Rally History Archive

Severe snowstorms in 1963 made the Monte Carlo Rally one of the toughest editions in history, rewarding precision driving.

Held in the Italian Alps, the 1963 Rallye Sestriere featured a demanding mix of snow, gravel, and tarmac stages. Italian drivers dominated the field in this winter-season challenge.

Held in the harsh winter conditions of northern France, the 1963 Routes du Nord tested crews across icy tarmac and rural lanes in a classic early-season challenge.

Known for its brutal terrain and unpredictable rain, the 1963 Safari Rally was a punishing test of driver and vehicle endurance through Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Held deep in the Austrian Alps, the 1963 Alpenfahrt was a test of high-altitude driving precision, demanding careful pacing through technical terrain, rock-strewn passes, and rapidly shifting weather.

A unique Franco-German collaboration, this rally linked Lyon, Charbonnières-les-Bains, and Stuttgart’s famed Solitude Ring, blending French winding roads with Germany’s fast tarmac sections.

The Tulip Rally continued to gain prestige, drawing top drivers from across Europe to tackle the Netherlands' complex route network.

The 1963 Acropolis Rally pushed competitors through some of the harshest gravel stages in Europe under intense heat.

The Pneumant Rally was the cornerstone of rallying in East Germany, offering a demanding regularity format and tight, forested stages in the GDR's Saxony and Thuringia regions.

A classic winter event on snow-and-ice forest roads around Karlstad, demanding studded-tyre strategy and pinpoint car control.

Twisting Alpine roads and high-altitude climbs made the 1963 Alpine Rally a precision event through France, Switzerland, and Italy.

A mixed-surface marathon through the Tatra Mountains around Zakopane, rewarding crews who balanced speed and reliability.

Finland’s 1000 Lakes Rally thrilled spectators with airborne gravel stages, high speeds, and fearless Scandinavian driving talent.

Still considered the ultimate test of driver stamina and mechanical durability, the 1963 Liège Rally remained legendary.

Held across the Romanian Carpathians and Danube basin, the 1963 Rallye du Danube stood out in the ERC calendar for its technical tarmac and gravel stages, as well as its strategic importance to Eastern Bloc competitors.

An Italian ERC round through Sardinia’s tight mountain roads, featuring fast asphalt stages and minimal service.

A technical asphalt rally in the foothills of the Alps around Geneva, featuring hill-climb tests on Mont Salève.

Expanded forestry stages and worsening weather made the 1963 RAC Rally a major endurance challenge for drivers and mechanics alike.