Rally History Archive

Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer opened the 1980 WRC season with a commanding win at the Monte Carlo Rally, showcasing their mastery of snow-covered mountain tarmac in the Fiat 131 Abarth.

Anders Kulläng and Bruno Berglund delivered a landmark win on home snow, guiding the Opel Ascona 400 to victory at the 1980 Swedish Rally amid fierce Scandinavian competition.

Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer mastered the diverse terrain of Portugal in their Fiat 131 Abarth, claiming a decisive win at the 1980 Rallye de Portugal and extending their championship momentum.

Shekhar Mehta and Mike Doughty endured the brutal 5,300 km marathon across Kenya’s unforgiving terrain to win the 1980 Safari Rally in their Datsun 160J, showcasing supreme navigation and mechanical resilience.

Ari Vatanen and David Richards overcame blistering heat, rocky terrain, and fierce competition to win the 1980 Acropolis Rally in their Ford Escort RS1800 MkII—marking Vatanen’s first WRC victory.

Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer conquered the punishing Argentine terrain in their Fiat 131 Abarth, taking a commanding win at the 1980 Rally Codasur and solidifying their lead in the WRC championship.

Markku Alén and Ilkka Kivimäki flew to victory over the legendary Finnish jumps, securing a popular home win at the 1980 1000 Lakes Rally in their Fiat 131 Abarth.

Timo Salonen and Seppo Harjanne piloted their Datsun 160J to a strategic and smooth win over New Zealand’s diverse terrain, claiming the top spot at the 1980 Motogard Rally with poise and precision.

Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer demonstrated their unmatched adaptability at the 1980 Rallye Sanremo, dominating both gravel and asphalt to secure another vital victory in their Fiat 131 Abarth.

Jean-Luc Thérier and Michel Vial stormed the Corsican tarmac in their Porsche 911 SC, overcoming local specialists to win the grueling 1980 Tour de Corse with pace, precision, and Porsche power.

Henri Toivonen and Paul White shocked the rally world with a sensational win in the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, mastering treacherous British forests to become the youngest-ever WRC winners at the 1980 Lombard RAC Rally.

Björn Waldegård and Hans Thorszelius brought Mercedes its final WRC victory with a dominant and composed performance across the harsh terrain of West Africa in the 1980 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire.

Freddy Kottulinsky and Gerd Löffelmann made history in the Volkswagen Iltis, mastering deserts, dunes, and danger to win the 1980 Paris–Dakar Rally—establishing VW's off-road credentials for decades to come.

Jean Ragnotti and Jean-Marc Andrié delivered a legendary performance in the mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo, securing a historic victory at the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally and marking a turning point in rally car design.

Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz made history by securing the first-ever WRC victory for an all-wheel-drive car, dominating the icy stages of Sweden in the revolutionary Audi Quattro.

Markku Alén and Ilkka Kivimäki powered their Fiat 131 Abarth through Portugal’s treacherous gravel and narrow tarmac stages to claim a determined victory in a rally marred by tragedy.

Shekhar Mehta and Mike Doughty triumphed over brutal African terrain once again, claiming their fourth Safari Rally victory in the rugged Datsun Violet GT.

Bernard Darniche and Alain Mahé conquered the relentless Corsican tarmac in their Lancia Stratos HF, marking the final WRC victory for the iconic mid-engined rally legend.

Ari Vatanen and David Richards delivered a heroic victory in the searing Greek heat, mastering the punishing rocky roads of the Acropolis Rally in their iconic Ford Escort RS1800 MkII.

Guy Fréquelin and Jean Todt battled the vast and rugged terrain of Argentina to claim a defining victory for Talbot in their Sunbeam Lotus, marking one of the toughest wins of the 1981 season.

Ari Vatanen and David Richards delivered another commanding win in their Ford Escort RS1800 MkII, conquering Brazil’s fast and slippery gravel stages to bolster their WRC title campaign.

Ari Vatanen thrilled his home crowd with a dominant victory in the 1981 1000 Lakes Rally, showcasing fearless speed and supreme car control through Finland’s high-flying gravel stages.

Michèle Mouton and Fabrizia Pons made history at the 1981 Rallye Sanremo, becoming the first all-female crew to win a WRC event, driving the revolutionary Audi Quattro to a groundbreaking victory on mixed surfaces.

Timo Salonen and Seppo Harjanne outlasted the field to win the brutal 1981 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire, proving both their endurance and the rugged reliability of the Datsun Violet GT across West Africa’s most punishing rally.

Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz capped off the 1981 season with a dominant win on the muddy forest roads of Britain, marking Audi's continued rise as a rally powerhouse with the revolutionary Quattro.

René Metge and Bernard Giroux claimed overall victory in the 1981 Paris–Dakar Rally, piloting their Range Rover V8 through nearly 4,000 km of sand, gravel, and treacherous desert to win the legendary African endurance race.

Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer mastered treacherous alpine conditions to take a strategic victory in the 1982 Monte Carlo Rally, outclassing the field with their smooth precision in the rear-wheel-drive Opel Ascona 400.

