History 1970s

1975 Rallye Sanremo (Italy)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 17º Rallye Sanremo

Date: October 1–4, 1975

Host Country: Italy

Surface: Mixed Tarmac / Gravel

Total Distance: ~1,500 km

Total Starters: 76 crews

Total Finishers: 29 crews

The 1975 Rallye Sanremo stood out for its relentless surface changes, sweeping tarmac bends, and dusty Ligurian mountain trails. Swedish ace Björn Waldegård, co-driving with Hans Thorszelius, adapted flawlessly to the challenge. Piloting the Lancia Stratos HF—Italy’s rally weapon of choice—they overcame fierce competition and treacherous conditions to claim one of the Stratos’s most hard-earned victories on its home soil.

Route

Monte Bignone: Technical ascent combining hairpins and gravel switchbacks at high altitude.
Cuneo & Imperia regions: Mixed surfaces and crumbling cliffside roads demanded perfect grip transitions.
Night Stages: Fast tarmac runs through coastal villages challenged visibility and crowd control.

The rally was based around Sanremo on the Italian Riviera, featuring asphalt hill climbs, dusty gravel stages, and mixed-surface mountain loops through Liguria and Piedmont.

Weather remained dry and mild, favoring consistent tire strategies but offering no forgiveness for navigation or traction errors.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Björn Waldegård & Hans Thorszelius · Lancia Stratos HF
2nd Place
Jean-Luc Thérier & Michel Vial · Renault-Alpine A110 1800
3rd Place
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye

Waldegård’s precise inputs and the Stratos’s explosive handling allowed the duo to dominate key stages—especially where surface transitions left others scrambling for control.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Surface Adaptation: Mid-stage shifts between gravel and tarmac forced teams to gamble with tire choices.
  • Cliffside Pressure: Narrow roads with steep drop-offs left zero margin for pacing errors.
  • Mechanical Stress: The mix of traction types, altitudes, and surface punishment tested even the most robust cars.

The 1975 Rallye Sanremo was a test of versatility—and Waldegård’s win proved that both driver and machine could rise above the unpredictability of Italy’s toughest stages.

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