This SEAT Ibiza GLX 1.5 R-Cup is a replica of the first Ibiza racing car, as used in a SEAT-run one-make rally cup between 1985 and 1988. This unit has been prepared by the SEAT HISTÓRICOS team, with the aim of spreading the Ibiza's legacy in regularity rallies for historic vehicles.

As part of the events and initiatives to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the SEAT Ibiza in 2024, SEAT HISTÓRICOS had the happy idea of preparing a replica of the Group B Ibiza 1.5, the racing version of the first generation. Like this one, the replica has been built from a standard Ibiza 1.5 GLX, and the team has christened it the Ibiza GLX 1.5 R-Copa.

With the original Group B SEAT Ibiza 1.5, SEAT put together a one-make promotional rally championship in the second half of the 1980s. This new cup took over from the SEAT Panda Cup, run for four years between 1980 and 1984. The aim was to bring to rallying the success of the racing Formula SEAT 1430, which had given a tremendous boost to Spanish motorsport in the previous decade.

Precisely in 1984, SEAT launched the new Ibiza, the first SEAT created and developed from scratch at the Martorell Technical Centre. As early as 1985, the Group B Ibiza 1.5 took over from the Panda in the rally cup. The car was homologated in Group B on 1 April 1985. SEAT had chosen this regulation because, from a basic homologation of 200 units, Group B allowed a racing evolution of 20 units to be homologated, complete with the necessary modifications for competition.

The new championship was called the I Inter-Ibiza Championship, although in later years it would simply be called Ibiza Cup. Four editions were run between 1985 and 1988, one more than the three initially planned. The entry ranged between 14 and 20 teams, attracted by the generous prize money offered by SEAT per event and per final standings, and by the good driving school provided by Group B Ibiza 1.5.

The step forward made by the Group B Ibiza 1.5 compared to the old SEAT Panda cup was huge. With twin carburettors, the Group B sounded like a real racing car, despite being a virtually standard Ibiza 1.5 GLX, barely modified for safety reasons. SEAT's aim with this promotional cup was to encourage driver participation and to avoid cost-rising as much as possible.

When it came to the project of the Ibiza R-Copa, SEAT HISTÓRICOS worked from a standard Ibiza and prepared it in the same way as the Cup cars were created by SEAT Sport back in the day. The main priority is safety, with an integral roll-cage to reinforce the bodywork, anatomical racing seats with six-point harnesses, and highly effective suspension and brakes.

The SEAT System Porsche engine, a feature of the first-generation Ibiza, is retained as standard. However, thanks to the twin-choke carburettors, it delivers around 120 HP (compared to 85 HP in the standard Ibiza 1.5).

With this project, SEAT HISTÓRICOS continues on the path of creating replicas of the brand's iconic former racing models to highlight SEAT's rich sporting heritage. The first of these replicas was the Group 4 SEAT 124-1800 that contested the 2017 Monte-Carlo Historique Rally, 40 years after the podium and fourth place achieved by the works SEATs at the 1977 Monte-Carlo.

The SEAT 1400 Rally followed - SEAT HISTÓRICOS celebrated the 70th anniversary of SEAT's foundation by competing in the 2020 Monte-Carlo Historique. The next was the Group 2 124-2000, in the works SEAT Competición livery used in 1978 and 1979. The Ibiza GLX 1.5 R-Copa continues this saga.

The SEAT HISTÓRICOS Collection already had an original Group B Ibiza 1.5. Specifically, the 1986 championship-winning car with José Luis Graña at the wheel. The R-Copa replica complements an important model in SEAT's racing history, the first one in the brand's second era as an independent manufacturer. And also the first step towards the three 2-Litre world championship titles for Makes won by the SEAT Ibiza Kit Car ten years later.

The Ibiza GLX 1.5 R-Copa was unveiled at the 72nd Rally Motul Costa Brava, held in Girona from 14 to 16 March 2024. SEAT HISTÓRICOS celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Ibiza with a six-strong team from the Collection at this famous European event for historic vehicles. The drivers who had the honour of trying the R-Copa for the first time were Formula 1 analyst Albert Fàbrega and experienced co-driver Anna Vives.