History 1980s

1988 Rally New Zealand

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1988 Rally New Zealand

Date: July 10–13, 1988

Start Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Finish Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Total Distance: ~450 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1988 Rally New Zealand delivered stunning high-speed gravel action across the North Island’s scenic forest roads. Miki Biasion and co-driver Tiziano Siviero expertly attacked the smooth, cambered surfaces with controlled aggression, capitalizing on the Lancia Delta HF 4WD’s traction and balance. With minimal errors and relentless consistency, Biasion extended his winning streak and inched closer to his first world title.

Route

Whangarei and Rotorua Regions: Long gravel stages with smooth lines and excellent rhythm—ideal for confident, high-speed driving.
North Island Forests: Narrow forest paths lined with ferns and trees, requiring tight precision and fast reflexes.
Open Rolling Hills: Blind crests and wide, sweeping bends where bravery and pacenote trust paid dividends.

New Zealand’s rally roads are considered among the world’s finest—fast, flowing, and forgiving of bold cornering:

Weather was stable throughout the event, with mild temperatures and dry conditions giving drivers maximum grip and visibility.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Miki Biasion & Tiziano Siviero · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
2nd Place
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
3rd Place
Ari Vatanen & Bruno Berglund · Mazda 323 4WD

Biasion’s pace and composure left no doubt—his grasp on the championship tightened with every gravel kilometer in New Zealand.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Pace and Rhythm: Maintaining high average speeds without overdriving was key to success across New Zealand’s long stages.
  • Corner Entry Confidence: With minimal margin for hesitation, trusting the notes into blind bends made or broke each run.
  • Mechanical Discipline: Biasion avoided unnecessary stress on components, preserving the car’s edge through each loop.

The 1988 Rally New Zealand was a showcase of technical precision and top-tier confidence—Biasion’s win was another pillar in his run toward becoming world champion.

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