Rally History Archive

Bernard Darniche and Alain Mahé conquered the snow-slicked tarmac of the Alps to win the 1979 Rallye Monte-Carlo in their Lancia Stratos HF, marking one of the most iconic comebacks in rally history.

Ari Vatanen and Peter Bryant stormed through Finland’s icy forests to win the 1979 Hankiralli in their Ford Escort RS1800, showcasing speed and precision on snow-covered roads.

Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz triumphed at the 13th Rallye de Portugal, mastering the challenging mix of gravel and tarmac stages in their Ford Escort RS1800.

Tony Carello and Michele Perlasca tamed the legendary Sicilian mountain roads in their Lancia Stratos HF to win the 1979 Targa Florio Rally, showcasing precision and power on iconic tarmac.

Antonio Fassina and Mauro Mannini mastered the rugged Sardinian gravel to claim victory at the 1979 Rally Costa Smeralda in their Lancia Stratos HF.

Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer secured victory at the 1979 Saarland Rallye, skillfully navigating the mixed-surface stages in their Fiat 131 Abarth.

Shekhar Mehta and Mike Doughty overcame Africa’s harshest conditions to win the 1979 Safari Rally in their Datsun 160J, marking Mehta’s third triumph in the legendary endurance event.

Björn Waldegård and Hans Thorszelius conquered Greece’s punishing gravel and heat in the 1979 Acropolis Rally, earning a hard-fought win in their Ford Escort RS1800.

Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz dominated the 1979 Rally of New Zealand, showcasing mastery across the country's scenic and challenging mix of gravel and tarmac in their Ford Escort RS1800.

Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer triumphed in the inaugural Codasur Rally in Argentina, tackling South America’s fast and rugged gravel with precision in their Fiat 131 Abarth.

Jean-Claude Andruet and “Biche” secured a dominant win in the 1979 Danube Rally, taming Romania’s fast and dusty gravel stages in their Lancia Stratos HF.

Markku Alén and Ilkka Kivimäki soared to victory at the 1979 1000 Lakes Rally, expertly navigating Finland’s fast gravel jumps and sweeping corners in their Fiat 131 Abarth.

Björn Waldegård and Hans Thorszelius claimed victory at the 1979 Critérium Molson du Québec, conquering Canada’s challenging mix of gravel and tarmac stages in their Ford Escort RS1800.

British driver Jim Clark piloted a Volkswagen to victory in the 1979 Tap Rallye Internacional do Brasil, showcasing precision and endurance across Brazil’s fast and rugged gravel roads.

Antonio “Tony” Fassina and Mauro Mannini delivered a heroic drive to win the 1979 Rallye Sanremo in their Lancia Stratos HF, mastering the complex mix of tarmac and gravel stages along Italy’s Ligurian coast.

Ross Dunkerton and Geoff Jones claimed victory in the 1979 Southern Cross Rally, mastering Australia’s demanding gravel terrain in their Datsun 710 (Stanza) with a performance of precision and endurance.

Bernard Darniche and Alain Mahé delivered a masterful drive to win the 1979 Tour de Corse, dominating the twisty Corsican asphalt in their Lancia Stratos HF.

Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz triumphed in treacherous British forests to win the 1979 Lombard RAC Rally in their Ford Escort RS1800, concluding the season with a dominant gravel performance.

Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz braved sweltering heat, rough terrain, and marathon distances to win the 1979 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire in their Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.0.