History 1990s

1999 Rallye Sanremo – Rallye d’Italia (Italy)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1999 Rallye Sanremo – Rallye d’Italia (Italy)

Date: October 5–7, 1999

Start Location: Sanremo, Italy

Finish Location: Sanremo, Italy

Total Distance: ~1,080 km (full route)

Competitive Stages: 344.00 km

Surface: Asphalt

The 1999 Rallye Sanremo marked a breakout moment for Peugeot and Gilles Panizzi, as the French tarmac ace delivered a stunning performance to take his maiden WRC win. With Sanremo's twisty mountain roads suiting the compact and responsive Peugeot 206 WRC, Panizzi dominated from the outset, proving both his potential and the car’s competitiveness on sealed surfaces. It was a perfect synergy of driver, car, and terrain.

Route

Colle d’Oggia: A technical climb with tight hairpins, minimal runoff, and ever-changing grip.
Monte Ceppo: Fast and narrow with elevation shifts and tight sequences — ideal for lightweight cars.
Bajardo–San Romolo: A classic Sanremo descent with flowing pace and tire management demands across corners of varying radius.

Sanremo’s stages climbed through the Ligurian hills, with a blend of narrow mountain passes, long tarmac descents, and rhythm-based switchbacks. Key stages included:

Warm and dry weather allowed Panizzi to fully exploit the tarmac capabilities of the Peugeot 206 WRC, while rivals struggled to match his consistency and pace through the long mountain stages.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Gilles Panizzi & Hervé Panizzi · Peugeot 206 WRC
2nd Place
Didier Auriol & Denis Giraudet · Toyota Corolla WRC
3rd Place
Jesús Puras & Marc Martí · Citroën Xsara Kit Car

Panizzi’s win was a flawless execution of tarmac driving. Auriol’s experience kept him close, while Puras once again demonstrated the Xsara Kit Car’s pace despite its 2WD limitations.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Technical Complexity: Constant steering input and precise co-driver calls were needed through hairpins, blind corners, and narrow sections.
  • Tire Management: Heat buildup and surface abrasion made correct compound choice and smooth driving essential across multiple loops.
  • Driver Focus: Minimal margin for error on the cliffside routes demanded maximum concentration and flawless braking discipline.

The 1999 Rallye Sanremo was a landmark win for both Peugeot and Panizzi. It marked the arrival of a new tarmac threat in the WRC and introduced fans to one of the sport’s most skilled asphalt specialists.

← Previous Event 1999 Rally China (China)
Back to Events Index
1999 Rally Australia (Australia) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.