History 1970s

1976 Rallye Sanremo (Italy)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 18º Rallye Sanremo

Date: October 6–9, 1976

Host Country: Italy

Surface: Asphalt

Total Distance: ~1,700 km

Total Starters: 78 crews

Total Finishers: 27 crews

The 1976 Rallye Sanremo delivered a thrilling blend of technical mountain tarmac and narrow village sprints along Italy’s Ligurian coast. Lancia’s home rally, it was a perfect stage for the Stratos HF, and Swedish ace Björn Waldegård, with Hans Thorszelius calling notes, delivered a dominant drive—sealing a crucial win for both driver and manufacturer in front of a passionate local crowd.

Route

Colle d'Oggia: Narrow switchbacks with varying grip and steep drop-offs.
Monte Ceppo: Fast and technical mountain stage with tight blind corners and elevation shifts.
Vignai–Perinaldo: Classic Sanremo asphalt loop requiring perfect car placement and consistent braking rhythm.

The rally included hairpin-heavy climbs and fast ridge runs above Sanremo, with stages winding through Liguria and the Maritime Alps on unpredictable autumn tarmac.

Mild weather kept stages mostly dry, but occasional shade and morning moisture challenged crews on higher elevation sectors.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Björn Waldegård & Hans Thorszelius · Lancia Stratos HF
2nd Place
Jean-Claude Andruet & "Biche" · Fiat 131 Abarth
3rd Place
Maurizio Verini & Angiolina Russo · Fiat 131 Abarth

Waldegård’s aggressive but controlled driving style was perfectly suited to the Stratos’s snappy handling and explosive acceleration, making the pair untouchable across the tight, technical roads.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Tight Mountain Roads: Drivers had to thread narrow paths lined with stone walls and cliffs, with minimal margin for error.
  • Varying Grip Levels: Patches of moisture and oil-slicked tarmac made traction unpredictable at high speed.
  • Co-driver Precision: Rapid-fire corner sequences and inconsistent surface required flawless pacenote delivery.

The 1976 Rallye Sanremo was a classic tarmac shootout—and Waldegård’s win with the Lancia Stratos cemented both driver and machine as legends on the Italian Riviera.

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