If George Orwell was a rally historian, his book would be titled 1983. That was the year in which intense rivalry was immortalised in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) by two legendary teams of the time. The Audi Vs Lancia battle was a war between Germany and Italy just as between four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive.

Race for Glory: Audi vs Lancia by Stefano Mordini chronicles the war on wheels. Despite its disclaimer that it isn’t a true account in historical detail, the film tag states it is based on true events. The drama obviously needed filling in the blanks as in any event being retold.

And so, the race begins with the proven prologue of having a challenge at hand and the chase after a protagonist who alone can tackle it. Legendary racing champion turned beekeeper, Walter Rohrl enters the scene with his been-there-done-that nonchalance towards winning, maintaining that “only losers always want to win.” On the other hand, Cezare Florio, the team manager of Lancia – Martini Racing can only think about winning and the ‘only thing he is scared about is losing’. After all, that is his job. Audi is the team Lancia attempts to be worthy rivals of, seemingly invincible for its German engineering prowess that developed the Quattro all wheel drive.

Thanks to Wikipedia for this classic image

When it is all about winning, all is fair and Cezare employs the strategy of clever deceit at the start for some twists and turns on track. It is as much about rubbing salt to the wound as it is salt to the snow on track. A crash, a comma and some strained strategies later, in the end, Lancia claims its constructor’s title, aided by grit and pure luck. (A winner is a winner, nevertheless.)

Even as the close encounters on asphalt, snow and dirt can rev up the rally fan, Race for glory: Audi vs Lancia is only a shade more exciting than the Wikipedia narration of the historic rally. It is largely due to the choice of a documentary styling in filmmaking. For race and rally fans, it is a journey back in time, with the excellent choice of retro tones and frames. As a film, what is lacking is the dramatic edge – perhaps a conscious choice to keep the documentary flavour in the cinematic narrative. Exchanges between Cezare Florio and Daniel Bruhl, his Audi counterpart, are lacklustre in this sense and the obsession with touching on details that don’t leave a trail in the movie add to the documentary nature but takes away from cinematic appeal.

The Audi Quattro A2 rally car driven by Hannu Olavi Mikkola. Thanks to Wikipedia for the image

For those looking for one-liners will pick a couple in the arguments between the lead racer and the manager, and the statements that Cezare serves his interviewer. “Death is afraid of those who pursue it. Instead of waiting for it, we run after it and it runs away.” A heroic, ironic motto for racers that finds hope in Ugo Kurt’s comeback from a comma.

On another plane, Rohrl’s attitude urges us to look beyond, into the race called life. In the closing scenes, his display of heroism and humanity in allowing his teammate to claim his first championship podium reflects an altruistic that the satiated winner gains from resigned realization and the joy of giving.

Lesser enthusiasts of the motoring sport might not celebrate this movie as a glorious classic but Race for Glory: Audi vs Lancia would still be a race to complete for those indomitable motoring aficionados, for the love of the most intense racing format ever on four wheels.