The Rally Crash Everyone Forgot (Attilio Bettega)

In May 1985, Attilio Bettega entered the Tour de Corse still chasing the one thing that had escaped him his entire career: a World Rally Championship victory. He had survived a horrific crash in the same rally three years earlier, broken both legs, spent months in hospital, and still returned to the same roads, in the same kind of car, to keep fighting. By 1985, Group B rallying had become faster, more dangerous, and increasingly unforgiving. The Lancia 037 was no longer the fastest car in the field, younger drivers were rising behind him, and Bettega’s chance to win at the top level was beginning to disappear. On stage four of the 1985 Tour de Corse, his Lancia left the road at around 150 km/h and went into the trees. Bettega was killed on impact. One year later, almost to the hour, Henri Toivonen would die on the same rally — a tragedy that helped bring Group B to an end. This is the story of Attilio Bettega: the Italian rally driver who kept coming back to Corsica because he still had not won. If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking the video, subscribing, and watching the full story of Henri Toivonen next.