Compromised Internals

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1986 Rallye de Portugal – Vinho do Porto (Portugal)

Date: March 5–9, 1986

Start Location: Estoril, Portugal

Finish Location: Event canceled before conclusion

Total Distance: N/A – Event halted early

Surface: Gravel and tarmac

The 1986 Rallye de Portugal stands as one of the darkest moments in WRC history. During the opening leg, a crash involving Joaquim Santos in a Ford RS200 resulted in the deaths of three spectators and injuries to dozens more. The tragedy unfolded when his car veered into the dense crowd on the Lagoa Azul stage. In protest and grief, factory teams including Audi, Peugeot, Lancia, and Austin Rover withdrew. The rally was subsequently abandoned, and no winner was declared.

Route

Lagoa Azul: Fast and narrow, lined with thousands of spectators—site of the tragic incident.

Sintra and Arganil: Gravel mountain roads known for fog, fans, and unforgiving terrain.

Stages Canceled: All competitive stages beyond the first leg were canceled following the fatal accident.

The rally began with classic Portuguese stages before it was stopped:

Poor crowd control and the escalating speeds of Group B had already raised alarms—Portugal’s tragedy forced the issue into full view.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner

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2nd Place

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3rd Place

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Navigation & Challenges

Unsafe Spectator Zones: Fans lining the roads and apexes left no margin for error.
Rising Speeds: Group B machines overwhelmed the safety protocols in place for stage rallies of this nature.
Post-Event Fallout: Portugal’s cancellation contributed directly to the FIA’s decision to ban Group B at the end of 1986.

The 1986 Rallye de Portugal serves as a sobering reminder of rallying’s most dangerous era—where speed, spectacle, and safety tragically collided.

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