History 1960s

1968 Rallye de Portugal

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1968 Rallye de Portugal (3º Rallye TAP)

Date: March 1968

Start/Finish Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Total Distance: Approximately 3,200 kilometers

Participating Teams: Over 90 crews

The 1968 Rallye de Portugal was the third edition of the now-legendary event. Although still young, it had already earned a reputation for its punishing length, unpredictable conditions, and technical diversity. Traversing Portugal’s rugged geography—from the coastal plains around Lisbon to the foggy mountains in the interior—it pushed both drivers and co-drivers to their limits with a mix of fast tarmac sections and treacherous gravel stages. The rally was an early staple of the European Rally Championship calendar.

Route

Serra da Estrela: High-altitude night stages with fog and potential snow made navigation and tire choice critical.
Douro Valley: Tight, winding roads through vineyard-covered hills tested braking and car balance.
Coastal Plains: From Lisbon to Porto, longer tarmac sprints were interspersed with detours onto rough rural gravel paths.

The 1968 route challenged crews with dramatic terrain transitions and unforgiving stage logistics:

The constant variation between surfaces and the presence of long night stages required compromise in setup and a steady hand under pressure.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Tony Fall / Ron Crellin – Lancia Fulvia HF
2nd Place
Jean-François Piot – Ford Lotus Cortina
3rd Place
Pauli Toivonen – Porsche 911T

British driver Tony Fall delivered a strong and disciplined performance in the Lancia Fulvia HF, navigating Portugal’s unpredictable terrain with precision. Piot and Toivonen rounded out the podium with impressive showings in cars well-suited to the rally’s mix of technical and high-speed stages.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Surface Transitions: Crews encountered gravel, cobblestone, and asphalt within single stages—requiring constant adaptability.
  • Weather Shifts: Fog in the mountains and rain along the coast made tire strategy and visibility serious factors.
  • Endurance Focus: Long distances and multiple night segments tested physical and mental stamina of both driver and co-driver.

The 1968 Rallye de Portugal demonstrated early on why the event would grow into a WRC staple. Combining stunning landscapes with a brutal course layout, it stood out as a true driver’s challenge and a rising star on the European rally map.

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