History 1980s

1985 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1985 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Date: October 30 – November 3, 1985

Start Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Finish Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Total Distance: 4,919 km

Surface: Gravel

The 1985 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire remained one of the most punishing rallies on the WRC calendar, testing not just speed but survival. With extreme heat, long stages, and unforgiving roads, the rally became a war of attrition. Björn Waldegård, no stranger to African endurance events, guided his Toyota Celica TCT to another victory through discipline, consistency, and hard-earned experience.

Route

Abidjan to Yamoussoukro: Long liaison sections and dusty gravel with river crossings and livestock hazards.
Man and Daloa Loops: Jungle trails and soft terrain with frequent breakdown risk and minimal support access.
Overnight Stages: Low visibility and fatigue added psychological pressure on already strained crews.

Spanning nearly 5,000 km across West Africa, the route included:

Service was sparse, stages were massive, and the only way to win was to endure. Many crews didn’t make it to the final day.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Björn Waldegård & Hans Thorszelius · Toyota Celica TCT
2nd Place
Erwin Weber & Klaus Wicha · Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V
3rd Place
Patrick Tauziac & Claude Papin · Mitsubishi Lancer Turbo

Waldegård’s calculated drive gave Toyota another African win, demonstrating the power of preparation and endurance in a rally where few finished at all.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Endurance: Some competitive legs spanned hundreds of kilometers without full service access.
  • Mechanical Preservation: Winning meant knowing when not to push—Waldegård mastered that balance.
  • Route Finding: With no recce and minimal markings, navigation errors cost time or worse—retirement.

The 1985 Côte d’Ivoire Rally proved once again that Africa doesn’t reward the fastest—it rewards the smartest, and Björn Waldegård was the class of the field.

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