History 1980s

1985 Lombard RAC Rally (Great Britain)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1985 Lombard RAC Rally (Great Britain)

Date: November 24–28, 1985

Start Location: Nottingham, England

Finish Location: Chester, England

Total Distance: ~780 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1985 RAC Rally delivered the drama and chaos it was famous for—mud, fog, slick gravel, and minimal visibility across over 60 stages. Henri Toivonen, debuting the revolutionary Lancia Delta S4, rose above it all. Combining raw speed with refined car control, he earned a breakthrough victory that announced the arrival of Lancia's next Group B weapon in emphatic style.

Route

Hafren and Myherin: Slippery Welsh forests with soft mud and fast blind crests.
Kielder Forest: Long, punishing straights and narrow paths through dense trees—easy to enter, hard to exit cleanly.
Grizedale: Rocky climbs and slick descents that wore down suspensions and driver stamina alike.

The rally featured a grueling mix of forest and military stages across England and Wales:

With no recce or pacenotes allowed, crews relied entirely on roadbooks, leaving co-drivers with immense pressure and drivers with little room for improvisation.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Henri Toivonen & Neil Wilson · Lancia Delta S4
2nd Place
Timo Salonen & Seppo Harjanne · Peugeot 205 T16
3rd Place
Stig Blomqvist & Björn Cederberg · Audi Quattro

Toivonen’s victory marked the first WRC win for the Lancia Delta S4 and signaled the dawn of a new performance era—his confidence on unfamiliar notes and savage speed stunned rivals and fans alike.

Navigation & Challenges

  • No Recce Allowed: Crews relied solely on tulip-style roadbooks and sharp memory for the massive stage list.
  • British Weather: Rain, mud, and fog constantly shifted grip levels with little warning.
  • Mechanical Attrition: Suspension failures, gearbox issues, and off-road excursions were common over the 60+ stage gauntlet.

The 1985 Lombard RAC Rally closed the season with a bang—Toivonen’s victory lit the fuse on the final, explosive phase of Group B rallying, where power, danger, and spectacle were all pushed to the edge.

← Previous Event 1985 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
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