Before the likes of the Subaru WRX, Mitsubishi Evo, and Citroën C4, a slightly obscure brand from Italy was dominating the World Rally Championship stage. That brand was Lancia, the most successful manufacturer in WRC history, and the most dominant car of all was the Delta HF Integrale.
During its time on the WRC stage from 1974 to 1992, Lancia won 10 Constructors’ championships and five Drivers’ championships with the likes of the iconic Stratos and 037 among those victors.
But the Delta HF – the Group A-era successor to Group B’s trophyless Delta S4 – accounts for more success than those other two legendary Lancias combined. With a record six straight wins for the brand and four Drivers’ titles to boot, this is quite simply the most dominant rally car ever made.
In order to enter a car into WRC contention, manufacturers have been required to produce at least 25,000 road-going ‘homologation’ examples of the base vehicle, which is where the stunning car pictured here comes in.
While several versions of the Delta HF were employed during its six dominant years on the WRC stage, the first and most iconic one that comes to mind is the Integrale Evoluzione.
This was the final official homologation version – offered for sale in 1991-92, and followed up the following year by the road-only Evo II – and the last WRC entry by a Lancia factory team in 1991; Martini-sponsored privateers Jolly Club won that final ’92 title.
The stunning red 1992 model you see here is up for grabs in RR Auctions’ upcoming sale from March 15-25, 2026. Before the hammer falls, we managed to take it out for a spin on the roads of Canberra to get a taste of its rally-bred magic.
The Evo came powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot offering 154kW and 300Nm, with it backed by a five-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel drive. Not only do those figures hold up by modern standards, but also shows how this paved the way for modern all-wheel drive hot hatches like the Volkswagen Golf R which have employed a similar recipe.
It also comes wrapped in the most focused bodywork of any Delta HF as well, with its boxy flared arches – the Evo’s protruding out even further than the original Integrale’s – giving it a look that still stands out today in the aftermath of the ‘stance’ era of modified cars.
While all Delta HFs left the factory in left-hand drive form, this particular car has been converted to right-hand drive for use on Aussie roads, having spent over two decades Down Under. As a collector-grade example, all the original left-hook componentry including the dashboard and steering rack have been kept safely boxed up.
The driving position is classic hot hatch – this is a small car that you sit quite snugly and upright in, thanks to the supportive Recaro buckets, with this creating the perfect position for carving up corners. The Momo steering wheel is suitably small for the Delta’s quick rack, and the matching shifter kept in close proximity with an equally direct feel.
Its most wonderfully ’80s touch is the fact there’s a dial for absolutely everything, with the stunning orange Veglia Borletti instruments informing you of everything from oil pressure and temperature to turbocharger boost.
On the road, it’s easy to see how this car was able to dominate the World Rally Championship stage for so long. While there’s no lack of progress when you do wind it up past 3500rpm and let the boost kick in – truly old-school style – that grunty little engine is merely part of the story.
For hot hatch lovers, the magic of such cars is in the chassis, and the all-wheel drive Delta proves this more than any other. Its relatively ‘square’ stance is a big component – a widened wheel track in conjunction with a short wheelbase means it corners flat and hard. Even compared to modern equivalents, this thing truly loves being thrown enthusiastically at the tightest of turns.
Add in all-paw traction and it only turns things up to 11. Lay into the throttle and it clings to the road with claws out; the directness of this system reminded us a hint of the later and equally tractable Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI ‘Tommi Mäkinen Edition’.
Yet this isn’t a car that needs to scream and shout about its motorsport pedigree. Outside enthusiast circles – and in a country where this car was never officially sold – it likely flies right under the radar.
But that’s no issue for this car at all. It simply lets the jam-packed trophy cabinet do all the talking.
To find out more about this stunning example of the legendary Delta Integrale, or to place your bids, head to RRAuctions.com.au where you’ll find this and many other listings in our curated timed sales.
