John Buffum

Buffum’s championship record and professionalism helped rallying grow in credibility and infrastructure across the U.S. and Canada.

• Audi Quattro A1/A2: Introduced AWD to American rallying with this revolutionary platform, claiming numerous titles.
• Porsche 911: Competed early in the decade with notable results, especially in mixed-surface events.
• Audi Sport Quattro: Piloted this Group B homologation special during the later 1980s in international and North American events.

Buffum’s success with Audi helped establish the brand’s performance image in the U.S., laying groundwork for future rally programs.

Buffum’s style was pragmatic, efficient, and deeply strategic. While not as flamboyant as his European counterparts, he consistently brought cars to the finish first, often beating faster competitors through better preparation and fewer mistakes. He set a standard for American rally professionalism and later founded Libra Racing, continuing to shape rally vehicle development in the U.S. long after his peak driving years.

Buffum worked closely with co-drivers like Tom Grimshaw and Doug Shepherd. Their preparation and coordination were a key reason for their repeated championship success. Buffum emphasized proper pace note systems and car setup long before they were standard in U.S. rallying, raising the bar for co-driver standards across the continent.