish design and limited production numbers.
Click here for more information on the event.
The Adelaide Motorsport Festival takes place at Victoria Park on 25-26 March.
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