RETROMOBILE CELEBRATES THE LEGENDS OF RALLY DRIVING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LES GRANDES HEURES AUTOMOBILES
The famous Group B race car class will be showcased from 23 to 25 September 2016 at the legendary Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry motor racing circuit and then from 8 to 12 February 2017 at the Retromobile show.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE RALLY QUEENS
If you've seen them, you won't forget them in a hurry. And if you've heard them… well, you'll never forget them!
Group B was introduced in 1982 as a replacement for Groups 4 and 5 in the World Rally Championship. It represented Modified Grand Touring cars, at least 200 of which were produced of each model. In the very early 1980s, Group B was the rally queen category: it gave engineers a great deal of technical freedom and these cars were notable for their phenomenal power output – in excess of 600 hpthe Audi Quattro Sport S1 E2 delivered 600 hp), for less than a tonne! Sadly, the ever-increasing popularity of these power monsters resulted in frequent accidents and so the Federation banned the category on 1 January 1987.
1986 was therefore the last year for Group B cars. But 30 years later, these frisky youngtimers are still remembered and enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies continue to dream about them!
30 YEARS LATER – THE LEGEND LIVES ONRetromobile and the Grandes Heures Automobiles wanted to revisit this high-octane rally driving era via two events:
· On 24 and 25 September 2016, around twenty Group B vehicles will be driven by numerous pilots of the day during the “Les Grandes Heures Automobiles” event on the legendary Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry motor racing circuit.
· From 8 to 12 February 2017, Group B cars will be in the spotlight at the Rétromobile Show, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, featuring in a retrospective on the exhibition bridge linking halls 1 and 2.2.
As well as the Peugeot 205 T16s, the Audi Quattros, the Delta S4s and the Lancia 037s which were all major parts of this era, BMWs, Citroëns, Ferraris, Fords, Mazdas, MGs, Opels, Renaults, Talbots and other even rarer models will be on display!
Les Grandes Heures Automobiles
Dates: September - Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th, 2016Location: Autodrome Linas-MontlhéryHours: Saturday September 24th 2016 - 09h00 Public opening / Official opening of the track10:00 am. to 10:00 pm. : Demonstrations & activitiesSunday, September 25th 201609:00 am Public opening / 09:30 am Official opening of the track.10 am. - 06 pm. : Demonstrations & activities; 06:15 Closing parade06.45 pm : End of the eventPrices: click here
Salon Rétromobile
Dates: Wednesday. 8th to Sunday 12th February 2017Location: Porte de Versailles Exhibition Center - 75015 ParisOpening hours: Wednesday & Friday :10 am - 10 pm Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 10 am - 07 pmPrices: €18,Free for children under 12
