Time flies

These days it’s just an accepted part of of automotive and motorsport history, but 35 years ago, the automotive world was about to be changed forever.

In fact it was late 1980 when Audi quattro technology was first seen in rallying, though not as a competitor, but rather as the safety car. The following year in 1981 Audi took the next step and became the first manufacturer ever to enter a racing car driven by all four wheels. That same year, Audi celebrated its first victory in the  Austrian Jänner rally, and from here, quattro made its international debut in the Monte Carlo rally. By the end of that first season, Audi had won three victories at eight selected rallies.

In 1982, the brand got serious and committed to the entire season –  and even the experts had no idea just what a game changer it would prove to be.

During the world championship season in 1982, Audi won seven of the 11 races and a true motorsport legend was born. Michèle Mouton – the first woman to ever win a championship world rally championship round, narrowly missed out winning the driver's world champion title for Audi, but the brand with the four rings was nevertheless victorious, taking its first constructors’ title. 

The following year, Audi driver, Hannu Mikkola again put Audi on top, winning the world drivers’ title, and then in 1984, the brand got both the drivers’ and construcotrs’ championships, this time with Stig Blomqvist at the wheel.