Race for Glory: Audi vs Lancia film review 

In the wake of Ferrari, here’s another racing movie. They’re like buses. But while one can imagine the pitch for a story revolving around the ‘terrible joys’ of Enzo Ferrari, this one surrounding the lesser-known rivalry between Audi and Lancia in the 1983 WRC might raise an eyebrow. It’s niche. And totally off the wall.

Take its genesis. Riccardo Scamarcio, co-producer, co-writer and lead actor, had little interest in motor racing. But then he chanced to meet Cesare Fiorio, charismatic Fiat/Lancia rally chief and (briefly) Ferrari F1 team boss, who told his tall stories about hustling the lightweight and oh-so-pretty 037 to the last WRC title success for a two-wheel-drive car, against the ‘vorsprung durch technik’ might of Audi’s game-changing Quattro. Scamarcio had no written source material for his tale – just whatever came out of Fiorio’s head. And you can tell – although the laboured disclaimer just before the end credits makes it very clear: “This film cannot be considered a faithful description of facts.” You don’t say!

To describe Race for Glory as a loose interpretation of reality would make Henry Kissinger blush. Rally diehards will blanche at… well, everything. But they really shouldn’t take it too seriously. Who could?

The aim of Scamarcio, hugely respected British producer (and car nut) Jeremy Thomas and director Stefano Mordini was to create something of a homage to the kind of kitsch 1970s Italian B-movies that apparently inspired Quentin Tarantino. Yep: nail, head, hit. But the film looks gorgeous, and they’ve mostly used real cars from the Group B era. Genuine archive is spliced with modern recreations that are a little hit and miss. But to the film-makers’ credit there’s no CGI. Everything is real, including the glorious rally car sound.

Scamarcio plays Fiorio with a charismatic glint. It helps that he has the rugged looks of a spaghetti western baddie, but one who spends most of his time in at state of apparent bemusement. There are lots of long stares, particularly between Fiorio and Audi sports boss Roland Gumpert, played by Daniel Brühl. Yes, it’s Niki Lauda! Brühl was the best thing by far about Rush, but here he is underused – and mostly stomps about looking cross.

The story follows Fiorio as he convinces Lancia its outdated two-wheel drive tech can defeat Audi. Then he must talk a gently eccentric Walter Röhrl, played without the real man’s signature cragginess by Volker Bruch, into joining the effort. They first chat while Röhrl is tending to his bees… eventually he commits, but only to a handful of rallies. Hannu Mikkola, played peevishly here and without charm, wins the drivers’ crown, but Röhrl does his bit to secure Lancia the teams’ title. Markku Alén and Michèle Mouton also feature but are reduced to bit-parts – and whither Stig Blomqvist, Ari Vatanen and Henri Toivonen? Although there’s a fiery accident redolent of that which killed Toivonen and co-driver Sergio Cresta on the 1986 Tour de Corse… this time without the tragic outcome.

Fiorio schemes and plots, and there’s dry humour at work. But the script is a ham and cheese sandwich… We enjoyed “Only losers want to win”, and this peach between fictional sports psychologist Jane and Fiorio. “What are you thinking about?” she asks. Fiorio gives it the blue steel, then answers: “Winning”. Crikey. As for the intense interview between a US female journalist and Fiorio on racing philosophy, what were they on about?

A strange movie, all in all. Restrained in comparison to Ferrari’s blood and guts, worthy and sincere in tone and intention – and more than a little bit bonkers. That it exists at all is a marvel. Highly recommended!

Race for Glory: Audi vs Lancia
Available to view on digital platforms now and at selected cinemas