Ferrari 308 goes Rallying

Ferraris are not known as successful rally cars, but that did not stop The French Ferrari Importer Charles Pozzi from having a number prepared for Rallying in the late seventies and early eighties.

The idea is actually less stupid than it sounds as the car to beat in tarmac Rallying in that period was the Lancia Stratos (also a mid engined sports car with a Ferrari engine). The 308's were in fact built by Michellotto who were also responsible for preparing the Stratos for Rallying.

The You Tube clip above shows the 308 GTB's prepared to Group 4 rally specifications (not Group B as the video is titled).  The commentary is in French but the footage captures the Pioneer sponsored GTB's on both tarmac and Gravel.

In truth the 308 did not have a particularly successful career in Rallying although one example did win the 1981 Tour De France, and led the Tour de Corse in the same year before retiring. In both cases the car was driven by Jean-Claude Andruet who is also shown in this clip.

The 308 probably could have been made into a competive rally car but firstly lack of interest from Ferrari (possibly as would have stepped in the toes of the Fiat Group's other Rallying programmes for the Stratos and later the 131 Abarth), and then the rise of the Group B monster scuppered the chances. Ferrari did go on to develop the 288GTO to Group B specifications but that was for the stillborn Group B race series not Rallying.

Incidentally if you think a Ferrari 308 is an improbably rally car, what about the BMW M1 also shown briefly in this clip!!