History 1980s

1988 Lombard RAC Rally (Great Britain)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1988 Lombard RAC Rally (Great Britain)

Date: November 20–23, 1988

Start Location: Nottingham, England

Finish Location: Nottingham, England

Total Distance: 316 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1988 RAC Rally was a muddy, fog-shrouded finale to a dominant season for Miki Biasion. With the drivers’ title already secured, he drove with confidence and precision across the slippery forest tracks of Wales and northern England. The no-pacenote format and unpredictable British weather made the event especially challenging, but Biasion’s focus and the Lancia Delta’s superb balance brought him across the finish line ahead once again.

Route

Kielder Forest: Fast and narrow with minimal margin for error—lined by trees and shrouded in mist.
Clocaenog: Soft gravel and deep ruts made grip unpredictable, especially in rain-soaked sections.
Sweet Lamb: A fan-favorite stage in Wales featuring open hillsides and tight hairpins.

The RAC Rally featured dozens of short but technical forest stages, run without pacenotes and often in poor visibility:

Despite the short stage lengths, the total challenge was immense due to relentless pace, minimal daylight, and weather variability.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Miki Biasion & Tiziano Siviero · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
2nd Place
Pentti Airikkala & Ronan Morgan · Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
3rd Place
Jimmy McRae & Ian Grindrod · Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4

Biasion’s victory in Britain closed out a near-perfect season, cementing both his and Lancia’s championship credentials with style and authority.

Navigation & Challenges

  • No Pacenotes: RAC tradition meant drivers had to memorize terrain or adapt instantly—co-driver calls were limited to junction reminders.
  • Fog and Mud: Slippery surfaces and poor visibility made even simple corners dangerous.
  • Mechanical Fatigue: Rough British terrain punished drivetrains and suspensions—preservation was as important as speed.

The 1988 Lombard RAC Rally was a fitting conclusion to a season dominated by discipline and reliability—Biasion’s win reaffirmed why he was champion.

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