History 1970s

1977 Arctic Rally (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1977 Arctic Rally

Date: February 4–6, 1977

Host Country: Finland

Surface: Snow / Ice

Total Distance: ~1,000 km

Total Starters: Approx. 85 crews

Total Finishers: 48 crews

The 1977 Arctic Rally brought the WRC elite and Finland’s top talent to the frozen forests of Lapland. With sub-zero temperatures, deep snowbanks, and slick ice-covered roads, it was a test of finesse and rhythm. Markku Alén and Ilkka Kivimäki delivered a clinical performance, guiding the Fiat 131 Abarth to victory against some of the sport’s best snow drivers in their native terrain.

Route

Rovaniemi Stages: Fast, flowing roads with packed snow and tall snowbanks on either side.
Lake Crossings: Flat-out blasts across frozen lakes, demanding total confidence in ice grip and studded tires.
Night Loops: Clear skies and subzero temps created sparkling visibility—but the cold tested both machine and crew.

Based around Rovaniemi in Finland’s far north, the Arctic Rally featured high-speed loops through Lapland’s forests, frozen lakes, and snow-lined service roads.

Despite harsh temperatures, the rally ran under mostly clear skies, with perfect snowpack conditions and well-studded ice tracks.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Fiat 131 Abarth
2nd Place
Ari Vatanen & Risto Aaltonen · Ford Escort RS1800
3rd Place
Pentti Airikkala & Juha Piironen · Toyota Corolla Levin

Alén’s relentless pace and familiarity with the Finnish terrain gave Fiat a critical boost of momentum early in the 1977 season—and proved the 131 Abarth was no longer just a tarmac threat.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Snowbank Control: Drivers often used banks to pivot through corners, but overuse could suck in a car or damage suspension.
  • Studded Tire Strategy: Maintaining optimal grip on ice meant perfect pressure, rotation, and stud wear monitoring.
  • Cold Endurance: With temperatures below -20°C, cockpit heating, driver focus, and car reliability were all constantly challenged.

The 1977 Arctic Rally was snow rallying at its most technical—and Markku Alén's home victory showed just how fast and composed a Fiat 131 Abarth could be in the frozen north.

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