History 1990s

1991 Rallye Sanremo – Rallye d’Italia (Italy)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1991 Rallye Sanremo – Rallye d’Italia (Italy)

Date: October 13–17, 1991

Start Location: Sanremo, Italy

Finish Location: Sanremo, Italy

Total Distance: 482.00 km of special stages

Surface: Asphalt and gravel

The 1991 edition of Rallye Sanremo retained its reputation as one of the WRC’s most technical and strategic events. With surface changes mid-rally and narrow mountain passes through Liguria, tire choices and setup decisions were crucial. Didier Auriol showed exceptional versatility, dominating both gravel and tarmac stages in his Lancia Delta Integrale 16V. With perfect pacenotes from Bernard Occelli and clean execution throughout, Auriol added another Italian victory to Lancia’s proud legacy.

Route

Imperia Region Gravel: Narrow and loose with blind corners and frequent hairpins—rewarded car control and throttle patience.
Bajardo and Coldirodi Tarmac Loops: Twisting cliff-edge asphalt sections with variable grip and rapid elevation changes.
Montalto Ligure: A favorite among fans—steep descents, unpredictable surfaces, and tight town passageways.

Sanremo’s stages wound through the Ligurian Alps and Apennines, transitioning between fast, dusty gravel and technical asphalt ribbons:

Dry weather helped with grip predictability, but setup compromises were still required—Auriol’s adaptability and consistency made the difference.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Didier Auriol & Bernard Occelli · Lancia Delta Integrale 16V
2nd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
3rd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Piironen · Lancia Delta Integrale 16V

Auriol’s mix of asphalt aggression and gravel smoothness proved too much for his rivals—his win in Sanremo was a testament to driver-car harmony across changing terrain.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Surface Transitions: Setup had to accommodate both loose gravel and tight asphalt—teams had to compromise or risk speed on half the rally.
  • Local Roads: Narrow, high-altitude passes with cliffs on one side and stone walls on the other—no room for mistakes.
  • Tire Strategy: Auriol’s precise calls and Lancia’s compound choices gave him the edge during critical mixed-surface loops.

The 1991 Rallye Sanremo was a true mixed-surface chess match—Didier Auriol played it perfectly, cementing his place as one of rallying’s greatest tacticians.

← Previous Event 1991 Rally Australia (Australia)
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