My first real contact with Porsche was at the end of 1980,” recalls Walter Röhrl, as we chat over breakfast at the recent launch of the 911 Dakar. Having won the 1980 World Rally Championship with Fiat in a 131 Abarth, Walter, along with Finish ace Ari Vatanen, had signed a multi-year contract to drive for Mercedes-Benz from 1981 in an SL.
Soon afterwards, Daimler’s management got cold feet. They were concerned by the possibility of the company’s expensive flagship being beaten by lightweight, mainstream Opels and Fiats, generating adverse publicity for the upmarket brand.
Mercedes-Benz hastily cancelled its rallying programme in December. It bought out Walter’s contract, but left the incumbent World Rally Champion without a drive. Spotting an opportunity, visionary Porsche engineer, Helmuth Bott, telephoned Walter with a…