The drivers

Attilio Bettega

Photo: Syrio via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Attilio Bettega (19 February 1953 – 2 May 1985), from Molveno in Trentino, was the most important driver in Lancia’s 037 team after Alén. His death was Group B’s first great warning.

Grouve Sport documentary

Episode 6 — Lancia Delta S4 & Henri Toivonen

Lancia’s loyal Italian and the first warning of 1985.

With Lancia

After several years with Fiat, Bettega joined the Lancia team and its 037 in 1982. With co-driver Maurizio Perissinot he finished third in New Zealand and Sanremo in 1983, third in Portugal in 1984 and second in Sanremo in 1984. He also won the 1984 Monza Rally Show.

Lancia works driver from Molveno with four world championship podiums. Killed on 2 May 1985 on the Tour de Corse — a year before Toivonen.

Corsica 1985

In 1985 Bettega drove a limited programme, including the Safari and the Tour de Corse. On the fourth stage of the Corsican rally, Zerubia, he lost control of his 037, which struck a tree on the driver’s side. He was killed instantly; Perissinot was unhurt.

The accident raised the question of whether Group B cars were still safe. Exactly a year later Henri Toivonen was killed on the same rally, in a Lancia carrying the same competition number, 4. See iconic moments.

His son Alessandro Bettega later also became a rally driver.

Career in the Group B years

World Rally Championship podiums of the driver, year by year (1982–1986). win 2nd 3rd

1982

0wins

0 podiums

1983

0wins

2 podiums

1984

0wins

2 podiums

1985

0wins

0 podiums

1986

0wins

0 podiums

0 WRC wins · 4 podium finishes, 1982–1986

In pictures 3 photos

Further resources

• RallySport Magazine: Attilio Bettega, 35 years on EN · article
  Looking back at Bettega's death on the 1985 Tour de Corse.
• Motorsport Memorial: Attilio Bettega EN · archive
  Sourced account of Attilio Bettega's life and fatal accident.

All Group B resources →

More from Drivers

Miki Biasion1983 European champion in the 037, winner in Argentina in 1986 in the Delta S4, and later a two-time Group A world champion.Read more →Björn WaldegårdThe first world champion, five Group B-era wins and Toyota's master of the African rallies.Read more →Per EklundSix podiums in Saab, Toyota and Audi machinery, and Metro 6R4 machinery.Read more →Henri ToivonenThe prodigy of Group B. Won the 1985 RAC and the 1986 Monte Carlo Rally in the Delta S4, and was killed with Sergio Cresto in Corsica on 2 May 1986.Read more →Markku Alén'Now maximum attack.' Lancia's most loyal driver, holder of the record for stage wins, and world champion in 1986 — for eleven days.Read more →Juha KankkunenThe last Group B champion (1986) and, at 27, the youngest world champion up to that point. His first world rally win came on the Safari, for Toyota.Read more →

Sources

1. Wikipedia (EN), Attilio Bettega — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attilio_Bettega
2. Wikipedia (EN), 1985 World Rally Championship — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_World_Rally_Championship

All text is original writing for Grouve Sports Management Group, based on the sources above. Facts checked on 21 October 2026.

Thumbnail photos on this page: Original: _morgado / Derivative work: Danyele (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0); Midnattssolsrallyt (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Liftarn (Wikimedia Commons, Public domain); Michel Cromer (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0); Sicnag (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0); Yaamboo (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0).