History Event 1980s

1987 Rallye de Portugal (Portugal)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1987 Rallye de Portugal (Portugal)

Date: March 4–7, 1987

Start Location: Estoril, Portugal

Finish Location: Estoril, Portugal

Total Distance: 684 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel and tarmac

The 1987 Rallye de Portugal was a commanding victory for Miki Biasion, who expertly handled the mixed-surface stages and heavy fan presence to bring home another win for Lancia. With the Group A Lancia Delta HF 4WD hitting its stride, Biasion capitalized on its balance and traction in both dusty gravel and slick tarmac conditions, outdriving the competition across classic Portuguese terrain.

Route

Arganil: Legendary gravel stage, dusty, fast, and tight through mountain ridges.
Lousã and Fafe: Known for big jumps, wide-angle corners, and massive crowds lining every turn.
Sintra Tarmac Stages: Slick, technical asphalt segments requiring total precision and careful tire management.

Portugal’s stages provided a mix of fast gravel and asphalt segments, often packed with passionate and unpredictable spectators:

Crowd control remained a concern throughout the event, but improved from previous years. Biasion's control under pressure won praise from fans and officials alike.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Miki Biasion & Tiziano Siviero · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
2nd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Piironen · Mazda 323 4WD
3rd Place
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Lancia Delta HF 4WD

Biasion’s measured drive and the Delta’s reliable handling gave Lancia another edge, as rival teams struggled to keep up with the pace across surface changes.

Car Highlights

  • Lancia Delta HF 4WD: Group A’s rising star, balanced, agile, and capable across varying surfaces and conditions.
  • Mazda 323 4WD: Light and quick with solid reliability, the 323 was emerging as a serious Group A competitor.
  • Ford Sierra RS Cosworth: Fast on tarmac but less consistent on gravel, rear-wheel drive limitations showed in slippery conditions.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Surface Transitions: Gravel to tarmac changes demanded constant pace adjustment and split tire strategies.
  • Fan Density: Portugal’s iconic stages were lined with thousands, forcing focus and discipline through chaotic corridors.
  • Weather Swings: Damp coastal air and dusty inland stages made traction an evolving puzzle throughout the rally.

Biasion’s triumph in Portugal signaled that Lancia had fully adapted to the Group A landscape, and that the Delta HF 4WD was here to dominate it.

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