Monte Carlo Rally 1986-91 (6 DVD) Boxse

Monte Carlo Rally 1986-91 (6 DVD) Boxset – Description

Each programme in the collection is packed with drama and action captured in superb footage, and for the first time presented in an embossed presentation case.

On the journey from Henri Toivonen’s amazing victory to the unbelievable drama of 1991’s final stage, we see Lancias, including the awesome Group B S4, Toyotas, Mazdas, Audis and more sliding, jumping and, frequently, rolling with legends like Miki Biasion, Timo Salonen, Hannu Mikkola and Juha Kankkunen.

The 1986 Monte-Carlo Rally was the first round of what would prove to be the very last year of the awesomely powerful Group B ‘supercars’. Enjoy the sights – and incredible sounds – of the Martini Lancia Delta S4, Audi Quattro S1, Peugeot 206 T16 and Metro 6R4 as they do battle. Lancia’s Henri Toivonen and co-driver Sergio Cresto took advantage of their Pirelli tyres in the opening stages to establish a healthy lead, but reigning World Champion Timo Salonen and Monte-Carlo expert Walter Rohrl were soon piling on the pressure. Toivonen looked certain for victory, until a bizarre accident involving a spectator’s car cost him the lead. However, the Finnish star refused to be beaten and clawed back the lost time to take a dominant victory. Tragically, this would be the final victory for the popular Toivonen and co-driver Cresto. This look back at the ’86 Monte-Carlo Rally is a fitting tribute to the pair, as well as a real feast of classic rallying action

«The 1986 Monte-Carlo Rally is wall-to-wall supercars; Lancia’s Delta S4 took on the Audi Quattro E2, the Metro 6R4 and the Peugeot 205 T16….if you’re a total Group B nut then you’ll lap it up» Autocar

Juha Kankkunen had switched to Lancia for 1987, and it seemed a good move as the Delta 4WDs of the World Champion and teammates Bruno Saby and Miki Biaison dominated the opening stages of the five-day event. As the battled raged across snow and ice, the fight to be ‘best of the rest’ featured Walter Rohrl in the Audi 200 Quattro, the Ford Sierra Cosworth of Stig Blomqvist, the Mazda 323 of Timo Salonen and reigning Group A World Champion Kenneth Eriksson, in the Volkswagen Golf GTi. Despite Rohrl’s best efforts, this would be a duel between Kankkunen and Biasion. With just one day left, the dominant Lancias faced exclusion after a protest. The team escaped sanction, but there was further controversy when Biasion secured an unexpected victory ahead of a clearly unhappy Kankkunen. Fabulous footage and revealing interviews bring you all the action, drama and controversy from the first chapter of a new era in World Rallying.

In 1988, the scene was set for a showdown between the Martini Lancia team that had dominated 1987, and the rejuvenated Mazda team wanting to forget a disappointing season. While the works Lancia Delta HF 4WDs of Bruno Saby and Miki Biasion led the way, the Mazda 323s of Timo Salonen, Hannu Mikkola and Ingvar Carlsson were in trouble – diesel-contaminated fuel ruining their effort. When Biasion retired, the Lancias of Group N Champion Alessandro Fiorio and Yves Loubet joined the battle for victory. Loubet’s luck ran out with the end in sight, his Lancia crashing into retirement. Behind Saby and the Jolly Club-backed Delta of Fiorio, Jean-Pierre Ballet’s Peugeot 205 GTi took unexpected third. Incredibly, former World Champion Salonen recovered from 42nd to take fifth, just behind the battle-scarred Renault 11 Turbo of Alain Oreille. Enjoy incredible action, interviews with the stars and some spectacular ‘moments’ in these excellent highlights.

The 1989 Monte-Carlo Rally promised to be one of the most competitive ever, with the mighty Lancia team facing renewed challenges from Japanese giants Toyota, Mazda and Mitsubishi. Tragically, the event will also be remembered for the appalling spectator problems and the deaths of two rally drivers. World Champion Miki Biasion was joined by Bruno Saby and Didier Auriol in the works Lancia Deltas, while Juha Kankkunen led the Toyota Celica GT-4 charge and Timo Salonen and Hannu Mikkola continued with Mazda. While Toyota’s new recruit Carlos Sainz and Ari Vatanen in the relatively untried Mitsubishi would prove to be sensations, the headlines were dominated by tragedy, when Alex Fiorio crashed into spectators twice, killing two. Terrible crowd problems would overshadow the entire event, including the incredible battle between Biasion and new teammate Auriol which raged until the end. Toyota’s bid was dented early by tyre problems while heroic drives from Vatanen and Sainz ended in car-wrecking crashes. Incredible camera angles capture breathtaking action in this highlights programme, while informed commentary and interviews take you behind the scenes of the controversial 1989 Monte-Carlo Rally.

The 1990 Monte-Carlo Rally was the start of a fresh bid by Japanese giants Toyota, Mazda and Mitsubishi to topple the dominant Lancias in the World Rally Championship. Experience the incredible action and intense battle for victory as the best drivers fight for supremacy. Juha Kankkunen rejoined Lancia alongside Didier Auriol and World Champion Miki Biasion, Carlos Sainz and Armin Schwarz led the Toyota challenge, Mazda retained Hannu Mikkola and Timo Salonen and Mitsubishi teamed Kenneth Eriksson with Ari Vatanen. With the traditional snow and ice of the Monte-Carlo Rally missing, tyre choice was vital and it seemed Auriol and Sainz had made the right choices, dominating the event ahead of their teammates. While Auriol’s Lancia Delta showed the way, Sainz kept his Celica GT-4 in touch. With just a handful of miles to go, the pair were equal on time, setting up a tension-packed finale. Controversy struck when the result was appealed, but the protest had no impact on the outcome. Incredible camera angles capture the awesome action from this spectacular battle, while fascinating interviews with the stars take you behind the scenes.

The 1991 World Rally Championship was set to be one of the most competitive in recent years, and as the cars lined up for the opening round in Monte-Carlo the scene was set for a battle royal between the best drivers, and the top manufacturers. Reigning World Champion Carlos Sainz in his Toyota Celica GT-4 would face competition not only from the five-strong Lancia Delta Integrale line-up, featuring Miki Biasion, Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriol, but also Timo Salonen, making his Mitsubishi debut, Hannu Mikkola, who remained with the Mazda 323, and the determined Ford team. Sensational Sainz snatched an early lead, an advantage he would hold for three days in what looked like being a dominant performance. The Deltas, starting to show their age, could not mount a genuine challenge to the Spaniard, leaving the Ford Sierra Cosworth of Francois Delecour as the only serious threat. On the final day Delecour produced a stunning performance to snatch the lead and took a 42 second advantage into the final 14 miles. Then cruel fate intervened. This highlights programme features high-speed action, power slides and interviews with the stars as you relive the dramatic and emotion-packed 1991 Monte-Carlo Rally.