I worked for Prodrive as a 17 year old in my gap year and was asked to collect Markku at Heathrow airport. Make sure you let him drive they said as he’s not a good passenger! I sat in the passenger seat and directed him up to Mira for a test in the GpA Legacy, 1/2 mile before the motorway exit I mentioned to him that we wanted this exit. It seemed to me that he hadn’t heard what I’d said so I repeated myself at the 300m board, we were still marching up the motorway in the fast lane…… this command still fell on deaf ears, I repeated myself again at the 100m board, aware that I was going to get the blame for turning up to the test late. Markku turned left from the fast lane, cutting across two lanes of traffic, just clipping the painted hatch area beyond the motorway exit, thankfully we made the test on time, what a character!
And Markku held his number 1 record for stage-wins for decades! Also he said that he felt 037 like a glove at his hand (it was probably most predictable car for him) and has been fully confident at gravel with S4. And he was always nice with his mechanics and always into works about his cars and tests. True and ultimate professional at any point.
I remember these cars flying thru the steeets at Montecarlo rally in the 80s as a small boy. My dad was a rally fan and we went on several rallyies thru the years. The tradition continues today with my three daughters who all race in different categories - on two and four wheels. 😊
Steve Rider sets the bar so high and to a level others can only dream of. Legend of the sport from behind the Mic. Alen with the "maybe i am super driver" comment is equally as legendary!!
As a modern WRC fan I never had the chance to see these brilliant machines go in heated competition. Please showing this amazing rally history I love seeing the stories behind these legends. ❤❤❤
Group B, like the F1 Turbo years from 1984-1987, were all about the extreme power being many years ahead of the aerodynamics and handling, making them spectacular.
@@R2-D292 That’s impossible. No way would that be achievable on the full GP track in the same conditions, especially when F1 then had even more power and was optimised for circuit driving.
@@GregzVR The time that has been thrown around is 1.18.1 for Toivonen's lap in a private test session before the Portuguese Rally. However, my skepticism for this is strong and I think people at the time were comparing it to the previous year's quali session which was quite wet. There, you'd see a more reasonable 1.23.0 as the ballpark where he'd be around at.
Please keep making this content. I have been searching for rally content like this for a long time. A quality deep dive into rally history is what we all want!
In 1984 I was there when Ari Vatanen had a practice run here in Finland and of course in one stage too in the rally with my video camera, next year I remember eating Ice cream with Timo Salonen when they do the reckey near I live in some local shop that has closed decades ago! Times were different and there was no hurry then when they do reckey! One thing I remember clearly from B, that the amount of fist size rocks fly before and after they pass equal amount! 😁
This is a nice idea, but I imagined you'd be uploading the full event reviews from the BHP archive. Those films, with the addition of a short introduction to each of them by Steve Rider, would be perfect.
Timo salonen is my favourite driver purely down to how much of an underdog everyone perceived him to be. They called him fat and slack but my guy came and conquered with a rally record that had been untouched for 2 whole decades
I love him because he always seem very chill and never breaking any sweat and the fact he won the most during group B despite only having a competitive car in 85' is utterly impressive
I'm just REALLY REALLY glad we have stored this footage from this era of rally sport, overall! 🤩 SO wonderful to watch all of that almost 40 years later (I'm 41 btw)! I guess it would be a piece of cake to find (for example) Tänak's championship winning stage from 2019 by the next rally fans in 40 years! Meaning, the evolution of video technology has evolved SO enormously in last years. Grateful for that!
When you see Lancia 037 driving the stages in old videos it looks quite large car but in 10:04 min. you can see precisely how "Large" it is by comparing with Golf II.
Some years ago I asked Steve Riders manager what it would cost to use him to narrate a project. If the cost is the same today I think it would be to much to ask for Dirtfish to have him out on the stages.
Funny enough the Group B cars weren't actually all that fast from point to point. Stage times were being beaten as early as 1991, in cars with half the power and more weight, which seems crazy, but the stats don't lie. I remember seeing one short stage of the Acropolis Rally back in Seb Loeb's era that was an identical stage to one that was used in Group B days, Petter Solberg in his independently entered Citroen won the stage with a time that was 14 seconds faster than the fastest Group B car. The Ouninpohja stage in Finland has been a pretty regular fixture over the years too, of the Top 10 fastest times through that stage only one is a Group B car and it's at #9. Modern rally cars aren't just faster, they're MILES faster. It's crazy to think about.
FIA could've made advertising and sponsor so much easier but they made it harder for themselves, completely overshadowed F1 and surprisingly football somehow
Anyone know why they had to cover up the Marlboro logo on the driver's suits? I just figured at this time, most places hadn't banned tobacco sponsorships/decals in racing.
