I love the way how Audi pioneered the quattro all-wheel-drive system and how it forever changed the rules not just in motorsports but also in the motoring industry. Ever since Audi demanded the organizers to allow four-wheel drive cars to compete in the World Rally Championship, it became a dominant force to be reckoned with as demonstrated by a double victory in 1982, a driver title win in 1983, and a double title again in 1984. It was clear proof that thanks to the Audi quattro, the all-wheel drive system became a common cause for most car companies, especially those competing at the WRC.
I also love the way how Lancia made a riposte against the Audi quattro with the 037 and how a ragtag rally team spearheaded by a playboy named Cesare Fiorio changed the rally landscape in favor of the 037, despite one of the drivers saying he doesn't want to be a world champion in the first place. Although being run by a power-boating playboy on a short budget and a part-time driver who didn't want to be world champion, they really know how to use their trump cards very well to confuse the organizers, especially the idea when they present 400 cars made for homologation purposes in a rather confusing kind of way. Did you know in the Monte Carlo rally, before the 037 goes rallying, the team bought kilos of salt so they can use it to clear the road as well as demand the French authorities to clear the road? Well, that excuse doesn't stop there because, after the icy stages of the Monte Carlo rally, they swapped tires. In the Corsica rally, meanwhile, they brought on four 037s to race, which is unheard of for WRC regulations. Then, in the San Remo Rally, the folks devised a little distraction while waiting for the dust to be settled and after all that lollygagging, the dust was gone and the 037 raced all the way to grab the manufacturer title win.
That's why this rivalry made it special in the history of the World Rally Championship because while Audi tries to prove that the quattro and its well-established team are the real rule-changer, Lancia tries to prove that their status as the undisputed king of WRCs is still going strong despite its eccentric management. With the rest of the WRC regulations changed thanks to the Audi quattro, the 037 is the ideal sendoff for rear-wheel drive rally cars and its victory against the quattro is the definitive proof that rear-wheel drive rally cars prevail through the very end. While I'm very amused over the legendary tale of quattro vs. 037 in the WRC, let's pit these rally legends around the Top Gear Track to see which one is king. However, it's raining outside, which gives the advantage to the quattro but you never know what sort of tricks the 037 might possess even in such drizzling conditions. Let's roll the tape...
And now, let's check out the time...
Quattro - 1:29.525
037 - 1:30.870
Whoa, that was too close to call for the 037. Seems that the wet weather favored the all-wheel drive Audi quattro but guess what, when it dries out, it might favor the 037, but still, it's been an honor to sample the biggest rivalry in rally history in a rather considerable way.
Looking back at those two rally legends made me realize how great this motorsport was back then and despite the change of times, rest assured that an epic rally rivalry like this would never be forgotten, especially when a team like Lancia's had some trump cards in store to favor the 037. It's rather sad that Lancia is now diminished into making a lone offering only sold in Italy while Audi continues to multiply like germs. It really is heartbreaking but with cars like these, it doesn't really matter which drivetrain you're up to. It's up to the strategy rally teams possess as long as they adhere to the rules they set foot in.
Happy rally season, ladies and gentlemen!
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