FIAT 131 ABARTH RALLY GR.4

FIAT 131 ABARTH RALLY GR.4

We were between 1970 and 1980 when Fiat decided to focus on the 131 sedan presented in those years, in order to increase sales.

To obtain the Group 4 homologation (necessary to take part in the World Rally) of the Fiat 131, 400 specimens must be produced. The design is taken care of by the Bertone style center which also deals with the assembly of road cars. In 1975 the car made its race debut in the Italian championship at the 100,000 Trabucchi rally and at the rally of the Piacenza Valleys with Giorgio Pianta but the official commitment began the following year.

In 1976 the protagonist of the first races of the Piedmontese sedan, painted in yellow-blue and with the sponsor Olio Fiat, is the Finnish Markku Alén, who obtains the first important victory (in the Elba Island Rally, valid for the European championship ) and the first success in the home event at 1000 Laghi.

In 1977 the first Manufacturers' World Championship came for Fiat thanks to five successes achieved by the 131 Abarth Rally with five different drivers: the Finns Alén (Portugal) and Timo Salonen (Canada), our Fulvio Bacchelli (New Zealand) and the French Jean-Claude Andruet (Sanremo) and Bernard Darniche (Corsica). Andruet also climbs the top step of the podium in France in Antibes (European).

The rest is history!