In 1984 Volkswagen entered the World Rally Championship with an 8-valve Golf GTI entrusted to Kalle Grundel. This participation allowed the German manufacturer to promote its best-selling car. The GTI, homologated in Group A, achieved good results and in 1986, with Kenneth Ericsson, won the World Championship in the Group A category. In 1986, Group B was eliminated and Group A became the main rally category: at that point, all the major manufacturers develop 4-wheel drive cars for the Gr.A, while the Golf GTI, which has 2-wheel drive, lags behind. However, thanks to its robustness, the car manages to win the 1987 Ivory Coast Rally. The GTI Gr.A was equipped with a 1781cc engine which initially developed a power of 170hp at 7200 rpm, power then gradually increased to 200hp. with the 16v version. The Golf II GTI continued to be used by the Works in rallies until 1989, when it came third at the Safari and in New Zealand.