History 1990s

1998 Rallye de España – Catalunya (Spain)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1998 Rallye de España – Catalunya (Spain)

Date: May 22–24, 1998

Start Location: Lloret de Mar, Spain

Finish Location: Lloret de Mar, Spain

Total Distance: ~1,075 km (full route)

Competitive Stages: 382.10 km

Surface: Asphalt

The 1998 Rallye de España showcased some of the smoothest and fastest tarmac stages on the WRC calendar. Featuring flowing roads and dry conditions, the event emphasized precision, braking stability, and tire conservation. Didier Auriol, one of the most experienced tarmac drivers in the field, drove the Toyota Corolla WRC to perfection, fending off younger challengers with his smooth and calculated style to take a popular win for the Japanese manufacturer.

Route

El Montmell: A classic tarmac stage with constant grip and tight switchbacks through farmland and open valleys.
Querol: Smooth, high-speed corners lined with armco and demanding a circuit-like approach to braking points.
La Trona: Fast descents with challenging blind crests and minimal room for error near rock faces.

The route covered the Catalonian countryside and mountains, with signature stages including:

Warm, consistent weather allowed all teams to run optimized tarmac setups, bringing the field closer and intensifying the battle for podium spots.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Didier Auriol & Denis Giraudet · Toyota Corolla WRC
2nd Place
Colin McRae & Nicky Grist · Subaru Impreza WRC98
3rd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Toyota Corolla WRC

Auriol’s controlled pace and refined cornering technique earned him a well-deserved win, while teammate Carlos Sainz added valuable points with a strong podium finish on home soil.

Navigation & Challenges

  • High-Speed Precision: Drivers needed to brake late and clip every apex without unsettling the car — a hallmark of asphalt rally mastery.
  • Tire Management: Long loops with consistent surface temperature forced drivers to preserve tires while still pushing for tenths.
  • Consistency Over Risk: The wide and grippy roads tempted late braking and throttle aggression, but only smooth driving delivered results.

The 1998 Rallye de España was a celebration of pure tarmac rallying. Auriol’s win was not just a personal triumph but a technical statement on precision and experience prevailing in modern asphalt competition.

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