History 1970s

1978 Targa Florio – Rally Internazionale di Sicilia (Italy)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1978 Targa Florio – Rally Internazionale di Sicilia

Date: March 23–25, 1978

Host Country: Italy

Surface: Tarmac

Total Distance: ~800 km

Total Starters: Approx. 65 crews

Total Finishers: N/A

The 1978 edition of the Targa Florio—by then held as a special stage rally rather than the original open-road endurance race—offered a grueling test of tarmac performance through Sicily’s narrow, winding mountain roads. Antonio “Tony” Fassina and co-driver Mauro Mannini delivered a superb performance in their Lancia Stratos HF, using the car’s tarmac agility and explosive power to outpace the competition and secure a well-earned win.

Route

Cefalù and Campofelice Stages: Fast, flowing roads with tight bends and sharp elevation changes.
Castelbuono–Polizzi Section: Narrow hill climbs with blind crests and technical braking zones.
Palermo Region: Urban transitions with unpredictable surface grip and spectator-packed corners.

The route snaked through the island’s Madonie Mountains, combining traditional Targa Florio segments with special stages around small Sicilian towns and hillsides.

Warm spring weather ensured dry tarmac conditions across the event, allowing teams to push their cars to the limit on the grippy but often uneven Sicilian roads.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Antonio Fassina & Mauro Mannini · Lancia Stratos HF
2nd Place
Adartico Vudafieri & Luigi Pirollo · Fiat 131 Abarth
3rd Place
“Tony” Carello & Giuseppe Russo · Opel Kadett GT/E

Fassina’s clean and assertive driving style paired perfectly with the Stratos HF’s explosive acceleration and agility, securing a popular home victory in one of Italy’s most historic events.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Blind Corners: Old Targa roads featured countless crests and hidden apexes demanding perfect pacenote calls.
  • Urban Hazards: Stage transitions through villages included tight walls, curbs, and sudden grip changes.
  • Brake Management: Long descents and short bursts of acceleration stressed brakes on heavier cars.

The 1978 Targa Florio Rally celebrated Italy’s rally heritage with fast, unforgiving roads—and Fassina’s win confirmed both his and the Stratos’s legacy on Southern Europe’s most technical tarmac.

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