The Iconic BMW M3 and Lancia Delta Integrali: A Clash of Titans from the 80s

In this week's shootout, we have the privilege of comparing two iconic cars from the 1980s - the BMW M3 and the Lancia Delta Integrali. Both vehicles are beloved by enthusiasts worldwide, with the M3 dominating circuits and the Integrali excelling in rallying. We're joined by Steve Breen from New Zealand, who has had a passion for the Integrali since its introduction.

The Lancia Delta Integrali is undoubtedly one of the most cherished models among car enthusiasts. With its turbocharged 2L engine, producing 200 horsepower, it's clear that this car was built for speed and agility. Its four-wheel drive system may have favored the rear wheels, but Steve Breen assures us that it still packs a punch. Despite having covered over 170,000 miles, Aaron Wedel's M3 remains immaculate. While slightly less powerful than the Integrali, there doesn't seem to be much between these two back in the late 80s.

The BMW M3 was indeed more than just a car to have - it was a racing special by BMW. Designed to dominate circuit racing in Germany and Britain, its success wasn't limited to these countries alone. This iconic car really is hard to believe is now nearly 20 years old, but what's remarkable about it is how well its steering holds up even today. The response from the chassis remains tight, with a gearbox that shifts as smoothly as ever. Second gear for hairpin turns? Absolutely sublime.

As we delve into the world of motorsport, we're looking at the Delta Integrali designed to tackle rallying head-on. Its homologation special status is evident in its ability to take on the best racers around the globe and come out on top. Winning the World Championship several times in the late 80s is a testament to its prowess. What's interesting about this four-wheel drive system, Steve Breen points out, is that it doesn't require pushing the car into corners too quickly but rather gets speed down by turning, then utilizing four-wheel drive traction to fire out of them.

The contrast between these two cars as they take to the track could not be more stark. Aaron Wedel's M3 sets the initial pace with a lap time of 56.97 seconds, showcasing its superiority on circuits. However, when Steve Breen takes to the wheel of the Integrali, it seems like he's struggling at first. The noise and vibration are quite different from his driving experience in the M3 - there's no doubt that this is going to be hard to predict.

But what we discover upon closer inspection is that the times are very close indeed. Steve Breen manages to edge ahead of the Integrali, winning by a mere couple of seconds. It seems it's all about timing and understanding the car's unique characteristics. The secret to driving a four-wheel drive lies in not pushing into corners too aggressively but instead using the speed to turn and then unleashing that traction to propel out of them.

As we continue our shootout, we notice Steve Breen is getting quite nervous on his first laps - it seems there might be some noise coming from the car. Fortunately, Steve reassures us that a little bit of body filler will sort him out. As for the Integrali, Tiff reports that it's been running smoothly and looks like nothing more than a bonnet badge behind by the hairpin. When push comes to shove, the times are identical but in the end, the integral edges ahead, winning by just a couple of seconds.

This battle between the BMW M3 and Lancia Delta Integrali serves as a testament to their enduring legacy. Each of these vehicles has been cherished by enthusiasts for decades, with Steve Breen's passion for the Integrali still burning bright today. As we reflect on the nuances of each car - from the handling to the speed, it's clear that both have contributed significantly to motorsport history in unique and impactful ways.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwe've got something a little different for you on this week shootout BMW's original M3 and the Lancia Delta integrali both are icons from the80s the M3 dominated on the circuits while the integrali dominated rallying our integrali has been cherished by Steve Brenan from new it's got a turbocharged 2 L engine with 200 horsepower it's four-wheel drive but the torque favors the rear wheels Aaron Wedel's M3 is immaculate despite having covered over 170,000 M it is slightly less powerful than the Lancia but I can't seem there being much between the two back in the late 80s this was the car to have the very first BMW M3 it wasn't just a car to have on the roads it was holiga by BMW is a racing special and it dominated Turing car racing in Germany and Britain in fact all over the world it really is hard to believe that this is a car that is now nearly 20 years old but the Fantastic thing about it is the steering is still taught and responsive there's no play the chassis seems tight the gearbox the changes as neat as they ever were second gear for the hair pin oh what a SL winding up for a lap time to set for the lunch Delta integral the M3 sets the pace with a lap time of 56.97 seconds and so from rear wheel drive to four-wheel drive from Germany to Italy another Motorsport homologation special for l Delta integrali designed to Take On The World at rallying which of course it did with huge success winning the World Championship several times in the late 80s the secret here a bit like any four-wheel drive is not to push it into the corner very quickly but to get the speed down turn it then use that four-wheel drive traction to fire it out of the corners this is going to be hard to predict I don't feel as fast in this but once straight and woof up to boost we're away oh we're touching something on the body work Steve's fing off all right Steve don't worry Steve he's looking worried ignore that noise Tiff I'm sure it's nothing wrong Steve that won't be cured with just a little bit of body filler or something like that at radar the integrali is just a bonnet badge behind by the hair pin the times are identical but it's the integral that edges ahead to win by just a couple of 10 to the secondwe've got something a little different for you on this week shootout BMW's original M3 and the Lancia Delta integrali both are icons from the80s the M3 dominated on the circuits while the integrali dominated rallying our integrali has been cherished by Steve Brenan from new it's got a turbocharged 2 L engine with 200 horsepower it's four-wheel drive but the torque favors the rear wheels Aaron Wedel's M3 is immaculate despite having covered over 170,000 M it is slightly less powerful than the Lancia but I can't seem there being much between the two back in the late 80s this was the car to have the very first BMW M3 it wasn't just a car to have on the roads it was holiga by BMW is a racing special and it dominated Turing car racing in Germany and Britain in fact all over the world it really is hard to believe that this is a car that is now nearly 20 years old but the Fantastic thing about it is the steering is still taught and responsive there's no play the chassis seems tight the gearbox the changes as neat as they ever were second gear for the hair pin oh what a SL winding up for a lap time to set for the lunch Delta integral the M3 sets the pace with a lap time of 56.97 seconds and so from rear wheel drive to four-wheel drive from Germany to Italy another Motorsport homologation special for l Delta integrali designed to Take On The World at rallying which of course it did with huge success winning the World Championship several times in the late 80s the secret here a bit like any four-wheel drive is not to push it into the corner very quickly but to get the speed down turn it then use that four-wheel drive traction to fire it out of the corners this is going to be hard to predict I don't feel as fast in this but once straight and woof up to boost we're away oh we're touching something on the body work Steve's fing off all right Steve don't worry Steve he's looking worried ignore that noise Tiff I'm sure it's nothing wrong Steve that won't be cured with just a little bit of body filler or something like that at radar the integrali is just a bonnet badge behind by the hair pin the times are identical but it's the integral that edges ahead to win by just a couple of 10 to the second\n"