Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione 1 'Martini 6' (1992)

When Group B was canned at the end of 1986, Lancia needed a production-based alternative in order to adhere to newly devised Group A regulations for the 1987 season. The Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign penned Delta had been launched in 1979 and although briefly running as a narrow body car in the 1987 Championship- which it duly won- it was the widened track, Integrale from 1988 that is remembered so favourably. The Delta would go on to take 6 Manufacturer’s Championships, 4 Driver's Championships and 46 wins overall between 1987 and 1992.

Introduced in late 1991, the Evoluzione I brought with it a wider track, a remapped 16v engine and an Alcantara interior. The Evoluzione II was introduced two years later. Revised emissions regulations saw the introduction of a catalytic converter, although power was still up. The Evoluzione II became the base for a number of highly desirable special editions until production ended in 1995.

Among the ‘Evo I’ based special edition models, was the Martini 6 – which immediately superseded the Evoluzione I based Martini 5 after Lancia had won their 6th consecutive World Rally Championship for Manufacturers – a record that remains unbroken.

Much like its predecessor, the ‘6’ was adorned in Martini colours, however subtle differences and a striking Turquoise Alcantara interior assured the cars’ distinguishability. It later transpired that Lancia’s 6th Manufactures’ Championship would be their last, therefore cementing the Delta Martini 6 as a bookend in the model’s lineage, as the only model built as a direct celebration of the Delta’s WRC success in its entirety.