It was the autumn of 1985 when the Lancia Delta S4 Martini made its debut in the prestigious World Rally Championship, at the RAC Rally in Great Britain.
A triumphant debut, crowned by a victory from Henri Toivonen and Neil Wilson, who took the new car straight to the top of the podium. In reality, its first competitive appearance had taken place a few months earlier, in July, at the Rally Colline di Romagna, a gravel event valid for the Coppa Italia. On that occasion too, the Delta S4—entrusted to Markku Alen and co-driver Ilkka Kivimaki—dominated with authority, crossing the finish line nearly nine minutes ahead of the runner-up. Now, forty years after that debut, which marked the start of an unforgettable season in motorsport, Lancia pays tribute to a true and absolute Group B icon while looking to the future with the Ypsilon Rally4 HF, a true heir to the daring spirit that ignited the Delta S4 legend.
The Delta S4 was developed specifically to compete in the most extreme category rallying had ever seen—Group B—where permissive technical rules allowed for extensive experimentation, pushing manufacturers to constantly exceed the limits of engineering and performance. The designation "S4" stood for: “S” as in supercharged, and “4” for four-wheel drive. A concentration of power and responsiveness that, paired with permanent all-wheel drive and refined architecture, made it one of the most competitive rally cars ever, other than the first Italian 4×4 used in competition.
The chassis features a steel tube-frame space cage and the bodywork kevlar and carbon-fiber honeycomb panels, keeping the weight down to just 966 kg. Mechanically, it has a 1759 cc dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine mounted midship and it is twin-charged, using both a turbocharger and a supercharger. The powerplant produces over 500 horsepower, boasts 45 Nm of torque at 5000 rpm, and pushes the car to a top speed of 250 km/h. Right from its debut, it proves to be extremely competitive, winning the Italian and European championships in 1986, along with about 15 rally events including Monte-Carlo, Costa Smeralda, Mille Miglia, and Targa Florio.
Today, one of the original Delta S4 units, built in 1985 for the Group B World Rally Championship, is preserved and displayed at the Heritage Hub in Turin, the exhibition space open to the public that houses the corporate collection of Stellantis’ Italian brands.
In particular, this rare piece is featured in the Rally Era area, dedicated to the iconic models that made Lancia the most successful brand in rallying history, with 10 World Rally Championship constructor titles, three Endurance constructor titles, a Mille Miglia, two Targa Florio wins and a Carrera Panamericana. Certainly, the Delta S4 was the most technologically advanced rally car of its time, created in an era when resources were nearly limitless and performance had to be scaled back because they went too far. In short, this Group B “beast” is the most authentic expression of Lancia’s boldness. The Heritage Hub also displays a rare Lancia Delta S4 Stradale: between 1985 and 1986, the Chivasso-based automaker built 200 “stradale” units of the car to meet the FIA's minimum requirement for homologating the race version.
The same bold and purposeful approach guides Lancia’s return to rallying in 2025 with the Ypsilon Rally4 HF, which marks the start of a new sporting era for the brand, inspired by the values and tradition that made it world-renowned. Homologated in the Rally4 category and intended for privateers and young talents, this spirited race car is equipped with a 212 hp turbo engine, a 5-speed SADEV sequential gearbox, adjustable Ohlins suspension and a dedicated braking system. As the star of the Trofeo Lancia single-brand series, the Ypsilon Rally4 HF is both the perfect “training ground” for young drivers and an ideal solution for experienced racers aiming to win among the Rally4 class. In addition, just a few weeks ago, the new Ypsilon HF Racing was unveiled, a vehicle designed to broaden the base of the rally pyramid by providing a real gateway to competitive road racing for a new generation of drivers. In short, if the Delta S4 embodied the authentic essence of the Lancia spirit, that impulse is now reborn in the Ypsilon Rally4 HF and Ypsilon HF Racing. Vehicles far apart in time, but driven by the same pursuit of challenge and determination to push beyond limits. Because Lancia doesn’t look back with nostalgia, but it returns to claim its rightful place in motorsport.