History 1980s

1985 Rallye de Portugal – Vinho do Porto (Portugal)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1985 Rallye de Portugal – Vinho do Porto (Portugal)

Date: March 5–10, 1985

Start Location: Estoril, Portugal

Finish Location: Estoril, Portugal

Total Distance: 737 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel and tarmac

The 1985 edition of Rallye de Portugal tested the world’s best across high-speed gravel, slippery tarmac, and unpredictable spring weather. With massive crowds lining the stages, conditions shifted from dry dust to torrential downpours. Walter Röhrl showed his trademark composure and strategic pacing to bring the Audi Quattro back to victory in one of the most treacherous events of the season.

Route

Arganil: Foggy, rocky gravel stage famed for its roughness and crowd density.
Sintra: Narrow tarmac switchbacks with rapid elevation changes and little runoff.
Mortágua and Lousã: Long forest gravel loops with deep ruts and shifting grip.

Portugal’s stages offered a brutal variety of surfaces and grip conditions:

The rally's unpredictability, aggressive fans, and road surface changes made it one of the most intense tests of driver adaptability on the calendar.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Walter Röhrl & Christian Geistdörfer · Audi Quattro
2nd Place
Timo Salonen & Seppo Harjanne · Peugeot 205 T16
3rd Place
Ari Vatanen & Terry Harryman · Peugeot 205 T16

Röhrl’s win showcased Audi’s enduring competitiveness and his own tactical mastery—controlling the pace when needed and attacking when the grip was right.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Surface Shifts: Wet tarmac into gravel required hybrid setups and rapid changes in driving style.
  • Visibility: Dense fog in Arganil and dust on dry days made pacenotes absolutely vital.
  • Fan Density: Massive crowds lining stages created both energy and high-risk pressure zones for drivers.

The 1985 Rally Portugal reinforced the value of experience, discipline, and precise driving—Röhrl delivered all three in one of his most composed wins behind the wheel of a Group B monster.

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