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Journal: Just Because: Italian Group B Rally Legends Ready For Battle

Just Because: Italian Group B Rally Legends Ready For Battle

By Petrolicious
May 9, 2016

We recently featured our friend Luca’s photo set from Italy’s picturesque Rally Vermentino in Sardinia, but for all of the Italian rally car lovers out there, he saved the best for last. This small event attracts all sorts of privateers from around the country—including semi-normal enthusiasts that happen to race Group B rally cars on the weekend.

According to Luca, the Lancia 037 pictured here is believed to be the ex-Attilio Bettega car that ran at Costa Smeralda in 1982, then passed to Scuderia Cerrato, which was close with Totip. The car was never an “official” Martini car, the livery is a replica of the one that ran in period.

Our eyes were drawn, though, to the “Lopes Competition” Lancia S4—which looks like it just rolled out of the Lancia works and into the service park before its first outing. To see these beasts in action, check out our coverage of Rally Vermentino.

For more from Luca and Mauro Prevete, visit the website 2cromia.com and follow them on Instagram @markr3nton and @mauronster.

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Group B Italian Lancia Rally
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nis1973
nis1973
8 years ago

It’s an unfortunate fact that there are lots of fake “historic” rally cars so bit of skepticism on Guitar Slinger’s part is not completely unfounded.

I too find the interchangeable use of Group B and Rally frustrating and disappointing…

All that aside, I’m sure it’s a great event. Probably second on my list of must-attend historic rally events (behind Rally Legend in San Marino)…

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r3nton
r3nton
8 years ago
Reply to  nis1973

The yellow s4 is a replica, and also during the san marino legend is full of replicas. i think that “sometimes” is better to crash a 120k euros replica than a 500/600k euros real one. This one i don’t think was a stradale anyway. Different thing for the 037, Ex Bettega during Costa Smeralda 82, ex Cerrato totip team, now owned by a private in northern italy. The plate is different because it was easy to loose it during rallyies and also different owners asked for new plates. Who really knows abut the original frames and plates are very few people. Not even the Lancia factory has got an official register. in group 4 There were three 131 abarth during this event and one 131 proto, with different wheels, angine and a sequential gearbox, driven by Paolo Diana “check his videos on yt). He was only the forerunner! – this wasn’t a real rally, the real one was only for modern cars, it was supposed to be a “time attack” but considering logistics and times noone prepared notes and they run the stages without them! “sometimes faster than modern cars 😛

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Thistlebeeace
Thistlebeeace
8 years ago

Can anyone else not help but think of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit when looking at that S4?

1
Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
8 years ago

Ahem .. I’ve scoured every Rally and Lancia [ Rally and S4 ] history book I own including the complete Group B era of Rallycourse and have yet to of found a M&R liveried S4 in yellow . So whats the deal with this one ? A Stradale perhaps in make believe M&R rally drag ?

Also guaranteed if that 037 had ever been in Bettega’s hands … it’d be extremely well documented with an irrevocable provenance in light of Bettega’s status with Lancia , Italian rallying and Rallying in general and would of been restored in Bettega’s colors . e.g There’d be no ‘ believing ‘ … about it !

But more importantly and once again my ‘ Fine Young Cannibals ‘ … in this group of photos we have … Group B , Group A as well as Group 4 ! Not all Group B ‘ legends ‘ as stated . One more time Petrolicious … Group B ; 1982 -1986 … FIAT Abarth 131’s and Lancia Delta Integrales need not apply !

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De Dion
De Dion
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

It seems that the internet crowd associates group B with every rally car that is old and awesome. It’s quite annoying. Group 4 and 2 Escorts and Fiats have always been my personal favourite cars and they deserve more than just standing in the shadows of group B monsters. Even the original Audi Quattro was a group 4 car

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JAlfa
JAlfa
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

Thanks for doing all that supposive research for us GS, like any of it matters. I just skimmed through the article, looked at the fantastic pictures and enjoyed the rest of my day. Great website to kill 20-30 minutes every once in awhile or someone’s entire life supposively in some cases… Maybe someone else with nothing better to do with there time will try and find that Yellow Lancia in the history books to prove you wrong… Hold your breathe until someone does it..

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