History 1980s

1988 Rallye Sanremo (Italy)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1988 Rallye Sanremo (Italy)

Date: October 10–15, 1988

Start Location: Sanremo, Italy

Finish Location: Sanremo, Italy

Total Distance: ~370 km of special stages

Surface: Asphalt

The 1988 Rallye Sanremo delivered a surprise victory as young Italian Alex Fiorio outpaced seasoned rivals on Liguria’s twisty mountain tarmac. With clean weather and a mostly dry surface, tire strategy and rhythm were key. Fiorio, son of Lancia team boss Cesare Fiorio, drove a clean and mature rally to claim his first WRC win—an emotional result that gave Italy a hometown hero for the season.

Route

Monte Ceppo: Tight, technical switchbacks with little margin for error and variable camber.
Andagna–Bajardo: Fast, narrow hill climbs through forested terrain—rhythm and co-driver timing were everything.
Colle Langan: Longer, flowing loop with open downhill sectors that demanded precise braking points and grip conservation.

Sanremo’s winding coastal and mountain roads tested braking precision and tire management on sun-baked asphalt:

Conditions remained dry throughout the week, favoring drivers with patience and smooth cornering rather than raw aggression.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Alex Fiorio & Luigi Pirollo · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
2nd Place
Miki Biasion & Tiziano Siviero · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
3rd Place
Bruno Saby & Jean-François Fauchille · Lancia Delta HF 4WD

Fiorio’s breakout win was the first WRC victory by a second-generation rally driver and highlighted Lancia’s iron grip on the 1988 season with another 1–2–3 finish.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Corner Sequencing: Many stages offered little room to breathe—Fiorio’s precise co-driver calls were essential to staying fast yet clean.
  • Pressure and Consistency: As a rising star in the Lancia ranks, Fiorio handled expectations with poise throughout the event.
  • Line Discipline: Cutting corners too aggressively risked tire wear or road penalties—Fiorio’s mature line choices paid off.

The 1988 Rallye Sanremo marked the peak of Alex Fiorio’s WRC career—his stunning victory on Italian tarmac remains one of the most iconic underdog wins of the Group A era.

← Previous Event 1988 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)
Back to Events Index
1988 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.