History 1970s

1977 Rallye Sanremo (Italy)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 19º Rallye Sanremo

Date: October 4–8, 1977

Host Country: Italy

Surface: Asphalt

Total Distance: ~1,950 km

Total Starters: Approx. 70 crews

Total Finishers: 27 crews

The 1977 Rallye Sanremo marked a return to a pure asphalt format, favoring teams that could balance speed with precision on Liguria’s coastal and mountain roads. Jean-Claude Andruet and co-driver “Biche” produced a commanding performance in their Fiat 131 Abarth, taming the tight and twisty Italian tarmac to bring Fiat a prestigious home win against fierce competition.

Route

Col di Nava and Monte Ceppo: Iconic tarmac stages with tight hairpins, long descents, and stone-lined apexes.
Bajardo–Apricale Loops: Technical roads with narrow shoulders and aggressive braking points.
Night Sections: Dimly lit, high-altitude mountain roads with sudden fog and unpredictable road debris.

The rally took place around Sanremo and the Ligurian hinterlands, combining coastal climbs, mountainous ridge roads, and technical village sprints with variable grip and weather conditions.

Autumn brought scattered rain showers and cool temperatures, making tire choices and pacing strategy vital for survival and speed.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Jean-Claude Andruet & “Biche” · Fiat 131 Abarth
2nd Place
Bernard Darniche & Alain Mahé · Lancia Stratos HF
3rd Place
Maurizio Verini & Giovanni Pirollo · Fiat 131 Abarth

Andruet and “Biche” delivered flawless teamwork and high-speed control through Liguria’s demanding roads—sealing a popular and stylish win on Fiat’s home asphalt.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Weather Shifts: Patches of rain and fog made visibility and grip change stage-to-stage.
  • Mountain Road Hazards: Narrow shoulders, rockfall, and inconsistent surfaces punished small mistakes.
  • Pacenote Precision: The twisty and technical nature of the event required near-perfect co-driver timing through countless blind turns.

The 1977 Rallye Sanremo was a textbook tarmac challenge—Andruet’s expert car control and “Biche’s” steady rhythm proving too strong for the competition on Italy’s winding coastal routes.

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