After the abolition of the Group B formula in the World Rally Championship at the end of 1986, manufacturers turned to Group A cars. It became evident that Ford would be without a fully suitable car. The Ford Sierra RS Cosworth rally car, whilst bein very powerful but was driven by two wheels only at a time when the 4-wheel drive Lancias were the cars to beat. The four-wheel-drive XR4x4 whilst having an excellent chassis had a dated engine giving only 200 bhp, at least 100 less than the Lancia. For the 1987 season the team ran both, using the XR4x4 on loose surfaces and the Cosworth on tarmac, but the XR4x4's power disadvantage was too great and from 1988 the team concentrated on the Cosworth alone, and continued to use it until the arrival of the Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 in 1990.

The rear-drive car never won a loose-surface World Rally Championship event, but in the hands of drivers such as Stig Blomqvist, Carlos Sainz and Ari Vatanen it frequently finished in the top five. On tarmac it was a much more competitive, and a young Didier Auriol won the 1988 Corsica Rally outright, the only time that season that Lancia were beaten in a straight fight. However, as Lancia developed the Delta Integrale further and new cars such as the Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 appeared, the Cosworth became steadily less competitive.

This build is a conversion from an old 'Eggenberger' touring car kit, stripped back and as such required some modifications to the body work and interior. The Q8 decals were by Renaissance.

Click above for build and completed pictures