History 1970s

1975 Rallye de Portugal (Portugal)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 9º Rallye de Portugal

Date: July 18–21, 1975

Host Country: Portugal

Surface: Mixed Tarmac / Gravel

Total Distance: ~2,000 km

Total Starters: 96 crews

Total Finishers: 32 crews

The 1975 Rallye de Portugal challenged crews with searing heat, unpredictable surface changes, and enthusiastic crowds lining narrow country roads. Finnish rising star Markku Alén, paired with trusted co-driver Ilkka Kivimäki, maintained speed and control throughout, guiding their Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye to victory. It marked one of the most significant wins of Alén’s early career and another high-profile success for Fiat’s gravel-tuned Abarth machine.

Route

Sintra and Cascais Hills: Tight, twisty tarmac stages requiring precision braking and rhythm.
Douro Valley and Tras-os-Montes: Rocky gravel climbs with steep drop-offs and loose surfaces.
Urban Spectator Zones: Included popular stages near Lisbon and Porto, lined with dense crowds.

The rally featured a mix of coastal tarmac, mountainous gravel stages, and long liaison sections, with a route spanning Lisbon, Porto, and rural central Portugal.

Rain showers on Day 2 turned some gravel sectors into slick mud, while summer heat caused tire and engine issues on longer loops.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye
2nd Place
Hannu Mikkola & Jean Todt · Peugeot 504 V6
3rd Place
Bernard Darniche & Alain Mahé · Lancia Stratos HF

Alén’s measured aggression and Kivimäki’s calm guidance allowed Fiat to edge out more powerful cars—showing that control and consistency matter as much as speed in Portugal’s mixed terrain.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Surface Transitions: Sudden shifts from tarmac to gravel mid-stage demanded careful setup and quick adaptation.
  • Weather Variability: Mid-summer storms soaked some stages while others remained dry and dusty.
  • Crowd Density: Massive spectator turnout led to narrow crowd corridors, especially in urban sections—raising safety and visibility challenges.

The 1975 Rallye de Portugal offered no easy victories—Alén’s win stood as a triumph of driving finesse, teamwork, and the Abarth’s versatility on some of Europe’s most unpredictable rally terrain.

← Previous Event 1975 Danube Rally (Romania)
Back to Events Index
1975 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.