Video: 10 rally legends go head-to-head at RoC

09th March 2023

James King

This video is in Dutch, so we don’t really know what this narrator is talking about, but this video of some action from the 1989 Race of Champions is just too good not to share. Within 11 secs you’ll realize you’re in for a treat. We’re at the Nürburgring, and we’re looking at a line-up that includes Kankkunen, Salonen, Blomqvist, Mikkola, Vatanen and Röhrl. Life is good. This edition of the Race of Champions was always going to be full of this level of talent with the Group B era ending just a few years earlier.

We kick off the action with one of the most impressive crashes you’ll ever see as a Toyota Celica performs a perfect rolling wall ride. Before you’ve had time to take that in, it’s straight into the racing action. First up is Ari Vatanen vs Timo Salonen in a pair of Opel Kadett GSIs followed by Sepp Haider vs Kenneth Eriksson in a pair of beautiful Toyota Celicas leaping over wet jumps. It’s everything you could want from a late ‘80s rally video and more. I won’t spoil the last few battles, but it’s safe to say the cars keep getting better with a finale that lives up to your heightened expectations. Enjoy.

Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: Remote control drifting is like real life Micro Machines