The Lancia Delta S4, the Group B car that achieved a stunning debut victory at the WRC’s final race, the RAC, celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Lancia Delta S4

Debuted at Colline di Romagna in 1986

In the fall of 1985, a Martini-liveried Lancia Delta S4 competed in the final WRC round, the RAC Rally, held in the UK. The duo of Henri Toivonen and Neil Wilson took a stunning debut win.

The first real race was the Rally Colline di Romagna, held in Italy in July, four months before the RAC. Markku Alen and Ilka Kivimäki drove a Delta S4 and took home victory by a massive margin of nearly nine minutes over second place.

The Delta S4 was developed to compete in Group B, the most extreme rallying regulations in history. Group B saw an intense development race among automakers, and the Delta S4 was created to compete against 4WD machines like the Peugeot 205 T16 and Audi Sport Quattro. Its form is inspired by the Delta, and the “S4” name refers to the “S” for supercharger and the “4” for four-wheel drive.

The car’s steel frame chassis was fitted with Kevlar and carbon fiber honeycomb body panels, and a 1.8-liter inline 4-cylinder turbocharged and supercharged engine was mounted longitudinally in the rear mid-mounted position. Maximum output exceeded 500 PS, and the top speed reached 250 km/h. The Delta S4 demonstrated its performance immediately after its debut, winning the Italian and European Championships in 1986.

The Delta S4 won 15 races in just over a year, including Monte Carlo, Costa Smeralda, Mille Miglia and Targa Florio, but in the 1986 WRC Tour de Corse, Toivonen and co-driver Sergio Cresto crashed, killing them and bringing an end to Group B.

“Epsilon HF Racing” for circuit use

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Delta S4’s debut, Stellantis unveiled the original Delta S4, manufactured in 1985, at Turin’s Heritage Hub, an exhibition facility for Stellantis’ collection of Italian brands (Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo).

This rare example, one of only 29 ever produced, is on display in the “Rally Era” area, which is comprised of Lancia’s rally models. The Heritage Hub also features a Delta S4 Stradale (road-going version). Between 1985 and 1986, Lancia built 200 Stradales to meet homologation requirements.

In 2025, 40 years after the debut of the Delta S4, Lancia returned to the rally field with the “Epsilon Rally 4 HF.” Developed in accordance with Rally 4 regulations, the Epsilon Rally 4 HF is equipped with a 1.2-liter inline 3-cylinder turbo engine that produces a maximum output of 212 PS and drives the front wheels via a 5-speed transmission. It is supplied to privateers as a machine for young rally teams in the step category.

Furthermore, a few weeks ago, the company announced the long-awaited Epsilon HF Racing, a racing car for circuit racing. Like the Epsilon Rally 4 HF, this car will also be sold to privateers.

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“If you win, will you become a Lancia Works team in 2026?” The one-make rally “Trofeo Lancia” will start in May 2025 [Video]

Lancia has announced details of the Trofeo Lancia, a one-make rally series that will begin in 2025. Over 80 units of the Trofeo-eligible Epsilon Rally4 HF have been ordered, and it is likely that the Targa Florio, which will be held from May 8th to 11th, will attract many entries.