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Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Report and Photos

1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard
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.

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

 

1982 Opel Ascona 400 of Walter Rohrl
Walter Rohrl reunited with the Opel Ascona 400 that he drove to overall victory at the 1982 Monte Carlo Rally
1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SL of Bjorn Waldegard
1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SL of Bjorn Waldegard
1985 Audi Sport Quattro
1985 Audi Sport Quattro
1976 Lancia Stratos
1976 Lancia Stratos
1976 Lancia Stratos
1976 Lancia Stratos
1984 Lancia Rally 037
1984 Lancia Rally 037 Group B
1973 Opel Ascona A
1973 Opel Ascona A
1967 Morris Mini Cooper S and 1986 MG Metro 6R4
1967 Morris Mini Cooper S and 1986 MG Metro 6R4
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013
Eifel Rallye Festival 2013
Wartburg 311 Coupe, ex- East African Safari Rally 1958
Wartburg 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 Corse
1985 Audi Sport Quattro, ex- Walter Rohrl and Tour de Corse
Audi Sport Quattro Gathering
Audi Sport Quattro Gathering
1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard
1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard
1974 Opel Ascona A
1974 Opel Ascona A
1974 Saab 96 V4
1974 Saab 96 V4
1973 Alpine A110 1800
1973 Alpine A110 1800
1974 Daf 66
1974 Daf 66
1976 Lancia Stratos
1976 Lancia Stratos
1985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B
1985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B
1984 Lancia Rally 037
1984 Lancia Rally 037

Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Three

 

Porsche 911 Carrera RS ran the Safari Rally in 1973 and 1974
Porsche 911 Carrera RS ran the Safari Rally in 1973 and 1974
1986 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo
1986 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo
1977 Porsche 911 Carrera
1977 Porsche 911 Carrera
1988 Peugeot 405T16 Grand Raid
1988 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
1971 Porsche 914-6 GT
1973 Porsche 911
1973 Porsche 911
1983 Opel Ascona 400
1983 Opel Ascona 400
1981 Porsche 911 SC
1981 Porsche 911 SC
1982 Porsche 911 SC Group 4
1982 Porsche 911 SC Group 4
1985 Lancia Rally 037 E2
Lancia 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 6R4
1986 MG Metro 6R4
Triumph TR7
Triumph TR7
1986 Ford RS200 Evolution
1986 Ford RS200 Evolution
Triumph TR7
Triumph TR7 V8
1973 Polski Fiat 125p
1973 Polski Fiat 125p
1971 Alpine A110 1600
1971 Alpine A110 1600
1976 Lancia Stratos
1976 Lancia Stratos
1976 Lancia Stratos
1976 Lancia Stratos
1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard
1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard
1984 Lancia Rally 037
1984 Lancia Rally 037

Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Five

 

1991 Toyota Celica GT-Four
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 E30
1989 BMW M3 E30
1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 CE
1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 CE
1983 Opel Ascona 400
1983 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
1986 MG Metro 6R4 was one of the lightweight special 6R4s prepared for tarmac events.
1985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B
1985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B
1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard
1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard
1973 Alpine A110 1800
1973 Alpine A110 1800
1985 Audi Sport Quattro
1985 Audi Sport Quattro
Lancia Delta Integrale won the 1991 Safari Rallye driven by Juha Kankkunen
Lancia Delta Integrale won the 1991 Safari Rallye driven by Juha Kankkunen

Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Six

 

1973 Porsche 911
1973 Porsche 911
1980 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.0
1980 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.0
1983 Audi Quattro Group B
1983 Audi Quattro Group B
1989 BMW M3 E30
1989 BMW M3 E30
1986 MG Metro 6R4
1986 MG Metro 6R4
1975 Alpine A 310
1975 Alpine A 310
1983 Audi Quattro A1
1983 Audi Quattro A1
1976 Opel Kadett GT/E
1976 Opel Kadett GT/E
Porsche Carrera RS 3.0
Porsche Carrera RS 3.0
1984 Renault 5 Turbo
1984 Renault 5 Turbo

Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Seven

 

1984 Renault 5 Turbo
1984 Renault 5 Turbo
1977 Triumph TR7
1977 Triumph TR7
1982 Opel Ascona 400
1982 Opel Ascona 400
1984 Lancia Rally 037
1984 Lancia Rally 037
1982 Opel Ascona 400
1982 Opel Ascona 400
1980 Porsche 911 SC of Walter Rohrl
1980 Porsche 911 SC of Walter Rohrl
1962 Ford Anglia
1962 Ford Anglia
1974 Opel Ascona A
1974 Opel Ascona A
Little dusty at the Eifel Rallye Festival 2013
Little dusty at the Eifel Rallye Festival 2013
1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SL of Bjorn Waldegard
1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SL of Bjorn Waldegard

Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Eight

 

1971 Alpine A110 1600
1971 Alpine A110 1600
1982 Opel Ascona 400 of Walter Rohrl
1982 Opel Ascona 400 of Walter Rohrl
1978 Ford Escort RS1800
1978 Ford Escort RS1800
1975 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000
1975 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000
1985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B
1985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B
1971 Porsche 914-6 GT
1971 Porsche 914-6 GT
1967 Morris Mini Cooper S
1967 Morris Mini Cooper S
1980 Alfa Romeo GTV Turbodelta Group 4
1980 Alfa Romeo GTV Turbodelta Group 4
Rally great Walter Rohrl
Rally great Walter Rohrl
1978 Fiat 131 Abarth Mirafiori
1978 Fiat 131 Abarth Mirafiori

Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Nine

 

1982 Opel Ascona 400
1982 Opel Ascona 400
1973 Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye
1973 Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye
1970 Porsche 911S won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Bjorn Waldegard
Monte Carlo Rally-Winning 1970 Porsche 911S
1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750
1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750
1986 Toyota Celica Turbo
1986 Toyota Celica Turbo
1974 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF
1974 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF
1986 Ford RS200 Evolution
1986 Ford RS200 Evolution
1988 Peugeot 405T16 Grand Raid
1988 Peugeot 405T16 Grand Raid
1973 VW 1302 S
1973 VW 1302 S
1986 MG Metro 6R4
1986 MG Metro 6R4

Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Top Photo Gallery Page Ten

 

1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750
1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750
1982 Audi Quattro
1982 Audi Quattro
1973 Opel Commodore GSE
1973 Opel Commodore GSE
Opel Ascona A
Opel Ascona A
1969 Citroen DS21
1969 Citroen DS21
1967 Morris Mini Cooper S
1967 Morris Mini Cooper S
Wartburg 311 Coupe and Mercedes 300 SE
Wartburg 311 Coupe and Mercedes 300 SE
Lancia Delta Integrale won the 1991 Safari Rallye driven by Juha Kankkunen
Lancia Delta Integrale won the 1991 Safari Rallye driven by Juha Kankkunen
1988 Lancia Delta Integrale
1988 Lancia Delta Integrale
1985 Audi Sport Quattro
1985 Audi Sport Quattro

Eifel Rallye Festival 2013 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

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[Source: Eifel Rallye Festival; photos: Julien Mahiels]