They shot to fame... 

Created in 1982 to replace Groups 4 and 5, Groupe B is a milestone in the history of world championship rally racing. To been titled to take part, at least 200 of these modified road cars had to be produced in a year. Groupe B survived for four seasons (from 1983 to 1986) during which fans watched memorable battles between cars such as the Audi Quattro, Ford RS 200, Lancia Rally 037, Delta S4, Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 and Renault 5 Maxi Turbo.

 ...then suddenly it was all over

Incredibly powerful (up to 600 HP for the last Audi Sport Quattro) and spectacular, these cars attracted a growing number of enthusiasts who were, unfortunately, sometimes not very well behaved. The most daring among them would stand in the middle of the road until the very last moment to have their photo taken. At the 1986 Portugal rally, tragedy struck when Joaquim Santos Ford RS 200 left the road and ploughed into the crowd, killing three spectators and injuring dozens more. Refusing to race in such conditions (the cars hurtled through the middle of a seething mass of people), the top stables stopped taking part. A few weeks later there was a new tragedy in Corsica when both drivers of the Lancia Delta S4 lost their lives. Audi and Ford now left Group B. 
On 3 May, the FISA (Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile, which became the FIA) called an extraordinary meeting where it banned Group B homologation and announced that it would end completely on 1 January 1987. Group B cars were replaced by Group A, which were more similar to road vehicles (5,000 had to be produced to been titled to race in the group).

  Lean, mean 'Group B' cars at Rétromobile

The Group B years have gone down in history as an epic time when excited spectators would line the route: a time that came to an all too abrupt end. And we shouldn't forget that car manufacturers used it as a powerful communication tool for selling their production models. Youngtimers gives you the chance to relive this historic period, presenting  four famous cars alongside the corresponding production  models, which are also only remembered by a generation of drivers...