History 1980s

1983 Rallye Sanremo (Italy)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1983 Rallye Sanremo (Italy)

Date: October 1–7, 1983

Start Location: Sanremo, Italy

Finish Location: Sanremo, Italy

Total Distance: 630 km of special stages

Surface: Mixed surfaces (gravel and asphalt)

The 1983 Sanremo Rally stood out as a unique hybrid challenge, transitioning from fast coastal gravel roads to narrow asphalt mountain passes. With variable grip, weather, and terrain across six intense days, the event tested both driver adaptability and mechanical setup. Lancia seized the opportunity to showcase its Rally 037 on home ground, where Markku Alén rose to the occasion.

Route

Dolcedo and Andagna: Fast gravel stages through olive groves and narrow bridges.
Monte Ceppo: Tarmac ascent with sheer drops and rhythm-breaking hairpins.
Bajardo and San Romolo: Mixed-surface sections with gravel-to-tarmac transitions mid-stage.

The route wound through Liguria’s dramatic coastline and into the rugged hills above Sanremo:

Surface changes within and between stages made tire strategy critical, while early October rain added unpredictability to the mountain runs.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Lancia Rally 037
2nd Place
Walter Röhrl & Christian Geistdörfer · Lancia Rally 037
3rd Place
Ari Vatanen & Terry Harryman · Opel Manta 400

Alén’s pace on gravel and confidence on tarmac earned Lancia a clean sweep on Italian soil—further proving the 037’s strength in mixed-surface rallies.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Surface Shifts: Transitions mid-stage between tarmac and gravel made braking and turn-in unpredictable.
  • Setup Compromise: Teams had to balance suspension settings and tire choices for dual conditions.
  • Weather Variation: Sudden mountain rainstorms added an extra layer of risk to exposed tarmac sectors.

The 1983 Sanremo Rally was a showcase of adaptability and strategy—perfectly suited to Alén’s flair and the nimble Lancia 037 on home turf.

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