FORGOTTEN AUDI GROUP S RETURNS
Walter Rohrl gets behind the wheel of rally car that was never used
Rallying history was made at the Eifel Rallye Festival last weekend when the Audi S prototype from 1986 ran for the first time in public.
As the event celebrated 30 years since the end of the Group B regulations, Audi Tradition decided to field the unique Group S prototype with Walter Rohrl at the wheel.
As part of a record-breaking field of 60 Group B and Group S cars, the mid-engined Audi completed more miles than it has in the 30 years since the project was abandoned.
Group S was the planned replacement for Group B, with power limited to 300bhp and a requirement for only 10 examples to be built. However, following serious accidents in 1986, Group B was banned and Group S was shelved in favour of the more standard Group A.
Several manufacturers built prototype Group S cars and the rules were later revamped in 1997 to form the basis of World Rally Car regulations.
“The Eifel Rallye Festival with its theme of Groups B and S was the perfect venue for us to celebrate this premiere,” said Timo Witt from Audi Tradition. “So we can make a great contribution to this festival. And here our prototype has completed more kilometres than before in 30 years. However, we must also be careful, this is a single piece and all parts are irreplaceable.”
Twice World Rally champion Rohrl said: “It was a terrific experience to be able to drive this unique prototype at its global premiere in the Eifel Rallye Festival.”