Video: Group B monsters battle door‑to‑door on track

It’s perhaps the only downside of conventional rallying, that the way it’s run means you never see cars actually racing each other. So that made for unprecedented scenes when some of the most powerful road-based racing cars ever made suddenly found themselves doorhandle-to-doorhandle, wingtip to wingtip. In a rare glimpse at this lesser-documented class of motorsport, we see Peugeot 205 T16, Audi Quattro S1 and Metro 6R4 line up at the Mondello Park round of the 1989 European Rallycross Championship.

The Quattro leaps out of the trap ‘like lightning’, leaving a challenge for the Peugeot and Metro, of getting past the big sliding warbling Audi. The plucky Pug makes a good go of it, chewing on the Audi’s heels, nudging up the inside. The sheer power of the five-pot Quattro helps eke it back out ahead but the nimble Peugeot gets him on the brakes. These incredible cars made rallycross every bit as spectacular as they did the WRC... 

Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: A Jaw‑dropping Porsche 935 Le Mans helmet cam at night.