1986 was a sort of beautiful but also black year for Lancia and Abarth: on May 2nd, during the Tour de Corse, in Corsica, Henri Toivonen co-driven by Sergio Cresto lost the control of its S4 and both died through the flames.
That was one of the reasons why the FIA decided to cancel the Group B, they thought those car too much powerful and uncontrollable.
And indeed they were a sort of walking labs in which engineers tried many innovative solutions at every race. The S4 was no less. In 1986 the engine gained some more power and thanks to the new Magneti Marelli ECU IAW 060, introduced during the rally of Argentina, in place of the 040 a sort of push to pass function was made available for the driver. He could increase the wastegate pressure for a limited time during the race.
Beside the engine evolution, the S4 lost some kilograms and gained the hydraulic power steering in which, as you should have noticed, the old S4 required some brute muscular force to drive through some 40 km or more stages. The driver found it very useful but admitted that it made the steering wheel to lose some feedback.
Best Lap Times
Track | | Livery | Driver | Best Lap |
NO LAP TIMES HAVE BEEN SET IN THIS CAR! |