Rally Monte Carlo 1983 - The whole thing is nothing more than a publicity stunt
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Summary
In 1983, an era came to an end at the Monte Carlo Rally, that of the rear-wheel drive cars. The Audi Quattro was once again beaten by Röhrl in the Lancia 037 Rallye.
Estimated reading time: 3min
Preview (beginning of the article)
Another rally era comes to an end in 1983. For the time being, a 2-wheel drive car wins for the last time. The victory goes to Walter Röhrl/Christian Geistdörfer. The pair owed this to the Lancia 037 and the fine weather. In the snow, however, the Quattros would be hard to beat. Lancia has entered three of these 310 hp supercharged machines. Weighing just 980 kilograms and pumped full of Formula 1 technology. The idea that an optimized production car can inspire the masses - like the Renault 5 five years ago - at best evokes a nostalgic, pitying smile. And speaking of Formula 1 technology, let me add this: Lancia's managers even have the wheels changed during a special stage in the style of Formula 1. This is what happened on the stage between Uriage-les-Bains to Chamrousse and back to Uriage. The first few kilometers are completely icy and there is snow on the narrow forest lane that follows. At the junction with the dry, wide D11, the assistants change the wheels in less than a minute. Hand-grooved slicks with studs for pure slicks. However, the 28.8-kilometre stage is too short to gain any time advantage from the change theater. The whole thing is nothing more than a publicity stunt - albeit an effective one for the press. Röhrl has a new colleague from the far north. For the first time, 36-year-old Stig Blomqvist is at the Monte. Blomqvist, who has been in the rally business for 15 years, is quiet, modest, a six-time winner of the Swedish rally and drives an Audi Quattro. But even he can't hold off the Lancias. After 21 stages, Röhrl/Geistdörfer lead Alèn/Kivimäki by 3 minutes and 25 seconds. Blomqvist/Cederberg are already 8 minutes and 22 seconds behind. Mouton goes off the road again - not badly and Andruet, the last "survivor" from the Alpine era of the 70s, struggles with a defective compressor. On the night of the long knives, he once again demonstrates his great skills with the supercharger working again. He sets a new record of 16.45 on the Turini. Röhrl/Geistdörfer cannot be threatened. Their lead over their pursuers has already grown to seven minutes. This is Röhrl's third attempt, the fourth.....?
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