The Group B era of rallying will always hold a special place in many fans' hearts. The golden age of the World Rally Championship, the mid-eighties saw many manufacturers develop purpose-built rally machines. The beauty of the regulations was that entries had to be production cars. A minimum of 200 examples needed to be built for cars to be eligible to enter the WRC.
Forza Horizon 4 gives us the opportunity to drive some of these homologation specials. Though most of us will never get to pilot a Group B car in real life, racing games provide what the real world denies us. These are a few of our favourites!
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
The 1985 and 1986 WRC titles, won by Jean Todt's Peugeot team, were the last of the Group B era. Though the category was short-lived, these victories cemented Peugeot's place in rallying history. Sixteen victories was a huge total in a competitive class.
This short wheelbase, mid-engined, and four wheel drive format make the T16 a potent weapon. It may not be the most flamboyant Group B machine in terms of its styling, but the bonnet scoop, flared arches, and massive wing do make it clear this is no ordinary French hatchback.
This is one of my favourite cars in Forza Horizon 4 for tight drift zones. It's also a great race machine for certain circuits, with the right tuning.
Audi Sport Quattro S1
For many people, this is the definitive rally car of the eighties. It also achieved some notability recently for its use in a BBC drama and subsequently some political posters in the UK. We'd rather remember it for the 23 WRC victories!
Rally success was a huge boost to the then-struggling Audi company. The Quattro was such a big part of its branding that the name was applied to four-wheel drive varients of its other cars.
If you find winter driving in Forza Horizon 4 to be a bit frustrating, give the Quattro a go and you'll soon be smiling. The power and grip on offer are just what a snowy day demands.
Ford RS200 Evolution
The Evolution of the RS200 was the Group B car that never saw a WRC stage. It was planned for 1987 but when a series of fatal rally crashes involved the original RS200 model, the whole category was scrapped. The Evolution did see action though, claiming rallycross victories well into the nineties.
The Hoonigan variant is arguably the best all-round car in Forza Horizon 4, certainly for dirt and winter PR stunts. It can also be tweaked to make a great four-wheel drive drift machine.