History Event 1980s

1986 Lombard RAC Rally (Great Britain)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1986 Lombard RAC Rally (Great Britain)

Date: November 23–26, 1986

Start Location: Nottingham, England

Finish Location: Chester, England

Total Distance: ~780 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1986 RAC Rally brought the curtain down on the Group B era in style and mud. Timo Salonen delivered a composed, calculated drive through Britain’s forests, where unpredictable weather, slick surfaces, and restricted recce rules made survival an art form. With Peugeot’s withdrawal from rallying imminent, Salonen gave the 205 T16 a triumphant send-off in one of rally’s most iconic and challenging events.

Route

Grizedale and Kielder: Long forest stages with slippery gravel and treacherous tree-lined paths.
Clocaenog and Hafren: Welsh classics mixing fog, fast crests, and rain-slicked corners with no room for error.
Military Zones: Complex night loops with no prior recce, only tulip roadbooks and tight timing.

The RAC featured over 60 special stages through forests and military grounds, all without pace notes:

British weather added to the drama, as fog, rain, and ice turned already treacherous roads into rallying minefields. Driver instinct, co-driver precision, and car reliability determined the podium.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Timo Salonen & Seppo Harjanne · Peugeot 205 T16
2nd Place
Malcolm Wilson & Nigel Harris · Ford RS200
3rd Place
Kalle Grundel & Peter Diekmann · Ford RS200

Salonen’s win was a quiet masterclass, his ability to read the terrain and preserve the car in such hostile conditions made the difference. The Group B era ended with a display of composure over chaos.

Car Highlights

  • Peugeot 205 T16: A final outing for the all-conquering machine, proven, reliable, and fast even as the Group B chapter closed.
  • Ford RS200: Showed serious pace on British soil, compact, quick, and more at home in the RAC than previous events.
  • Lancia Delta S4: Present but plagued by inconsistency and setup challenges in the slippery forests.

Navigation & Challenges

  • No pace notes: Crews relied only on roadbooks, making co-driver timing and memory critical.
  • Variable Conditions: Fog, rain, ice, and deep ruts made every stage unique and every tire choice a gamble.
  • Mechanical Preservation: With over 60 short stages, even minor damage could add up quickly, drivers had to balance pace and caution.

The 1986 RAC Rally gave Group B a muddy, dramatic farewell, and Salonen, ever the calm force, brought the 205 T16 home on top one last time.

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