History 1970s

1978 Rallye Sanremo (Italy)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 20º Rallye Sanremo

Date: October 3–7, 1978

Host Country: Italy

Surface: Tarmac

Total Distance: ~1,550 km

Total Starters: Approx. 90 crews

Total Finishers: 29 crews

The 1978 Rallye Sanremo showcased Italy’s demanding mountain asphalt, with narrow coastal passes and tight switchbacks challenging even the most experienced crews. Markku Alén and Ilkka Kivimäki delivered an outstanding drive in their Fiat 131 Abarth, handling the technical roads with poise and speed. The victory added another key WRC success for both the Finnish duo and the Italian marque on home ground.

Route

Colle d'Oggia & Langan: Technical mountain stages with frequent hairpins and exposed edges.
Passo Teglia: Narrow asphalt with changing grip and elevation—key to gaining time.
Night Stages: Sharp drop-offs and limited lighting made accuracy and rhythm essential.

The route traced the Ligurian coastline and ventured into the Maritime Alps, with stages featuring tight curves, steep descents, and limited visibility.

Dry conditions prevailed throughout most of the event, offering consistent grip but demanding total concentration over long stage days and night loops.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Fiat 131 Abarth
2nd Place
Bernard Darniche & Alain Mahé · Lancia Stratos HF
3rd Place
Walter Röhrl & Christian Geistdörfer · Fiat 131 Abarth

Alén’s aggressive style was perfectly matched to the fast Italian tarmac, while Kivimäki’s spot-on navigation kept the pair composed over the narrow, punishing stages of Sanremo.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Endless Switchbacks: Pacenote rhythm was critical—each turn fed into the next with barely a moment of rest.
  • Night Blindness: Even experienced drivers struggled with fatigue and visibility late into the rally evenings.
  • Precision vs. Pace: Aggression had to be perfectly measured, or else one missed apex could end a rally.

The 1978 Rallye Sanremo confirmed Alén’s supremacy on mixed surfaces and Fiat’s dominance in the WRC—cementing their tarmac legacy on Italian soil.

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