Since the Group B cars had been banned at the end of 1986 world Rally championship, the road was wide open for the Group A reasonable cars which were a kind of 2nd category in rallying since the new regulations took place 4 years before.
The Group A machines were derived directly from production models produced to at least 5000 units per year, and were allowed to introduce a relatively limited number of modifications and preparation.
In order to respond to these changes, Lancia had fortunatly in its catalog the perfect car to respond to these regulations. A model that had been exhibited in Turin a few years earlier, the Lancia Delta. Lancia
racing team concocted on its basis the Delta HF 4WD which had been marketed in spring 1987, of
which Lancia immediately extrapolated a rally version.
On the other side of the Alps, their big rival during Group B era, Peugeot, were not enthusiastic about the idea of banning the overpowered Group B cars even though they had to admit as everybody then that Group B couldn't go on for obvious security reasons. But the problem was that Peugeot didn't have in its catalog a model that could stand against Lancia in Group A.
For Lancia and the FIAT group, the Delta HF 4WD proved to be more than a good choice. The Delta Group
A allowed the Transalpine manufacturer to glean six consecutive WRC
titles between 1987 and 1992! A record never equalled, making it the
most successful car in rallying History.
Countless other wins in other championships at other levels including Rallycross added to the Delta record victories.
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