History 1980s

1988 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1988 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Date: November 1988

Start Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Finish Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Total Distance: ~4,500 km

Surface: Gravel

The 1988 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire remained one of the most demanding events in the WRC calendar—run solely for drivers’ championship points. It tested every aspect of long-distance rally endurance. Patrick Tauziac, a French driver based in West Africa, used his local knowledge and steady driving to outlast the field in a rugged Mitsubishi Pajero. It was his first WRC win and a defining moment for Mitsubishi’s growing presence in African rallying.

Route

Yamoussoukro to Korhogo: Long, rocky sectors with minimal access to service and extreme heat stress on engines and suspension.
Man to Daloa: Dense forest zones with muddy ruts and visibility challenges due to thick dust and low tree cover.
Night Loops: Heavy fatigue set in as crews navigated with spotlights and basic maps deep into rural regions.

Côte d’Ivoire’s vast route included jungle trails, remote villages, and dry savannah tracks where mechanical endurance often outweighed outright speed:

Navigation was a major factor—many top names retired due to getting lost or suffering unrepairable damage far from assistance.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Patrick Tauziac & Claude Papin · Mitsubishi Pajero
2nd Place
Alain Ambrosino & Jean-Pierre Bousquet · Toyota Celica TCT
3rd Place
Erwin Weber & Manfred Hiemer · Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V

Drivers-only round – no manufacturers' points awarded

Navigation & Challenges

  • Route Finding: Long sections required teams to rely on maps, odometers, and local signage—wrong turns cost hours.
  • Mechanical Survivability: Spare parts, fuel planning, and cooling were more important than raw pace.
  • Extreme Fatigue: Drivers endured over 4,000 km of travel with little rest—mental discipline and hydration were key.

The 1988 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire rewarded caution, endurance, and strategy over speed—Tauziac’s cool-headed win cemented his place in WRC folklore as a master of Africa’s most relentless rally.

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