Rally History Archive

German driver Achim Warmbold won the 1973 Rally Poland and Austrian Alpine Rally during the inaugural World Rally Championship season.

Swedish driver Anders Kulläng built his works career with Opel in the 1970s before winning the 1980 Swedish Rally in an Opel Ascona 400.

Antonio Zanini won five consecutive Spanish rally titles from 1974 through 1978 and finished runner-up in the 1979 European Rally Championship.

Ari Vatanen emerged as a major Finnish talent in the 1970s, won the 1976 British Rally Championship and later became the 1981 World Rally Champion.

French driver Bernard Darniche won the European Rally Championship in 1976 and 1977 and became one of the Lancia Stratos's most successful drivers.

Björn Waldegård became the first official World Rally Champion in 1979 after a decade of major wins for Porsche, Lancia and Ford.

Hannu Mikkola won the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally, the 1972 Safari Rally and finished second in the inaugural 1979 WRC drivers' championship.

Swedish driver Harry Källström won the 1970 RAC Rally with Lancia and the 1976 Acropolis Rally with Datsun.

Jean-Claude Andruet won the 1973 Monte Carlo Rally for Alpine and gave the Lancia Stratos its first WRC victory at the 1974 Tour de Corse.

Jean-Luc Thérier won three WRC rounds in 1973 and scored more driver points than anyone else while helping Alpine secure the inaugural manufacturers' title.

Jean-Pierre Nicolas won the 1973 Tour de Corse for Alpine and achieved major 1978 victories with Porsche and Peugeot.

Markku Alén won his first WRC round in Portugal in 1975 and captured the 1978 FIA Cup for Rally Drivers.

Michèle Mouton began driving in 1973, won the 1977 Rally of Spain and joined the Fiat France works team in 1978.

Ove Andersson won four major international rallies in 1971 and then created the operation that developed into Toyota Team Europe.

Pauli Toivonen remained an occasional competitor in the 1970s after winning the disputed 1966 Monte Carlo Rally and the 1968 European Rally Championship.

Rauno Aaltonen remained an active international rally driver throughout the 1970s after his 1965 European title and 1967 Monte Carlo victory.

Russell Brookes won the 1977 British Rally Championship and became a long-serving figure in British works rallying.

Sandro Munari won the Monte Carlo Rally four times during the 1970s and captured the 1977 FIA Cup for Rally Drivers.

Shekhar Mehta won the Safari Rally in 1973 and 1979, beginning a record run of five victories in the event.

Simo Lampinen won the 1972 1000 Lakes Rally in a Saab 96 V4 and remained a versatile works driver throughout the decade.

Timo Mäkinen won the RAC Rally three consecutive times from 1973 through 1975 and the 1973 1000 Lakes Rally.

Italian privateer Tony Fassina won the 1979 Sanremo Rally in a Lancia Stratos and later became the 1982 European Rally Champion.

Walter Röhrl won the 1974 European Rally Championship and scored his first WRC victory on the 1975 Acropolis Rally.