Too bad you didnt mention that 1985 Hannu Mikkola made time at Ouninpohja what wasnt broke till hybrid era. And is codriver said when they made last climb, that if someones made faster time than Hannu, Arne will give up his place right there.
it takes lots of time to come this days when Rally 1 cars managed do same macige effect what B Group was.... only diffrend is that B group cars was beasts and wasint easy to drive those.... B class cars bites if driver do mistake... sometimes even more that bite....
Marku Alen warrants his own program in this series. Heroics.
the fact that he was able to keep up with the awd 205 in the rwd 037 in Finland is just astonishing
I worked for Prodrive as a 17 year old in my gap year and was asked to collect Markku at Heathrow airport. Make sure you let him drive they said as he’s not a good passenger! I sat in the passenger seat and directed him up to Mira for a test in the GpA Legacy, 1/2 mile before the motorway exit I mentioned to him that we wanted this exit. It seemed to me that he hadn’t heard what I’d said so I repeated myself at the 300m board, we were still marching up the motorway in the fast lane…… this command still fell on deaf ears, I repeated myself again at the 100m board, aware that I was going to get the blame for turning up to the test late. Markku turned left from the fast lane, cutting across two lanes of traffic, just clipping the painted hatch area beyond the motorway exit, thankfully we made the test on time, what a character!
Markku is still number 2 on the most stage wins of all time record, tells a lot about the guy and how good he was in his prime.
And Markku held his number 1 record for stage-wins for decades!
Also he said that he felt 037 like a glove at his hand (it was probably most predictable car for him) and has been fully confident at gravel with S4. And he was always nice with his mechanics and always into works about his cars and tests. True and ultimate professional at any point.
@@6387mbrownMaybe Markku did hear you the dirst time, and just wanted to scare you? 😆
I remember these cars flying thru the steeets at Montecarlo rally in the 80s as a small boy. My dad was a rally fan and we went on several rallyies thru the years. The tradition continues today with my three daughters who all race in different categories - on two and four wheels. 😊
That's just awesome! Best of luck to the whole lot of them.
As a 9 years old kid, one stage was near where we lived. I will always remember the sound coming from those beasts.
I saw these cars live when I was a teen . Whatta time it was for a Finnish kid .
Man I can't even begin to believe what it was like to see those cars flying. 1999 was first rally I ever went to and even that was mind blowing.
I'm am jealous 😭
Steve Rider sets the bar so high and to a level others can only dream of. Legend of the sport from behind the Mic. Alen with the "maybe i am super driver" comment is equally as legendary!!
WE NEED STEVE OUT ON THE STAGES THIS YEAR, MAKE IT HAPPEN DIRTFISH
We love Steve. A pro broadcaster who actually cares. Very rare these days.
As a modern WRC fan I never had the chance to see these brilliant machines go in heated competition. Please showing this amazing rally history I love seeing the stories behind these legends. ❤❤❤
Group B, like the F1 Turbo years from 1984-1987, were all about the extreme power being many years ahead of the aerodynamics and handling, making them spectacular.
Henri Toivonen drove the new Lancia Delta S4 around the Estoril track so fast that he would have finished tenth in the Formula 1 time trials.
@@R2-D292 That’s impossible. No way would that be achievable on the full GP track in the same conditions, especially when F1 then had even more power and was optimised for circuit driving.
@@GregzVR The time that has been thrown around is 1.18.1 for Toivonen's lap in a private test session before the Portuguese Rally. However, my skepticism for this is strong and I think people at the time were comparing it to the previous year's quali session which was quite wet. There, you'd see a more reasonable 1.23.0 as the ballpark where he'd be around at.
Those memories. Makes an old man almost cry. ❤
Thank you so much for this gem! Enjoyed it throughly, especially so because it's my home town. I wish they still drove 17 stages on Sunday..
Wow... Thanks guys for the brilliant memories.
Honestly love seeing documentaries like this keep them coming!
Please keep making this content. I have been searching for rally content like this for a long time. A quality deep dive into rally history is what we all want!
If you are looking for great rally content I recommend Amjayes 2.
Another great documentary DirtFish...
In 1984 I was there when Ari Vatanen had a practice run here in Finland and of course in one stage too in the rally with my video camera, next year I remember eating Ice cream with Timo Salonen when they do the reckey near I live in some local shop that has closed decades ago! Times were different and there was no hurry then when they do reckey! One thing I remember clearly from B, that the amount of fist size rocks fly before and after they pass equal amount! 😁
I want to say just one thing.... Dirtfish Thank you!🥰🥰🥰
I am not crying...you are!
The footage, the commentary...brilliant stuff!
These videos with Steve Rider are superb.
This was wonderful to see! And I could listen to Steve all day narrating anything
So excited about this archive.
A Group B documentary on UA-cam? Whoa that's a new!
Amazing to watch these, keep them coming! Archive footage is incredible quality both visually and audibly.
I was watching these cars as a young boy. What can I say but I am still here watching today.....
Thank you.
Brilliant to see Steve Rider involved with Dirtfish and the BHP archive, he has great knowledge of all levels of motorsport.
