The Lancia Delta S4 Story: Rally of Argentina and 1000 Lakes Rally 1986

More rare film footage (unearthed by Marvdogger) of the Lancia Delta S4 in action, this time competing on the 1986 Rally of Argentina and 1000 Lakes.

Miki Biasion scored his first World Rally Championship victory on the '86 Marlboro Rally of Argentina and gave Lancia a huge boost to their title ambitions that year. Martini team-mate Markku Alen brought his Lancia Delta S4 home in second place, but the Finn was furious that team orders had not been issued for him to win - in order to help his Drivers' Championship title aspirations. Local hero Jorge Recalde finished the event fourth in the remaining works Delta.

Markku Alen was a man on a mission in Finland, and armed with the Delta S4 he set about showing everyone what he promised he could do with 4WD machinery on his home event. Everything was going to plan, until the Finn rolled on the final day - costing Lancia the Manufacturers' crown. Alen eventually finished third, while team-mates Mikael Ericsson and Kalle Grundel (on a one-off drive for the Lancia squad) came home in fifth and sixth respectively after suffering numerous mechanical woes throughout the event.

video uploaded by Marvdogger