Perhaps I should go over it.
In the '80s, there was a point when Formula 1 was not the most watched motorsport on television. A time when more people knew Jean Ragnotti and Juha Kankkunen than Gilles Villeneuve and Alain Prost. Nowadays F1 is the king because it is the fastest and seemingly the most dangerous.
Wrong. Rallying is the most dangerous motorsport, or arguably, the most dangerous sport, period. I mean, name another sport that can result in death if you sneeze. Think about it, and comment here or Facebook if you think of another.
Group B was the pinnacle of rallying. It was so fast, so dangerous. Watch some of this!
Audi pioneered the first All Wheel Drive system with their ridiculously amazing Quattro.
It was introduced in 1984, and immediately it wiped cars like the Lancia Stratos off the map. Don't get me wrong, pre-Quattro rallygoers were amazing. The Ford Escort RS Cosworth is one of my favorite Group B car. Its turbo lag was one of the most thrilling and scary experiences on Earth. Alas, it came too late: in 1986, Ford released it. Soon after, the deaths of multiple Group B drivers, the rally series was stopped, and its legacy forever continues.
Back to the Quattro. Being a car boy, I found a YouTube channel that hosts the best rallying. The Rally Channel by amjayes2 holds the highest quality videos of rallying from the 70s to present. Here's one of his tributes to a driver.
The reason why Group B became so popular was because these cars are travelling at 100+ mph on very loose gravel, sand, tarmac, mud, or any combination of the lot. Deaths were common, especially those of the spectators. People were not held back by barriers; there was no safety equipment to protect those who watched. People often flooded the track and dived out of the way when they saw the dust clouds and headlights approach.
Soon, after a high peak of rally injuries, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, or FIA, ended Group B rallying forever. The world's most popular motorsport was finished.
Ever since, rallying has never been the same. The thrill of watching it, especially in person, is still there, but the danger and sheer adrenaline rush has gone. There are still many crashes as you might expect, but the enjoyment of watching, at least for me, is less.
I miss the days of Group B, but I'll always know that there's a YouTube video for me. Let's end on a positive note. The sound of these cars! Check out amjayes2, but here's a video to end this post.
Thanks for reading, see you all next time!
AV
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