History 1990s

1999 Rallye Catalunya – Rallye de España (Spain)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1999 Rallye Catalunya – Rallye de España (Spain)

Date: April 18–21, 1999

Start Location: Lloret de Mar, Spain

Finish Location: Lloret de Mar, Spain

Total Distance: ~1,145 km (full route)

Competitive Stages: 381.03 km

Surface: Asphalt

Just weeks after his breakthrough win in Corsica, Philippe Bugalski delivered another shock victory at Rallye Catalunya. Exploiting the ideal asphalt conditions and the lightweight handling of the Citroën Xsara Kit Car, Bugalski dominated more powerful 4WD rivals once again. His performance silenced critics and confirmed the Xsara's place as a tarmac weapon in the WRC arsenal — and proved Citroën was no longer just a guest in the WRC paddock.

Route

El Montmell: Fast and flowing asphalt with sweeping corners that rewarded rhythm and courage.
La Trona: Tight and technical stage with rapid transitions between second and fourth gear bends.
Querol: Elevation changes and braking zones challenged even the best setups for asphalt precision.

The rally wound through Catalonia’s coastal mountains and smooth inland tarmac roads. Key stages included:

Dry weather and clean surfaces gave the front-wheel-drive Xsara ideal conditions to shine, with Bugalski setting blistering stage times against WRC machinery.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Philippe Bugalski & Jean-Paul Chiaroni · Citroën Xsara Kit Car
2nd Place
Didier Auriol & Denis Giraudet · Toyota Corolla WRC
3rd Place
Jesús Puras & Marc Martí · Citroën Xsara Kit Car

Bugalski’s back-to-back win solidified Citroën’s rising power in asphalt rallying, while teammate Puras added to the celebration with a third-place finish — giving Citroën two podium spots in a field of 4WD heavyweights.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Asphalt Rhythm: Fast sweepers and long braking zones rewarded precision, consistent pace notes, and mechanical confidence.
  • Heat and Tire Wear: Warm spring weather pushed tire temperatures to the limit, especially for heavier AWD cars.
  • Driver Restraint: Maintaining consistent momentum without overdriving was key to managing the clean tarmac without mistakes.

The 1999 Rallye Catalunya confirmed Philippe Bugalski as a master of asphalt and the Citroën Xsara Kit Car as a true giant-slayer. It was a symbolic passing of the torch — and a warning to WRC teams of Citroën’s rising dominance to come.

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