The Greatest Rally Cars of All Time

Behind every great rally car racing driver of history, there has been a great and truly unique rally car. The rally car is different from all other motorsport vehicles due to the sheer originality and unique modification that goes into creating one of these giants of the road. So as the Monte Carlo Rally reaches its 100th birthday, we take a look back at some of the 20th century’s finest rally cars that changed the sport forever and helped superstars of their drivers. Audi Sport Quattro S1 When the Quattro was first introduced in 1981 it changed the world of rally car driving. The Quattro set itself apart from the competition with a 400+-horsepower turbocharged engine and a full-time all-wheel drive which gave it a considerable traction advantage on slippery surfaces. The Quattro set many records during its lifetime, including the rare achievement of setting a world-record time on the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. It has to be the coolest looking rally cartoo. Mitsubishi Pajero When it comes to the toughest and most incurable rally cars look no further than the Mitsubishi Pedro. The Pedro has the honour of being the car that has won the notoriously difficult Paris-Dakar Rally a record 12 times (7 consecutive wins) out of its 26 participating occasions. When it comes to a rally car that will come out swinging in the face of the mast hazardous of weather conditions, the Mitsubishi Pedro is undisputed champion. Subaru Impreza 555 While it not be the most glamorous looking rally car, the Subara Impreza 555 more than makes up for this sheer power with a 300bhp flat four engine and four-wheel drive. This car became an iconic symbol of rallying motorsport when rally legend Colin McRae consistently drove it to victory throughout the 90s and early 2000s. The Impreza had tons of competition from other vehicles in its day, but none were tough enough to equal its prestige. The Impreza remains the most recognisable of all Rally cars. Austin Mini Cooper Prized for its several Monte Carlo wins, the Austin mini Cooper may not look like a typical rally contender with its 70bhp engine, but during the 1960s it was the king of rally car competition. Despite its relatively small engine this little car zipped its way to more than 25 competitive wins at the expense of more traditionally dominant vehicles like Porsches and Jaguars. You don’t need any experience as full training and support will be provided by a professional at all times. Lancia Stratos The Stratos was a ground breaking rally vehicle as it was the first car to be designed from scratch for intended rally racing purposes. The gamble paid off as the Stratos quickly became the definitive rally car of the 1970s. Boasting a powerful 250bhp engine and weighing just 1000kgs, the Alpine won the World Rally Championship on three consecutive occasions. Proving that you can’t keep a good car down, the Lancia Stratos was revamped in 2010 under the name ‘New Stratos’ with a design based on the original.