History 1990s

1992 Rallye de Portugal – Vinho do Porto (Portugal)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1992 Rallye de Portugal – Vinho do Porto (Portugal)

Date: March 3–7, 1992

Start Location: Estoril, Portugal

Finish Location: Porto, Portugal

Total Distance: 541.00 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel and tarmac

The 1992 Rallye de Portugal provided its usual mix of challenging weather, dusty gravel, and occasional asphalt sections in the north. François Delecour, still early in his WRC career, combined pace with newfound composure to take his first-ever World Rally Championship victory. With Daniel Grataloup reading notes, the pair stayed ahead of the factory Toyotas and Lancias, navigating the foggy forests and unpredictable conditions with finesse.

Route

Arganil: Foggy mountain passes with loose gravel—visibility often reduced to meters, forcing total trust in pacenotes.
Fafe and Lameirinha: Famous jumps and flowing sequences made for high-speed action and high-stakes mistakes.
Mortágua Region: Rougher sections with rocks and worn surfaces—punctures and suspension stress were constant risks.

Portugal’s stages were long, technical, and lined with enthusiastic fans—terrain shifted between hard-packed gravel, rough ruts, and sections of narrow tarmac:

While weather was generally dry, early fog and isolated showers made tire choice difficult—Delecour got it right when it counted most.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
François Delecour & Daniel Grataloup · Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
2nd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Toyota Celica GT-Four ST185
3rd Place
Didier Auriol & Bernard Occelli · Lancia Delta HF Integrale

Delecour’s victory marked a turning point in his career—he showed he could not only push hard but manage risk and race strategy over five brutal days.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Fog and Fan Crowds: Stages often ran through thick fog with fans inches from the road—distraction and poor visibility were ever-present threats.
  • Tire Discipline: Split-surface stages demanded smart compound compromises—Delecour’s calls gave him a key edge.
  • Stage Length: Many loops were long and punishing—drivers needed to keep energy and focus through double-digit kilometer runs.

The 1992 Rallye de Portugal was the birth of Delecour as a serious title threat—his raw pace matured into race-winning execution on one of the season’s most difficult events.

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