Lancia comes to the movies

After "Le Mans 66" (2019) and "Gran Turismo" (2023), another feature film that takes up a true motorsport story will be released in cinemas next year: "Race for Glory" (the original title) picks up on the duel between Lancia and Audi in Group B of the 1983 World Rally Championship and coincides with the Italian brand's return to the international markets. At that time, two technical concepts also clashed: on the one hand, the Lancia Rally 037, which combined a supercharged engine with rear-wheel drive; on the other, the Audi Quattro with a turbo engine and all-wheel drive.

The first full year of the so-called Group B went down as one of the most exciting in the history of the WRC. The German Lancia works team Walter Röhrl/Christian Geistdörfer won three rallies, their Finnish teammates Markku Alén/Ilkka Kivimäki two. The Audi drivers also won a total of five times. And so the season ended with the one-make world championship for Lancia. With a lead of just two points, the Italians took the last title in the World Rally Championship for a vehicle without four-wheel drive.

"Race for Glory" is based on the events of the 1983 World Championship season. Walter Röhrl is played by Volker Bruch ("Babylon Berlin"). Daniel Brühl ("Nothing New in the West") embodies Audi team boss Roland Gumpert. The focus is on the then Lancia team boss Cesare Fiorio, played by Italian actor Riccardo Scamarcio ("John Wick: Chapter2") and his German driver Walter Röhrl. The 1980 and 1982 world champion had joined Lancia for the 1983 season together with co-driver Christian Geistdörfer. Röhrl's driving talent combined with the skills of the technicians, engineers and designers enabled Lancia to make history: The 1983 constructors' title was the last to be won by a car without four-wheel drive. It was the fourth of ten titles in this category for the brand to date. Filming took place in Italy and Greece at original locations as well as on the legendary test track in Balocco in northern Italy. The film will celebrate its international premiere on January 5; it is not yet clear when it will be released in German cinemas.

Lancia presented the production version of the Rally 037 at the 1982 Turin Motor Show. The four-cylinder engine positioned behind the two-seater cockpit was force-fed by a mechanically driven supercharger. An almost modest 205 hp (151 kW) was available as standard. In total, Lancia only produced exactly the 200 vehicles required for homologation in the so-called Group B racing category. This is because the coupé developed by the Abarth racing department as the 37th project in total - hence the model designation 037 - was actually an uncompromising racing car. The Rally 037 was based on the large-scale production model Lancia Beta Montecarlo, a compact mid-engined coupé with a sporty character. However, the body of the Rally 037 was made entirely of fiberglass-reinforced plastic. The two hoods over the front and rear could be completely removed for servicing. The large rear spoiler was also a defining feature. To this day, the model remains one of the brand's icons alongside its predecessor, the Stratos. (aum)