History 1960s

1962 Rallye International de Genève

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1962 Rallye International de Genève

Date: October 19–21, 1962

Start/Finish Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Total Entries: 33 crews

Total Starters: 31 crews

Total Finishers: 27 crews

Held as the tenth round of the 1962 European Rally Championship, the Rallye International de Genève was a technically demanding event focused on speed and precision. With its entirely asphalt layout and dramatic elevation changes around Mont Salève, this Swiss rally offered a stark contrast to the endurance-based gravel epics of the season. It rewarded calculated aggression, flawless car control, and mechanical consistency in a pure tarmac setting.

Route

Mont Salève: A defining climb of the rally, its steep switchbacks and exposed corners tested braking endurance and throttle finesse.
Geneva Foothills: Rolling terrain with limited runoff, fast corners, and precision braking zones demanded calm under pressure.
Urban Sections: Some segments skirted built-up areas, requiring compliance with control points and careful navigation at speed.

Competitors faced a series of 8 to 10 special stages on closed tarmac roads surrounding Geneva. The layout blended short sprints and narrow switchbacks with longer hill climb sections:

With compact liaisons and clearly marked timing controls, this rally focused purely on special stage execution rather than long-range endurance.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Hans-Joachim Walter & Werner Lier · Porsche 356 Carrera S90
2nd Place
Erik Carlsson & Gunnar Häggbom · Saab 96
3rd Place
Pat Moss & Pauline Mayman · Morris Mini Cooper

Walter and Lier’s control of the Porsche 356’s rear-engine balance proved perfect for the flowing tarmac stages. Their combination of pace and composure delivered a clean and commanding victory, despite pressure from rally greats like Carlsson and Moss.

Navigation & Challenges

While the rally was short in duration compared to others on the ERC calendar, it was intense in technicality and mental strain:

  • Elevation Impact: The high-speed hill climbs stressed brakes, carburetors, and driver judgment under throttle.
  • Weather Shifts: Autumn in Geneva brought quick shifts from cool fog to sun-warmed tarmac, requiring tire compromise and flexible strategy.
  • Pace Note Discipline: Success depended on memorization and execution, as visibility was often limited by terrain and tree cover.

The 1962 Rallye International de Genève was a pure driver’s rally — compact, intense, and deeply reliant on precision, where three of Europe’s finest crews showcased the future of tarmac rally competition.

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