History 1980s

1980 Rallye de Portugal – Vinho do Porto (Portugal)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1980 Rallye de Portugal – Vinho do Porto

Date: March 4–9, 1980

Host Country: Portugal

Surface: Asphalt / Gravel

Total Distance: 673.50 km (competitive)

Total Starters: Approx. 90 crews

Total Finishers: 27 crews

The 1980 Rallye de Portugal once again lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest and most technical rallies of the WRC season. With stages alternating between rough gravel and flowing tarmac roads, the event required mechanical reliability, versatile driving, and on-the-fly adaptability. Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer delivered a commanding performance in their Fiat 131 Abarth, capitalizing on their snow-season momentum and executing flawless transitions between Portugal's demanding surfaces.

Route

Arganil Region: Narrow gravel roads with tight hairpins and steep drop-offs, often shrouded in fog.
Fafe Stages: High-speed gravel with large jumps and iconic fan-lined corners requiring bravery and control.
Sintra & Porto Asphalt Loops: Slick tarmac stages with complex braking zones and heavy dust transition zones.

The route ranged from the rocky hills of Arganil to the paved sections around Sintra and the mountainous terrain near Fafe, offering an intense variety of elevation changes, road textures, and visibility conditions.

Portugal’s unpredictable March weather brought shifting conditions—dry dust in some regions, rain-soaked mud in others—testing tire choices and car setup versatility throughout the event.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Walter Röhrl & Christian Geistdörfer · Fiat 131 Abarth
2nd Place
Hannu Mikkola & Arne Hertz · Ford Escort RS1800
3rd Place
Michèle Mouton & Françoise Conconi · Fiat 131 Abarth

Röhrl’s pace in the gravel stages—especially Arganil—gave him a clear lead early. His composure on wet asphalt maintained the gap through the final stages, while Mikkola fought mechanical gremlins and Mouton impressed with a podium finish.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Stage Diversity: Abrupt changes between tarmac and gravel demanded constant tire and suspension adjustments.
  • Fog and Rain: Arganil’s notorious visibility issues and slick roads caused chaos in early stages.
  • Fan Density: Portuguese fans lining stage routes brought atmosphere but also danger, requiring extra caution on certain corners.

The 1980 Rallye de Portugal solidified Röhrl’s position as a serious title threat—his calm mastery of Portugal’s chaos earned respect across the paddock and a well-deserved WRC points lead.

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