History 1980s

1981 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1981 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire

Date: October 26–31, 1981

Host Country: Ivory Coast

Surface: Gravel (Endurance Format)

Total Distance: Approx. 4,000 km

Total Starters: Approx. 46 crews

Total Finishers: 18 crews

The 1981 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire tested the mettle of drivers, machines, and teams with its traditional endurance-based format. Spanning thousands of kilometers across dusty, rutted trails and tropical savannahs, the rally offered minimal rest and maximum attrition. Timo Salonen and Seppo Harjanne rose to the occasion, driving with mechanical sympathy and expert pace in the Datsun Violet GT. Their victory showcased Datsun’s dominance in African endurance events and marked Salonen’s first WRC win on the continent.

Route

Abidjan Loop: Open dirt roads with heavy red dust, fast yet difficult to see through traffic haze.
Central Jungle Sections: Tight, twisting routes with dense vegetation, potholes, and heat-radiating canopy cover.
River Crossings and Savannah: Mechanical strain peaked in these remote zones with extreme ruts and deep water hazards.

The route stretched from Abidjan inland through Yamoussoukro, Bouaké, and back again, with long legs over poorly maintained roads, river crossings, and unpredictable surfaces.

With no special stages, teams raced against the clock over real roads with massive navigation and mechanical pressure, compounded by the African climate and long, isolated sectors.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Timo Salonen & Seppo Harjanne · Datsun Violet GT
2nd Place
Shekhar Mehta & Mike Doughty · Datsun Violet GT
3rd Place
Jean-Claude Lefebvre & Daniel Colas · Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé

Salonen drove at a measured pace, avoiding major issues while others faltered. Mehta remained competitive but lost time with mechanical setbacks. Datsun’s 1–2 finish proved the strength of their African program.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Fatigue and Focus: With nearly continuous driving, co-driver awareness and split-second decisions determined success or retirement.
  • Mechanical Endurance: Drivers often doubled as field mechanics—repairs mid-stage were common and critical.
  • Environmental Obstacles: Heavy rains turned sections into mud traps, while wildlife, locals, and heat added to the unpredictability.

The 1981 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire reaffirmed the rally’s status as a WRC outlier—a true marathon. Salonen’s calculated win under punishing African conditions cemented his standing as a versatile and reliable force on the world stage.

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