10:31 uhuh, the wildest group b car of them all was yet to come, the Delta s4
More videos like this please!!!
Amazing content as always guys. Keep it up!
9:20 I appreciate the *art of rally* music! Nice one! 👌
Can we have a Portugal group B documentary, the real deal!
A great video! 👌🏻 Rare footages. Like Michele Mouton explaining what happend.
This is a nice idea, but I imagined you'd be uploading the full event reviews from the BHP archive. Those films, with the addition of a short introduction to each of them by Steve Rider, would be perfect.
I'am hoping we get unseen footage from the archive that was not shown on tv at the time and has been gathering dust for the last 40 years.
Brilliant documentary and presentation, looking forward to next edition!
Love this archive video!
Was that Murray commentating rallying? What an absolute legend!!
The expression "Maximum attack!" (now used everywhere) was coined by Markku Alen. It's true.🙂
This is incredibly cool!
7:50 one of THE greatest frames in GroupB ever🙏🙏
Great channel 👌
Brilliant 😊
Timo salonen is my favourite driver purely down to how much of an underdog everyone perceived him to be. They called him fat and slack but my guy came and conquered with a rally record that had been untouched for 2 whole decades
My favorite moment of his is lighting a cigarette during a stage in the Safari Rally. How times change..
Often seen puffing a cigarette too!🤣
I love him because he always seem very chill and never breaking any sweat and the fact he won the most during group B despite only having a competitive car in 85' is utterly impressive
I'm just REALLY REALLY glad we have stored this footage from this era of rally sport, overall! 🤩 SO wonderful to watch all of that almost 40 years later (I'm 41 btw)!
I guess it would be a piece of cake to find (for example) Tänak's championship winning stage from 2019 by the next rally fans in 40 years!
Meaning, the evolution of video technology has evolved SO enormously in last years. Grateful for that!
Wow, it's Steve Rider.
Thanks for presenting some of this in 4:3.
Group B a legendary history to be told!
awesome video
Thanks for that! Its amazing. Born in 1983 so to me the 80s are the best 😂
LMAO, you missed most of it being 7 in 1990, 🤣
Great content
When you see Lancia 037 driving the stages in old videos it looks quite large car but in 10:04 min. you can see precisely how "Large" it is by comparing with Golf II.
That age was True rally,man and machine together.
These guys are legends. Amount of hp these things had. Finn cruising rwd lancia got to me most crazy
Long live the legendary WRC GROUP B
first and group B was legend
I hope this becomes a series about different races.
This was fantastic.
🤓
cinema
Steve rider and Murray walker :)
Röhl said in some interview that Mikkola was harder to beat than anyone else. And at Monte Carlo "Ari is too fast for me".
Some years ago I asked Steve Riders manager what it would cost to use him to narrate a project. If the cost is the same today I think it would be to much to ask for Dirtfish to have him out on the stages.
0:26 actually I think the previous top class cars, world rally cars, from 2017-2021 were the fastest, with the insane amount of aero they had
Funny enough the Group B cars weren't actually all that fast from point to point. Stage times were being beaten as early as 1991, in cars with half the power and more weight, which seems crazy, but the stats don't lie.
I remember seeing one short stage of the Acropolis Rally back in Seb Loeb's era that was an identical stage to one that was used in Group B days, Petter Solberg in his independently entered Citroen won the stage with a time that was 14 seconds faster than the fastest Group B car. The Ouninpohja stage in Finland has been a pretty regular fixture over the years too, of the Top 10 fastest times through that stage only one is a Group B car and it's at #9.
Modern rally cars aren't just faster, they're MILES faster. It's crazy to think about.
I see “group b,” I click.
FIA could've made advertising and sponsor so much easier but they made it harder for themselves, completely overshadowed F1 and surprisingly football somehow
2:35 the king of ouninpohja
If you want to win choose FIN🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮
Do you have everything that was shot on the rallys or just the finished edit reports that were shown on tv?
Greatest rally driver in sleeping and alive somewhere
Find him
Anyone know why they had to cover up the Marlboro logo on the driver's suits? I just figured at this time, most places hadn't banned tobacco sponsorships/decals in racing.
Too bad you didnt mention that 1985 Hannu Mikkola made time at Ouninpohja what wasnt broke till hybrid era. And is codriver said when they made last climb, that if someones made faster time than Hannu, Arne will give up his place right there.
RIP Toivonen
9:11 13:21 dropping them 1980's beats.
it takes lots of time to come this days when Rally 1 cars managed do same macige effect what B Group was.... only diffrend is that B group cars was beasts and wasint easy to drive those.... B class cars bites if driver do mistake... sometimes even more that bite....
You can't compare modern wrc-cars to the group B who is fastest in rallying, 'cause back in the days stages where much longer.
SO TRUE…..
Rally english lives on finnish drivers♥
The fans like and want Group B. The FIA just supports the latest narrative and pushes boring across all motorsport.
Indonesia serial
Cheers!