Back in the day, when motorsport was less affected by restrictive regulations, the Americans had the Can-Am, probably the most brutal racing series. Some say Europeans were happy with less, but that statement is halfway true because they had the Group 5. Smaller engines, but big turbo horses!
Dominated by the infamous Porsche 935, but also contested by vehicles such as the Ford Capri or the BMW 320i Turbo, the Group 5 series welcomed the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo in 1979. Powered by turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that delivered in excess of 400 HP, the Montecarlo Turbo won the 1980 World Championship for Makes, the 1980 German Racing Championship (DRM), and the 1981 World Endurance Championship for Makes.
The Beta Montecarlo was also the basis for Lancia's 037 Group B rally car, which also inherited the engine, but had it mounted longitudinally rather than transversely.
An outstanding machine, the Lancia Beta Montecarlo is now just a retired grump than gets some track action from time to time at various events. And seeing it perform again after more than 30 years is plain awesome. Scroll below to watch a Martini version being driven at Italy's Autodromo di Monza.
The Beta Montecarlo was also the basis for Lancia's 037 Group B rally car, which also inherited the engine, but had it mounted longitudinally rather than transversely.
An outstanding machine, the Lancia Beta Montecarlo is now just a retired grump than gets some track action from time to time at various events. And seeing it perform again after more than 30 years is plain awesome. Scroll below to watch a Martini version being driven at Italy's Autodromo di Monza.