Rally's Wildest Years

Rally's Wildest Years: The Rise, Glory, and Fall of the Group B Era is an independent nonfiction book by Etienne Psaila. It is not affiliated with, authorized by, endorsed by, or sponsored by the FIA, WRC, Audi, Lancia, Peugeot, Ford, Citroën, Austin Rover, MG, or any other manufacturer, racing team, championship, or rights holder.

In the early 1980s, rallying changed forever. Group B arrived with radical rules, low homologation numbers, and a freedom that allowed engineers to build some of the most extreme competition cars the sport had ever seen. Audi's quattro revolutionized traction, Lancia answered with the brilliant 037 and later the fearsome Delta S4, Peugeot perfected the formula with the 205 Turbo 16, and rivals such as Ford, MG, and Citroën chased glory with machines that were as ambitious as they were unforgettable.

This book tells the full story of that extraordinary era, from the late-1970s world that gave birth to Group B to the manufacturers, drivers, co-drivers, roads, crowds, and rivalries that made it legendary. It follows the rise of the technology, the escalation of the championship, the heroics of names such as Walter Röhrl, Ari Vatanen, Michèle Mouton, Markku Alén, Timo Salonen, Juha Kankkunen, and Henri Toivonen, and the fatal warnings that turned admiration into reckoning.

Fact-based, detailed, and written in a flowing narrative style, Rally's Wildest Years explores not only the cars and results, but also the myth, memory, and lasting legacy of the Group B years. It is the story of rallying at its boldest, brightest, and most dangerous.

Trademark disclaimer
This is an independent publication. All brand names, manufacturer names, team names, championship names, model names, and other trademarks mentioned in this book are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification, commentary, and historical reference. No sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation is claimed or implied.