History 1980s

1980 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1980 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire

Date: December 9–14, 1980

Host Country: Ivory Coast

Surface: Gravel

Total Distance: 5,336 km

Total Starters: Approx. 49 crews

Total Finishers: 17 crews

The 1980 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire was one of the longest and most grueling rallies on the WRC calendar, pushing drivers and machinery across thousands of kilometers of unforgiving African terrain. With temperatures soaring and service areas spread thin, survival was just as critical as speed. Björn Waldegård and Hans Thorszelius proved once again they were masters of endurance rallying, bringing the powerful yet durable Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC home in first—securing Mercedes’ last WRC victory and a proud chapter in rally history.

Route

Abidjan – Bouaké: Coastal heat gave way to inland elevation climbs, forcing careful engine management and pacing.
Central Jungle Loops: Narrow, dusty, and winding tracks through tropical forest, with deep erosion ruts and river crossings.
Remote Northern Stages: Long, high-speed sectors with intense dust trails and limited visibility after sunrise.

The course spanned the full breadth of the Ivory Coast, circling from Abidjan to Bouaké, Yamoussoukro, and beyond through a mix of dense jungle tracks, wide gravel roads, and unpredictable savannah terrain.

As with previous years, the rally used a navigation-based timecard system with long road sections and no traditional stages—making accurate timing, fuel planning, and tire preservation crucial.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Björn Waldegård & Hans Thorszelius · Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC
2nd Place
Andrew Cowan & Klaus Kaiser · Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC
3rd Place
Jean-Pierre Nicolas & Michel Gamet · Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé

Waldegård’s calm control and deep experience in African rallies paid off as he kept a steady pace, avoided major damage, and navigated flawlessly across all 5,000+ kilometers of the rally.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Extreme Length: Over 5,000 km of rallying with no margin for error—fatigue was a major factor for crews and service teams alike.
  • Navigation Format: No pace notes—crews relied on roadbooks, timecards, and checkpoints over raw stage times.
  • Mechanical Attrition: Only a fraction of crews reached the finish, with heat, dust, and isolation ending many attempts.

The 1980 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire was a final triumph for Mercedes-Benz in the WRC—its reliability, combined with Waldegård’s steady pace and endurance mastery, delivered a fitting end to their factory rally campaign.

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