Audi 200 Gruppe A
Training by Walter Rörhl – courtesy of Audi AG

As Group B was cancelled during the 1986 season, FIA decided Group A should be the only WRC class for the 1987 season. This category should feature less powerful cars, based more heavily around series productioned models. Homologation-standards were set at least 5000 manufactured examples ahead of the 1987 season.

At Audi they worked at which model could suit this task better, and surpricingly it turned out to be the Audi 200 quattro over the Coupé quattro, and a rally version was assembled for the Rally Monte Carlo. With Walter Röhrl behind the wheel, the big Audi came in third overall, mostly thanks to his good rally-experience.

Next duty was the Kenyan Safari rally, with start and goal at Nairobi. In this race Audi also let Hannu Mikkola & Arne Hertz drive alongside Walter Röhrl & Christian Geistdörfer. The result was first and second place, in that order, in this endurance-rally.

Audi 200 rallye
Audi 200 during the Safari

Audi withdrew from rally after that event. IN-NZ 85, IN-YV 69 and IN-YV71 are known Gr. A cars.

Engine: inline-five, cast-iron block, aluminium head, 10V, special steel-rods.
Capacity: 2144 cc by bore x stroke 79,5 x 86,4 mm
C/R: 7.6:1
Power: 238 hp at 6000 rpms
Torque: 330 Nm at 4000 rpms

The 200 rally quattro was homologated 01.01.1987, and it weighed 1370 kg in the 1250 kg classification.
Suspension was McPherson in front with double linkage, 330 mm brakes in front and 280 mm in the rear. Either 16/66×16 or 21/62×16 (asphalt) tires, 200L fueltank.

Audi 200 Gruppe A
Training by Walter Rörhl – courtesy of Audi AG

Drivetrain setup varied, as front was viscous type, center was 17% TorSen or optional viscous, and the rear featured a 75% slat or optional viscous type. Gearbox was a six-speed type alike that of the Sport Quattro S1, and the car had the typical Audi Sport hydraulically assisted clucth operated with a button on the gear lever.

The Audi 200 rallye was in many ways replaced by the more modern aged Audi S2 rallye in the hands of Schmidt Motorsport.

Sources:
Audipassion.com
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