1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard
The Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 was staged 25-27 July in the Eifel Mountains of Western Germany. A strong field of 160 rally machines from more than 20 manufacturers represented five decades of rallying history. The 3-day rally was held over eight special stages in and around the town of Daun, turning the volcanic Eifel region into the center of historic rally racing.
The 2013 running of the Eifel Rallye Festival offered spectators the rare chance to see the cars that made the history of rallying: from the two-stroke Saab and Trabant up to the wild Group B supercars from Audi, Lancia and others. This year’s festival celebrated 40 years of the World Rally Championship and legendary rallying ace Walter Rohrl served as patron of the event. Also participating were Bjorn Waldegard, winner of the inaugural World Rally Championship for drivers in 1979, and Stig Blomqvist, winner of the 1984 World Rally Championship for drivers.
Notable entries at the Eifel Rallye Festival, and there were many, included the Porsche 911S that won the 1970 Monte Carlo Rally driven by Bjorn Waldegard; Opel Ascona 400 that Walter Rohrl drove to overall victory at the 1982 Monte Carlo Rally; 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS that ran the Safari Rally in 1973 and 1974; 1988 Peugeot 405T16 Grand Raid; 1985 Lancia Rally 037 E2 Works; Toyota Celica GT-Four driven by Carlos Sainz on the Acropolis Rally of 1991; Lancia Delta Integrale that won the 1991 Safari Rallye driven by Juha Kankkunen and the ex-Walter Rohrl and Tour de Corse 1985 Audi Sport Quattro.
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Similar to the 2012 event, photographer Julien Mahiels also documented the 2013 Eifel Rallye Festival, offering the following excellent picture gallery that shows the strong and varied field of entrants tackling the volcanic Eifel region of Germany. We split up the 150 pictures that Julien captured into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest. The second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Julien, visit julienmahiels.net.
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery
Walter Rohrl reunited with the Opel Ascona 400 that he drove to overall victory at the 1982 Monte Carlo Rally1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SL of Bjorn Waldegard1985 Audi Sport Quattro1976 Lancia Stratos1976 Lancia Stratos
1984 Lancia Rally 037 Group B1973 Opel Ascona A1967 Morris Mini Cooper S and 1986 MG Metro 6R4Eifel Rallye Festival 2013Wartburg 311 Coupe, ex- East African Safari Rally 1958
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Two
1985 Audi Sport Quattro, ex- Walter Rohrl and Tour de CorseAudi Sport Quattro Gathering1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard1974 Opel Ascona A1974 Saab 96 V4
1973 Alpine A110 18001974 Daf 661976 Lancia Stratos1985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B1984 Lancia Rally 037
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Three
Porsche 911 Carrera RS ran the Safari Rally in 1973 and 19741986 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo1977 Porsche 911 Carrera1988 Peugeot 405T16 Grand Raid – This chassis won the 1000 Lakes Rally as a Peugeot 205 T16 E2 with Timo Salonen at the wheel. Just two months later it was also used in the Sanremo Rally. After the end of Group B, the chassis was lengthened making it one of only six “Peugeot 405 Grand Raid”. The first appearance in the new shape was the 1988 Paris-Dakar Rally where it was driven by Ari Vatanen in the blue and white colours of Pioneer. During the rally, the car was reported stolen causing a stir in the rally scene. But afterwards it took part in the Atlas Rally (with Henri Pescarolo) and won the Tunisia Rally (Vatanen). After its retirement from rallying, this 405 was painted in the yellow Camel colours and used as an exhibition vehicle.1971 Porsche 914-6 GT
1973 Porsche 9111983 Opel Ascona 4001981 Porsche 911 SC1982 Porsche 911 SC Group 4Lancia Rally 037 E2 – Second evolution works car prepared especially for the Safari Rally driven by Vic Preston Jr and then left with him to run in the Kenyan Rally Championship. He won that twelve-round 1985 championship with ten outright victories.
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Four
1986 MG Metro 6R4Triumph TR71986 Ford RS200 EvolutionTriumph TR7 V81973 Polski Fiat 125p
1971 Alpine A110 16001976 Lancia Stratos1976 Lancia Stratos1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard1984 Lancia Rally 037
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Five
This Toyota Celica GT-Four was driven by Carlos Sainz on the Acropolis Rally of 1991. During the event, El Matador had a fierce battle with Juha Kankkunen’s Lancia and eventually came second, one minute down on the winner.1989 BMW M3 E301980 Mercedes-Benz 280 CE1983 Opel Ascona 400 – This chassis no. RA 50 is the last-ever Opel Ascona 400 built by the factory. Opel planned to use the Manta 400 on the Safari in 1983, but the homologation ran late and so another ‘last’ Ascona had to be built for Rauno Aaltonen. He had good chances for victory but the oil pump let him down on the last leg.1986 MG Metro 6R4 was one of the lightweight special 6R4s prepared for tarmac events.
1985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard1973 Alpine A110 18001985 Audi Sport QuattroLancia Delta Integrale won the 1991 Safari Rallye driven by Juha Kankkunen
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Six
1973 Porsche 9111980 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.01983 Audi Quattro Group B1989 BMW M3 E301986 MG Metro 6R4
1975 Alpine A 3101983 Audi Quattro A11976 Opel Kadett GT/EPorsche Carrera RS 3.01984 Renault 5 Turbo
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Seven
1984 Renault 5 Turbo1977 Triumph TR71982 Opel Ascona 4001984 Lancia Rally 0371982 Opel Ascona 400
1980 Porsche 911 SC of Walter Rohrl1962 Ford Anglia1974 Opel Ascona ALittle dusty at the Eifel Rallye Festival 20131981 Mercedes-Benz 500SL of Bjorn Waldegard
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Eight
1971 Alpine A110 16001982 Opel Ascona 400 of Walter Rohrl1978 Ford Escort RS18001975 Alfa Romeo GTV 20001985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B
1971 Porsche 914-6 GT1967 Morris Mini Cooper S1980 Alfa Romeo GTV Turbodelta Group 4Rally great Walter Rohrl1978 Fiat 131 Abarth Mirafiori
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Nine
1982 Opel Ascona 4001973 Fiat 124 Abarth RallyeMonte Carlo Rally-Winning 1970 Porsche 911S1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 17501986 Toyota Celica Turbo
1974 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF1986 Ford RS200 Evolution1988 Peugeot 405T16 Grand Raid1973 VW 1302 S1986 MG Metro 6R4
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Ten
1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 17501982 Audi Quattro1973 Opel Commodore GSEOpel Ascona A1969 Citroen DS21
1967 Morris Mini Cooper SWartburg 311 Coupe and Mercedes 300 SELancia Delta Integrale won the 1991 Safari Rallye driven by Juha Kankkunen1988 Lancia Delta Integrale1985 Audi Sport Quattro
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
Wonderful pics – so difficult to capture, but the best Rally pics I think I have ever seen – great job!!
I second Chuck’s comments. I’m a long-time rally fan and these images stir me like none before. Well done to all!
Outstanding photography all around!
Thank you !
The photography is excellent, thanks for sharing this very creative and skillful work.
salut julien, superbes photos!
i guess we stood side by side in some corners 😉
here are my pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaytext/sets/72157634834363810/