Born to win. With these few words it is possible to describe, even though synthetically, the PEUGEOT 205 T16. After the positive debut, happened in the 1984 TOUR DE CORSE, despite some problems of youth it is immediately clear that the car of SOCHAUX would have become the queen of rallies. This thanks to some very innovative technical solutions for a rally car. Four cylinders engine of 1795 cc. and 350 bhp, supercharging through KKK turbocharging and integral traction are the winning characteristics of this jewel. Besides a great manageability thanks to the engine position, back-central, that allows a great stability and an excellent division of the weights.
The competitive season, even among thousand uncertainties because of disagreements among the AMC, Automobile Club Montecarlo, and the FISA, start at the best for the PEUGEOT. ARI VATANEN, Finnish driver of great talent, wins the RALLY of MONTECARLO destroying the AUDI team after having paid over 8 minutes at a time check. The second place of the German car, with the King WALTER ROEHRL, to 5'17'', tells the story of the great potential of the French car, that, fifteen days later, affirms itself in Sweden, and subsequently, with SALONEN, also in PORTUGAL, conquering important points for the World Championship.
In the next competition, the RALLY SAFARI, the TOYOTA imposes itself, a not performing car but very strong on the gravel and to whose drive there is a young man with grat hopes named JUHA KANKKUNEN. The LANCIA, that untill that moment has been silent, lines up three 037 for ALEN, BETTEGA and PRESTON. After an initial dominion, mechanical troubles deprive the Turinese team of the final success that however would not have paid a half season.

So we arrive to the TOUR de CORSE RALLY. The PEUGEOT lines up a new weapon, the 205 T16 EVO2, improved in the mechanics (450 bhp of power) and in the aerodynamics. Also for the RENAULT there is a new car: THE SUPERCINQUE MAXI TURBO. The AUDI, lines up an only car, so to concentrate all the energies on Walter ROEHRL. The LANCIA, finally, decided to do well on a congenial surface, the asphalt, lines up four 037 evolved for ALEN, BETTEGA, BIASION and ZANUSSI. Ready, go! The time of one stage to see ROHRL K.O. because of the brakes, that the competition consumes its tragedy. During the fourth stage, ZERUBIA, the LANCIA 037 of ATTILIO BETTEGA and MAURUZIO PERISSINOT, flies out of the road in fifth gear frontally centering a tree. ATTILIO dies, bringing with him the memory of a champion, sincere, genuine, able to astonish with a steering wheel in the hands like that time that, during the 1980 MONTECARLO, with a small Fiat RITMO, won the mythical stage of the COL DE TURINI (click!) against drivers like ROEHRL, WALDEGAARD and DARNICHE. The rest doesn't count anymore. The PEUGEOT will win the World Championship for teams and drivers, also imposing itself in GREECE, NEW ZEALAND, ARGENTINIAN, FINLAND and IVORY COAST, while the RALLY RAC is to the appanage of the LANCIA triumphal at the debut with a new weapon: THE DELTA S4.
In the European Championship, contrarily to what happened in the World Championship, the LANCIA cars impose their law. In the final classification we count seven 037 on 10 cars, to confirm that the Turinese car is not finished. The numerous competitions of the calendar have been won by the Italian drivers, starting from the first classified, DARIO CERRATO, winning in COSTA SMERALDA, ELBA, BULGARIA and TARGA FLORIO; MIKY BIASION, first in SPAIN at the COSTA BRAVA and COSTA BLANCA; MAURO PREGLIASCO winning in CYPRUS; ANDREA ZANUSSI winning in ANTIBES; MASSIMO ERCOLANI winning in SAN MARINO and, finally, FABRIZIO TABATON winning in MADEIRA. For the main driver of the GRIFONE ESSO, besides, thanks to the home successes, arrived also the Italian CIR title, to end a season rich of satisfactions.
To conclude, speaking of national rally, it is necessary to say that in the Italy Cup, divided in the 7 zones, despite the constant victories of drivers with the LANCIA 037 like CAPPELLINO, etc., the groups B have not been admitted to the final classification from not clear and foolish rules and therefore, despite their also economic efforts, nobody has been able to obtain the deserved laurel.
The season 1985, therefore, is at the end. A only half-satisfactory season for the italian team, not to say black if we think about the loss of a TRUE CHAMPION like ATTILIO BETTEGA. 1986 will be a year of revenge in a sport where the exasperated technology is always more affirming towards the abilities of the man.
Click on the name of each driver to have his image.

WORLD RALLY MAKES CHAMPIONSHIP POS. CAR PTS. 1st Peugeot 142 2nd Audi 126 3rd Lancia 70 4th Nissan 56 5th Toyota 44 6th Renault 38 7th Volkswagen 29 8th Opel 25 8th Porsche 24 10th Mazda 22
	ALEN-KIVIMAKI Official debut LANCIA DELTA S4 Rally 1000 Pistes 1985 Photo M&R 1985

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