1985 Martini Lancia Delta S4 Corsa
Lent Anonymously
Extremely powerful and capable all-wheel drive Group B rally car
Supercharged and turbocharged small four-cylinder with 500 HP
Won multiple events before Group B was cancelled in mid-80’s
In 1985 Lancia produced the Lancia S4, to compete in the World Rally Championship, in Group B Class, and had an outstanding initial appearance. Henri Toivonen won Round 12, the Lombard RAC Rally in the 1985 World Rally Championship. A full program was planned for 1986, and he also won Round 1 of the 1986 World Rally Championship, 54ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo, his last win.
This car was used as a T-car (training, or back-up) in the 1986 Monte Carlo Rally, in addition to the 1986 Swedish Rally and Rally Costa Smeralda.
The S4 shared its Martini Racing livery with the 037, with its Martini Racing livery but it was specifically built to be ultra-competitive against the entries from Peugeot and Audi. It was a mid-engine four-wheel drive monster, equipped with a 1.75 litre motor which was both supercharged and turbocharged. When the car was launched it initially developed around 500 horsepower but by the end of the first Championship Season over 600 horsepower was on tap.
A somewhat detuned road going example was prepared for homologation purposes. The street version of which some 200 examples were supposed to be built with somewhat less power, but only a few left the factory.
Unfortunately, and tragically Toivonen and his co-driver were both killed In the Tour de Corse, and by the end of the year the incredibly fast and dangerous Group B class was banned by the international sporting body, the FIA, and the S4 was withdrawn from competition. The S4 together with its competitors from Peugeot, Audi, and Renault were just considered too perilous to competitors and spectators.
Specifications:
Engine: Mid-mounted twin-charged 1.8 Liter inline 4-cylinder
Horsepower: nearly 500 hp
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Weight: 1962 lbs