In conclusion to our earlier
thread on the standard VW Golf Rallye, I want to tell you guys a bit more about the Rallye's that where build by Volkswagen Motorsport. Kicking off with a history-lesson
1986 - a World-title -
In 1986 Volkswagen wins the World Title for Drivers with Swedish driver Kenneth Eriksson in a Volkswagen Golf GTi 16v in Group A trim. In 1986, not Group A, but Group B is drawing all the attention. Due to a minimum of technical regulations, Group B offers the teams a nearly limitless playground in which they can build really vigirous machines. Cars like the Audi Quattro, Ford RS200 and the Lancia Delta S4 competed in the Group B Rallies. They where delivering up to 600 BHP in those days and manufacturers such as Porsche and Ferrari where even developing cars to start in the 1987 season as the series drawed a huge amount of spectators and media-attention. Unfortunatly there were some severe accidents with fatalities in the 1985 and 1986 season, which made the FIA decide to stop the Group B Class at the end of the 1986 season.
1987 - Time for something new -
Due to the closure of Group B, Group A became the main attraction. A lot of manufacturers who competed in the Group B rallies altered their cars to suit Group A regulations. Kenneth Eriksson, still VW Works Driver, ended the season with a 4th place overall, whilst Lancia dominated the season with their Delta Integrale HF ending up with 1st, 2nd and 3rd position in the Drivers Championship and a 1st position in the Constructors Championship. Volkswagen ended up 4th in the Constructors Championship. Although the 2WD Championship still ended up with VW, it became very clear that they needed a 4WD car to be able to win Rallies
1988 - Development starts -
In 1988 brainstorming began on the new car. It had to comply with Group A regulations and needed 4WD and a super- or turbocharged engine to compete with Lancia. Group A regulations also meant that there had to be a Series-production of at least 5000 cars. The decision was made to take the MKII Golf as a base-modell on which the Rally-car had to be developed. The 1.8 G60 engine of the Corrado would be the powerplant underneath the hood. In the mid 80's VW developed the Syncro-system, this would make a nice 4WD system for the rally-car. Early 1988, development on the Golf Rallye starts. Due to the fact that the car was made up of different parts already used in the Volkswagen-concern, development rapidly moved forward.
In the meantime, Lancia was dominating the Group A season, winning 10 out of 13 races. Volkswagen was nowhere to be seen, still driving the 2WD GTi 16v which had to compete with cars such as Ford Sierra RS Cosworth and Nissan 200 SX.
1989 - Time to get your Golf Rallye at the dealer -
Fall 1988, the VW Golf Rallye production model was launched at the Dealers. Equipped with a syncro 4WD system, 1H 160 BHP G-Charger engine, widened wheel-arches and a special Recaro interior, it proved to be a dream to each car-enthusiast. Meanwhile Volkswagen Motorsport (VWMS) was receiving their first Rallye's to convert into real Rally cars. VWMS decided to build a Group A car, while this championship was the most appealing at the time. Later on, there would also be a Group N version, which had to be more like the production model. The Group A car was homologated on the 1st of December 1989.
Lancia was almighty, again they won both the Constructors and the Drivers Championship. Volkswagen ended up 9th in the Constructors-championship.
1990 - It's time to burn!! -
In 1990 VWMS starts the Volkswagen Golf Rallye as a Works-Team in the World Championship Group A. The first Rally in which they competed was the 1990 Costa Smeralda Rally on Sardine. Lancia's home-base.....
So on the 4th of April 1990, the WOB AZ 144, drove up the starting ramp in Sardine not knowing what would happen next. Volkswagen blew the entire competion away on the first day. The three stages driven on that day, all ended up in Erwin Weber's hands resulting in a firm 1st position at the end of the day. Needless to mention that Lancia aswell as the worldpress were shocked. What had VWMS been building in their Headquarters in Hannover. VW ended the Costa Smeralda on a 6th place.
As promising as the start in the Rally Costa Smeralda, as disappointing was the rest of the 1990 season. Volkswagen was unable to keep up with the pace of the other competitors. The main reason was found in the reliabilty of the car which proved to be dramatic. Best result of the season was a 3rd place in the New Zealand for Erwin Weber. As 2 litre engines were allowed again in the 1990 season, VW had no real chance in driving up front. This meant that Volkswagen would resign at the end of the 1990 season in WRC Group A Rallying.
1991 - Deutsches Rallye Meisterschaft -
The end of VWMS in the WRC didn't meant that they gave up on rallying. In 1991 they started in the German Championship with the Golf Rallye and Weber and Baumschlager as their 2 drivers. VWMS proved to be dominating. They won the 1991 championship, both Constructors and Driver (Erwin Weber). At the end of the succesfull 1991 season, Volkswagen decided to stop Rallying and this also meant the end of the Works-team. Eversince there have been several VWMS Rallye's used in rallying, but never again by the Works-team.