Editing Opel Ascona (section)

==={{anchor|400}} Ascona 400 rally car===
[[File:Opel Ascona Rallye Rothmans.JPG|thumb|right|The Rothmans Ascona 400 which won the 1983 [[Safari Rally]] in the hands of [[Ari Vatanen]].]]

First shown at Frankfurt in September 1979, the Ascona 400 was a homologation special sold only to make it eligible for rallying's Group 4 category.<ref name=Keesings18>{{cite journal | title = Zuinigheid verkoopt beter dan veiligheid |trans-title=Thrift outsells frugality | language = nl-be | journal = Keesings Auto Magazine | location = Antwerp, Belgium | date = 1979-09-15 | volume = 2 | number = 18 | page = 18 | editor-last = Rombauts | editor-first = Walter }}</ref> The Ascona 400s were built at General Motors' plant in Antwerp. The [[1980 World Rally Championship season|1980]] world champion [[Walter Röhrl]] took the rally car to victory and won the [[World Rally Championship]] [[List of World Rally Championship Drivers' Champions|drivers' title]] in the [[1982 World Rally Championship season|1982 season]].

The car was developed by Opel alongside the [[Opel Manta 400|Manta B 400 model]] which consisted of the same changes. Irmscher and Cosworth were hired as partners for the project, Cosworth to deliver a 16 valve double cam crossflow head for the engine, and Irmscher for the exterior and interior styling. Cosworth delivered the heads to Opel and Opel soon discovered a major mistake. The plan was to use the 2.0-litre engine block but this did not produce enough power. Time was running out and Opel badly needed to do something. Opel took the 2.0E block, installed forged pistons, different connecting-rods, and forged crankshaft with 85mm stroke. The result was a 2.4-litre engine. The 2.4-litre engine gave rise to some massive power outputs using the 16 valve head. The street versions of the 400 therefore came with {{cvt|144|HP|kW|0}} engines, using the Bosch fuel injection of the Manta GSi and GT/E series. However, in race trim they were delivered putting out {{cvt|230|HP|kW|0}}, which could be improved further to {{cvt|340|HP|kW|0}}, while still using normally aspirated engine components.

Irmscher delivered the rally trim for the exterior. Large and widened wings, light weight hood, front wings, rear boot lid and doors were also installed.

By 1984, the [[Audi Quattro]] appeared more powerful than ever and the Ascona 400 was rendered obsolete. But the Ascona 400 still has some remarkable records. The Ascona 400 was the last rear wheel drive rally car to win the drivers' world championship, ensuring its place in motorsports history.

====WRC victories====

:{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; "
! No.
! Event
! Season
! Driver
! Co-driver
! Car
|-
| 1
| {{Flagicon|Sweden}} [[Rally Sweden|30th International Swedish Rally]]
| [[1980 World Rally Championship season|1980]]
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Anders Kulläng]]
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Bruno Berglund]]
| Opel Ascona 400
|-
| 2
| {{Flagicon|Monaco}} [[Monte Carlo Rally|50éme Rallye Automobile de Monte Carlo]]
| [[1982 World Rally Championship season|1982]]
| {{Flagicon|GER}} [[Walter Röhrl]]
| {{Flagicon|GER}} [[Christian Geistdörfer]]
| Opel Ascona 400
|-
| 3
| {{Flagicon|Ivory Coast}} [[Rallye Côte d'Ivoire|14ème Rallye Côte d'Ivoire]]
| [[1982 World Rally Championship season|1982]]
| {{Flagicon|GER}} [[Walter Röhrl]]
| {{Flagicon|GER}} [[Christian Geistdörfer]]
| Opel Ascona 400
|-
| 4
| {{Flagicon|Kenya}} [[Safari Rally|31st Marlboro Safari Rally]]
| [[1983 World Rally Championship season|1983]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Ari Vatanen]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Terry Harryman]]
| Opel Ascona 400
|-
|}

{{Clear}}