Film Review

Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia (2024) — bland retelling of rally rivalry sputters out

Inspired by true events that occurred during the fierce rivalry between Germany (Audi) and Italy (Lancia) at the 1983 Rally World Championships.

The opening shot of Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia isn’t a car roaring through the mud or drivers exchanging heated words. Instead, text explains the origin of rally car racing. Unlike Formula 1 vehicles, rally cars resemble everyday cars for the average consumer. This resemblance is deliberate: rally racing aims to promote sales by showcasing winning cars that spectators can imagine driving themselves. The thrill of victory, combined with the familiarity of the winning machine, fuels consumer desire to possess a piece of racetrack glory.

This film offered a fleeting chance for self-awareness, marking itself as the first and last standout in an increasingly saturated category of car movies. Cinemas have been flooded with titles like Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend (2022), Ferrari (2023), and Gran Turismo (2023), none…