History 1980s

1982 Rallye Sanremo (Italy)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1982 Rallye Sanremo

Date: October 3–9, 1982

Host Country: Italy

Surface: Mixed (Asphalt / Gravel)

Total Distance: 735.44 km (competitive)

Total Starters: Approx. 85 crews

Total Finishers: 36 crews

The 1982 Rallye Sanremo once again proved to be a strategic chess match, with stages alternating between tarmac and gravel in the Ligurian mountains. Stig Blomqvist, with Bruno Berglund calling notes, leveraged the Audi Quattro’s flexibility and grip to edge out a hard-fought win. The varied terrain and unpredictable conditions highlighted the strengths—and weaknesses—of both man and machine. Blomqvist’s win was crucial in maintaining Audi’s pressure on the WRC standings heading into the final rounds.

Route

Ligurian Tarmac: Narrow, twisty asphalt with steep drop-offs and inconsistent grip due to pine needles and road wear.
Mountain Gravel: Dusty, loose sections where AWD shined—long climbs and deep ruts punished 2WD cars.
Weather Factor: Rain mid-rally soaked both surface types, adding another variable to tire and suspension choices.

Set in the mountains surrounding Sanremo, the route combined tight tarmac hairpins with fast gravel switchbacks, climbing into foggy mountain passes and descending into coastal valleys.

Stage surfaces changed rapidly—sometimes mid-stage—so teams had to gamble on tire compounds and suspension settings with limited information.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Stig Blomqvist & Bruno Berglund · Audi Quattro
2nd Place
Walter Röhrl & Christian Geistdörfer · Opel Ascona 400
3rd Place
Michele Cinotto & Emilio Radaelli · Audi Quattro

Blomqvist’s measured aggression and calm under pressure gave him the edge over Röhrl, who kept the lighter Ascona in contention through the tarmac-heavy stages. Cinotto’s strong run delivered a valuable double podium for Audi.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Mixed-Surface Strategy: Suspension and tire choices had to be optimized across multiple terrains in a single day.
  • Night Stages: Limited visibility on twisty mountain descents forced reliance on pace notes and lighting setup.
  • Changing Weather: Sudden rain altered grip levels, especially on tarmac stages with patches of gravel runoff.

The 1982 Sanremo Rally rewarded adaptability, focus, and mechanical consistency. Blomqvist’s win highlighted not just driving skill, but the Quattro’s maturing performance across all surfaces.

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