How Times Have Changed

Definitely one for the stattos/geeks amongst us but over the past 6 months (whenever i get a spare 5 mins which is rare) i've been doing a bit of work to understand all the types/variations/classes of cars that have taken a point (top 10 finish) in any WRC event since the inception in 1973. I'm about half way through the journey of collating the data and have been jumping around the years, but i was working on 1975 this morning and I was blown away by the variety of points winners. Across the 10 events that made up the 1975 season, 47 different types of cars (including classes) took points. Quite mind blowing when you think of how few manufacturers participate these days:

              Group   Class
Stratos HF              4 4
124 Abarth Rallye 4 3
17 Gordini      2 2
A110 1950      4 3
911                      3 4
2000 GTV              1 3
911 Carerra RS 2.7 3 4
2002 Tii 1 3
96 V4 2 3
Beta Coupe 4 3
120 S (Skoda) 2 1
Ascona 2 3
142 GL 1 3
RS2000 1 3
504 2 3
Colt Lancer 2 2
Violet 710 2 3
160B 2 2
Ascona 1.9 SR 2 3
A110 1800 4 3
Galant 2 2
Ascona 2 3
80 GT (B1 2 door) 1 2
Alfetta GT 2 3
Alfetta 1 3
VAZ 2103 1 2
504 Ti 2 3
DS23 1 4
160J 2 3
142 2 3
504 Ti 1 3
Corolla Levin TE27 2 3
260Z 4 4
240Z 4 4
GS 1220 2 1
RS1600 2 3
RS1800 2 3
Avenger 1 2
911 Carerra 3 4
Ascona 1.9 SR 1 3
Alfetta GT 1 3
2000 GTV 1 3
A310 1800 4 3
A110 1800 3 3
Kadett GT/E 4 3
Kadett GT/E 2 3
Magnum Coupe 2 4

serious variety of yokes there indeed paul.... wonder will things improve from next year with the new era of hybrids....

Hence the attraction of historic rallying - variety.

youre not wrong james...

Problem is with competitive historics other than demo events if you want to win its a MK11 for gravel or a 911 for European tarmac as these cars have never really stopped being developed. Agree though that entry lists were much more attractive with Groups 1 to 4 and with 3 or 4 different cars or variants per manufacturer.

Sal the 2nd wrote:Problem is with competitive historics other than demo events if you want to win its a MK11 for gravel or a 911 for European tarmac as these cars have never really stopped being developed. Agree though that entry lists were much more attractive with Groups 1 to 4 and with 3 or 4 different cars or variants per manufacturer.

The game has moved on , on European tar. Now Integrale, Cossie and Legacy. A well driven Porsche can still win on occasion but its driver ability rather than the car that wins. The M3 should shine but its again the quality of driver that has s far determined its fate .