Opel

Opel's rally program had a small measure of success, but the rally effort wasn't as serious as the efforts of some of the other Group B contenders. The Ascona 400, with Walter Röhrl driving, won the 1982 driver's championship, even though Röhrl only won two rallies during the season. The Manta 400 succeeded the Ascona, and while it didn't achieve much international fame (apart from nearly winning the Safari), it did make headlines during the Mille Pistes International Rally in France; Henri Toivonen was leading the rally in his Manta when the organizers decided to ban prototypes while the event was underway! Toivonen was forced to settle for a consolation trophy. The Manta was successful on the national level, and it was a capable rallycross performer.