Engine displacement remained unchanged at 1995cc, as did compression at 8.0:1, but a new intake manifold with Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection and a Tipo R18 Abarth volumex supercharger meant output rose from 280 to 315bhp. Other changes saw the arrival of Kevlar doors, a new dash, some new suspension components, an improved steering gear and titanium rollcages. Weight was more or less unchanged at 975kg. The Evolution I made its debut on August 6th in the Madeira Rally, Andrea Zanussi leading in his Totip-backed Jolly Club car before the engine began gushing oil at the end of the tenth stage. Finland's prestigious 1000 Lakes hosted the Evolution I on its WRC debut, Markku Alen's 310bhp car getting 15-inch wheels and harder springs plus somewhat confusingly, a first series front end. With the oil and water overheating from the first stage, Alen did well to hold third until the engine terminally lost compression after five stages. Things began to improve for Lancia in the ERC's Tour de France showpiece where Jean Louis Clarr drove Zanussi's Jolly Club car after the Italian was called up for five days of National Service. Despite a failed distributor on the very first stage, Clarr recovered to take third behind the winning Ferrari and Therier's trouble-free Renault.

After an admittedly disappointing run on home soil in the San Remo Rally, Alen then took the 037's first significant win, for although Teodoro had taken victory in a minor Italian hillclimb some two months previous, this was a bona fide championship rally. Indeed, part of the British National Championship, the Pace Rally was Alen's warm-up for the WRC-sanctioned RAC event that took place every November. The Finn led from start to finish, setting fastest times on eight of the nine stages and winning despite a down on power 280bhp engine. Considering the 037's patchy reliability record, a trip to Africa for the Ivory Coast Rally seemed a little ambitious and unsurprisingly came to nothing. With supercharger pressure reduced to 0.6 bar for 270bhp, Adartico's Vudafieri's sole entry ran with protection bars and a roof-mounted spare wheel until a misfiring engine and low oil pressure curtailed his progress. However, the year did finish on a high note after a fourth place for Alen on the RAC had seen his car run reliably over all four days. Audi finished first and second to take the 1982 Manufacturers Championship from Opel whose famously unpredictable pilot, Walter Rohrl, won the Drivers Championship. Rohrl would be driving alongside Alen in a Lancia for 1983 while Jean-Claude Andruet, Adartico Vudafieri and a fully recovered Attilio Bettega would also be contesting WRC events for the factory.

Click here for the 037 Rally Evolution I 1983 Season Review