After 33 Years, Lancia Takes Historic WRC Victory

For the first time in more than 30 years, the Lancia team has taken to the top step of the World Rally Championship podium, securing an historic victory at Rally Croatia on the weekend. For a brand that largely faded into insignificance after its exit from the sport in 1992, it’s a monumental achievement.

Importantly, the Lancia Ypsilon driven by Yohan Rossel and Arnaud Dunand does not compete in the flagship class, but rather in WRC2. Nevertheless, it allows Lancia to add another trophy to its cabinet, which already includes a record 10 WRC manufacturers’ titles from its heyday at the top level of the sport.

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The pairing of Rossel and Dunand secured six stage wins across the event. The second Lancia team with drivers Nikolay Gryazin and Konstantin Aleksandrov also performed well, securing third place after seven stage wins. Of the 20 stages throughout the event, Lancia cars took top honors in 13.

Thanks to the strong result, the Lancia Corse HF team now leads the WRC2 Teams’ standings with 84 points. Yohan Rossel has also moved up to third in the Drivers’ Championship, while Gryazin is in fifth place.

An Ypsilon On Steroids

“It’s been a fantastic rally, for us and for the team. We knew that Lancia’s ambition this year was to come back strongly in the WRC,” Rossel said after the event. “After Monte Carlo it was a bit difficult for me, as it wasn’t the result I was expecting, but here in Croatia, at this second round, everything was perfect – from tire choices to the set-up. We were always in control. I’m really happy for the team, for myself, and for all Lancia fans.”

Lancia returned to the World Rally Championship this year, running a car heavily inspired by the latest-generation Ypsilon. To meet regulations, it uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with four-wheel drive and a five-speed sequential transmission.