History 1990s

1997 Rallye Sanremo – Rallye d’Italia (Italy)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1997 Rallye Sanremo – Rallye d’Italia (Italy)

Date: October 5–8, 1997

Start Location: Sanremo, Italy

Finish Location: Sanremo, Italy

Total Distance: 433.00 km of special stages

Surface: Asphalt

The 1997 Rallye Sanremo was a showcase of technical tarmac rallying along the narrow and sinuous mountain roads of Liguria. Known for its endless corners, abrupt elevation changes, and tight switchbacks, the event was ideal terrain for a driver like Didier Auriol. His mastery of braking points and car placement gave Toyota their first win of the season, as he and co-driver Denis Giraudet kept their pace clean and consistent across all three days of competition.

Route

Bajardo–San Romolo: A narrow uphill-downhill loop with camber changes and slippery shaded corners.
Col di Nava: High-speed downhill stage with rhythm-breaking hairpins and dangerous cliffside drop-offs.
Monte Ceppo: Long, flowing sequences of bends and blind crests testing both trust in pacenotes and precise throttle modulation.

The stages traversed Liguria’s coastal mountains and inland asphalt routes, featuring classic tarmac challenges such as:

Tire selection and rhythm were key, as stages were dry but frequently dirty near the apexes due to gravel runoff from the shoulders of the road.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Didier Auriol & Denis Giraudet · Toyota Celica WRC
2nd Place
Piero Liatti & Fabrizia Pons · Subaru Impreza WRC97
3rd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Ford Escort WRC

Auriol’s win marked a return to form for both driver and manufacturer, proving the Celica WRC’s speed on pure asphalt in its final competitive season.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Brake Wear: Constant cornering and heavy downhill braking taxed the braking systems across the field.
  • Tight Road Widths: Minimal margin for error meant even a clipped apex could result in major time loss or mechanical damage.
  • Pacenote Precision: Co-driver timing was essential due to the blind nature of many bends and changes in grip.

The 1997 Sanremo Rally rewarded experience and finesse, with Auriol’s clinical execution delivering one of the most polished asphalt wins of the season.

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