History 1970s

1979 Saarland Rallye (West Germany)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1979 Saarland Rallye

Date: April 5–7, 1979

Host Country: West Germany

Surface: Mixed (Tarmac / Gravel)

Total Distance: ~850 km

Total Starters: Approx. 65 crews

Total Finishers: N/A

Held in the hilly border region between Germany and France, the 1979 Saarland Rallye challenged crews with its unpredictable surface changes and tight, technical stages. The terrain shifted between fast asphalt sections and loose gravel paths through vineyards and forests. Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer delivered a composed and confident drive in their Fiat 131 Abarth, making the most of their home soil advantage to take the win.

Route

Vineyard Roads: Tight tarmac lanes with blind corners and loose debris from farming traffic.
Forest Gravel Sections: Soft underfoot and muddy in places—ideal for testing throttle control and tire wear.
Rural Transits: High-speed links between stages required teams to manage cooling and fuel strategy carefully.

The route took competitors through the rolling hills and narrow roads of the Saarland region, with varied terrain demanding sharp focus and adaptable setups.

Weather was mixed, with cool spring rain making surface grip unpredictable and increasing the complexity of tire choices throughout the event.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Walter Röhrl & Christian Geistdörfer · Fiat 131 Abarth
2nd Place
Sepp Haider & Ferdi Hinterleitner · Opel Ascona B
3rd Place
Harald Demuth & Peter Diekmann · Audi 80 GTE

Röhrl’s local experience and Geistdörfer’s precise co-driving were key to managing the rally’s varied terrain and quick changes in stage character.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Variable Surfaces: Quick transitions between tarmac and gravel kept suspension and tire setups under pressure.
  • Grip Inconsistency: Patchy spring rain made some stages change conditions between recce and run.
  • Fast Reactions: Short, twisty stages demanded rapid pacenote delivery and instant responses from both driver and co-driver.

The 1979 Saarland Rallye showcased Röhrl and Geistdörfer’s rising dominance, combining local terrain knowledge with the Fiat 131 Abarth’s all-surface capability to secure a decisive victory.

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