History 1980s

1988 Rallye de Portugal (Portugal)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1988 Rallye de Portugal (Portugal)

Date: March 1–5, 1988

Start Location: Estoril, Portugal

Finish Location: Estoril, Portugal

Total Distance: 533 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel and tarmac

The 1988 Rallye de Portugal delivered a grueling blend of dusty gravel roads and slick tarmac specials under moody skies. Miki Biasion kept cool under crowd pressure and shifting surfaces to win convincingly in his Lancia Delta HF 4WD. With a balanced pace, reliable car, and perfect tire strategy, Biasion extended his championship lead while surviving the chaos of massive fan turnout and challenging terrain.

Route

Arganil: Dusty and technical mountain pass famous for its narrow roads, hairpins, and huge crowds.
Lousã: Fast gravel stages with deep ruts and limited visibility in dry conditions.
Sintra Tarmac Loops: Tight, scenic asphalt specials that punished poor braking discipline and slick compound miscalculations.

Portugal’s legendary stages featured narrow, hilly runs with unpredictable traction:

Crowds were again a challenge in 1988, with marshals struggling to control fan positioning—adding tension for top drivers like Biasion during high-speed transitions.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Miki Biasion & Tiziano Siviero · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
2nd Place
Bruno Saby & Jean-François Fauchille · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
3rd Place
Didier Auriol & Bernard Occelli · Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4

Biasion’s win in Portugal was a statement—he could not only match the pace of rivals, but manage the rally’s most chaotic elements better than anyone else on the leaderboard.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Fan Proximity: Portuguese fans lined the roads dangerously close—requiring constant concentration from drivers on narrow paths.
  • Surface Switching: Alternating gravel and tarmac required tire gambles and fast suspension adjustments between services.
  • Weather Uncertainty: Cloud cover and humidity affected grip and visibility—forcing dynamic pace adjustments mid-stage.

The 1988 Rallye de Portugal was both a technical and psychological battle—Biasion’s victory solidified his role as Lancia’s lead title contender and a master of mixed-condition rallying.

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