History 1980s

1989 Rallye de Portugal (Portugal)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1989 Rallye de Portugal (Portugal)

Date: March 7–12, 1989

Start Location: Estoril, Portugal

Finish Location: Estoril, Portugal

Total Distance: 541 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel and tarmac

The 1989 Rallye de Portugal was a relentless challenge of terrain, fan chaos, and surface transitions. Miki Biasion held his nerve through the dust and drama, executing a near-perfect rally in the Lancia Delta Integrale. With its unpredictable blend of rough gravel and slick tarmac, the event demanded versatility and mechanical resilience. Biasion’s win tightened his grip on the championship and reaffirmed Lancia’s supremacy.

Route

Arganil: Iconic gravel route with deep ruts, choking dust, and thousands of roadside fans creating a tunnel-like atmosphere.
Lousã: Tight, dusty climbs through the mountains with narrow lines and punishing surface transitions.
Sintra: Tarmac loop near Estoril, where grip changes rapidly—requiring perfect tire strategy and braking discipline.

Portugal’s rally stages pushed drivers across treacherous terrain and through some of the most passionate crowds in the championship:

Fan presence was overwhelming at times, with officials battling to keep spectators off the racing line in some sectors.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Miki Biasion & Tiziano Siviero · Lancia Delta Integrale
2nd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Toyota Celica GT-Four
3rd Place
Didier Auriol & Bernard Occelli · Lancia Delta Integrale

Biasion’s precise, mistake-free rally kept Sainz at bay and earned Lancia another critical victory in the manufacturers’ battle.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Dust Visibility: Thick dust often hung in the air—delaying braking zones and reducing vision to just meters ahead.
  • Fan Management: Overzealous spectators stood too close to the road—crews had to stay composed amid unpredictable crowd behavior.
  • Surface Switching: The gravel-to-tarmac transitions tested car setup and tire discipline—Biasion and Siviero handled both expertly.

The 1989 Rallye de Portugal was as chaotic as it was demanding—Biasion’s clean, dominant win showed why he remained the benchmark for WRC precision and poise.

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