Tag: WRC
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For Sale: Rover Mini Sprite
This 1993 Rover Mini Sprite has had a full nut and bolt rebuild and themed as a tribute to Monte Carlo Rallye winning Cooper 33EJB. If you’ve not heard of the legend of the 33EJB Mini Cooper you should 1) get out from under whichever rock you’re under and 2) go read this quick explainer…
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Bloody Heroes: Jean Ragnotti
Having announced his retirement at 74, we look back at the accomplished life and history of Jean Ragnotti. Known as “The Acrobat”, Jean Ragnotti is the fearless driver with wins at Group B and WRC, among other racing disciplines. He even had a career as an accomplished stunt driver. The success of Renault’s famous sporty…
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A cheat so brilliant it was applauded by rule makers
Introduction The Toyota Celica derives its name from the Spanish word for heavenly which would sound like a misnomer if you’ve ever seen this monster tear up the dirt track. Its success in WRC earned it the nickname “The King of Africa” until Toyota Team Europe team was caught cheating in a way so genius…
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Bloody Heroes: Michèle Mouton
Our Bloody heroes editorials celebrate the icons in motorsport who have, against the odds, risked their lives to display their immense skill, bravery and ( possibly) insanity behind a steering wheel. Introduction You may have heard the saying “WRC is for boys, Group B was for men.”. At The Mechanists, we beg to differ.…
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A Little Insane: The Renault 5 Turbo
As the 70s came to a close, the Lancia had been absolutely CRUSHING it on the world rally stage for the better part of a decade, and this was starting to upset the French, Renault being no exception. Lancia had stolen the WRC crown from Renault’s Alpine A110 in 1974 with the introduction of the…
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The OG WRC Champ: Alpine’s A110
Launched in 1961, the rear-engined, air-cooled, rear-wheel drive Alpine A110 shared many similarities with the iconic Porsche 911, which would be unveiled two years later. However, the A110 is by no means “just a French 911”, as this sexy little coupe would go on to become a legend in its own right. The A110 was…
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A kid from the 90’s
Born as a result of the Group A homologation for the World Rally Championship, the Escort RS Cosworth really marked Ford’s history and the WRC. Based on the 5th generation of the Escort, the RS first 2500 units (before Jan 1993) were built specifically for the FIA’s requirements and recognised as homologation special versions. …
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How Italians move dirt
Known for being the most successful rally car ever, the Lancia Delta Integrale still remains one of the most exciting hatchbacks ever created. Its compact and boxy look was designed by Guigiaro, the creator of the Golf Mk.I, Lotus Esprit, and BMW M1 among many more. It offers a contained weight of around 1,200kg,…
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The Lancer King!
Tommi Mäkinen marked the history of the WRC with his raw talent and 4 consecutive titles at the wheel of 4 different Evo generations. There are definitely some affinities between the Finn and the Japanese Manufacturer for which he won 22 of its 24 total victories between 1994 and 2002. Mäkinen’s started to get noticed…