The Lancia Delta S4 was the most powerful car to have ever raced at the Rally Vinho da Madeira. The Italian model was one of the "monsters" of group B and allowed Fabrizio Tabaton, mainly after the retirement of Carlos Sainz, to face virtually no competition on his way to that which would be his first triumph on the island. Around the middle of the 1980's, the S4 would be outstanding for its efficacy.

After betting on the 037, Lancia decided to convert it to full traction in order to face competition, and, in 1985, introduced us to the Delta S4, a model with a bodywork in which function would surpass aesthetics and that was the product of many hours in the wind tunnel. The engine, center rear, was a four in-line cylinder and had 1.759 cc. It also had a double overfeeding system with a volumetric compressor in order to deliver the binary at a low rotation, as well as a turbo-compressor for its highest power. Officially it would count up to 480 horses, but anecdotal testimony exists that guarantees they'd go 80 horses above that limit. It was conceived to favour assistance speed and with materials that allowed for a 950 kg weight, 10 kg lower than the regulated minimum.