Stig Blomqvist and Björn Cederberg claimed a commanding home victory in the 1982 Swedish Rally, expertly harnessing the Audi Quattro’s all-wheel-drive advantage on the frozen roads of Värmland.

Michèle Mouton and Fabrizia Pons secured a dominant victory in Portugal, showcasing the Audi Quattro’s pace and Mouton’s grit across one of the most grueling mixed-surface rallies on the WRC calendar.

Shekhar Mehta and Mike Doughty overcame brutal terrain, extreme weather, and mechanical attrition to win the 1982 Safari Rally, marking Mehta’s fifth—and final—victory on Africa’s most grueling WRC round.

Jean Ragnotti and Jean-Marc Andrié thrilled fans on the twisty Corsican tarmac, piloting the Renault 5 Turbo to a sensational home victory in the 1982 Tour de Corse—cementing Ragnotti’s status as France’s tarmac specialist.

Michèle Mouton and Fabrizia Pons triumphed over the searing heat and brutal gravel stages of Greece in the 1982 Acropolis Rally, pushing the Audi Quattro to its limits in one of the toughest rallies of the WRC season.

Björn Waldegård and Hans Thorszelius delivered a landmark victory for Toyota at the 1982 Rally of New Zealand, navigating the country’s fast, flowing gravel roads with poise and precision in the rear-wheel-drive Celica 2000 GT.

Michèle Mouton and Fabrizia Pons dominated the 1982 Rallye do Brasil, navigating South America's demanding gravel stages with confidence and securing another critical win in their campaign with the Audi Quattro.

Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz stormed to victory in the 1982 1000 Lakes Rally, mastering Finland’s high-speed gravel jumps in the Audi Quattro and securing a crucial win on home soil for the rising AWD powerhouse.

Stig Blomqvist and Bruno Berglund capitalized on changing conditions and the Audi Quattro’s versatility to win the mixed-surface 1982 Rallye Sanremo, securing an important late-season victory in the Italian Alps.

Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer secured a pivotal win in the 1982 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire, enduring Africa’s punishing terrain in the Opel Ascona 400 to move one step closer to their world championship triumph.

Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz claimed a decisive win in the Audi Quattro, proving its dominance on mixed-surface British stages.

Claude and Bernard Marreau triumphed in their Renault 20 Turbo after enduring nearly 6,000 kilometers of unforgiving desert terrain across North and West Africa.

Walter Röhrl delivered a stunning victory in the debut of the rear-wheel-drive Lancia Rally 037, conquering the snowy tarmac with precision.

Stig Blomqvist thrilled the home crowd with a dominant performance in the Audi Quattro, mastering the snow and ice of the Swedish forests.

Walter Röhrl steered the Lancia Rally 037 to victory in Portugal, showcasing Group B precision across varied terrain and unpredictable weather.

Ari Vatanen conquered the punishing Kenyan terrain in his Opel Ascona 400, securing a heroic victory in one of rallying’s most demanding events.

Jean-Claude Andruet and co-driver 'Biche' delivered a legendary win for Ferrari on the unforgiving tarmac of Corsica, showcasing the precision of the 308 GTB.

Hannu Mikkola tamed Greece’s rock-strewn terrain with the durable Audi Quattro, securing a vital win in the unforgiving heat and dust of the Acropolis.

Hannu Mikkola’s mastery of smooth gravel and high-speed sweeping stages delivered yet another win for Audi in the lush landscapes of New Zealand.

Returning to the WRC calendar in place of Brazil, Rally Argentina delivered tough gravel stages and high-altitude challenges that played to Hannu Mikkola’s strengths in the Audi Quattro.

Hannu Mikkola thrilled his home fans with another dominant gravel drive, winning the legendary Finnish rally with unmatched pace and local mastery.

Markku Alén delivered a dramatic win for Lancia on Italian soil, taming Sanremo’s mixed-surface stages with commanding speed in the Rally 037.

Shekhar Mehta and Lofty Drews braved West Africa’s intense heat and treacherous terrain to claim victory in one of rallying’s toughest endurance events.

Stig Blomqvist capped off the 1983 WRC season with a commanding drive through Britain’s forests, securing victory for Audi in classic RAC fashion.

Jacky Ickx and Claude Brasseur piloted their Mercedes 280 GE to victory across thousands of kilometers of Saharan hardship, conquering the legendary rally raid with precision and grit.

Walter Röhrl mastered the wintry mountain roads once again, guiding the Audi Quattro to victory in one of the most challenging Monte Carlo editions of the Group B era.

Stig Blomqvist delighted home fans with a dominant drive in the Audi Quattro, mastering Sweden’s icy forests with flawless car control and local knowledge.

Markku Alén powered the Lancia Rally 037 to a spectacular win on Portugal’s treacherous gravel and tarmac stages, delivering a vital victory for Lancia against AWD rivals.

Björn Waldegård overcame brutal East African terrain in the rugged Toyota Celica TCT, capturing a well-earned win in the WRC’s longest and harshest rally.

Markku Alén conquered the relentless Corsican tarmac for Lancia, delivering another standout victory in the nimble and precise Rally 037.

Stig Blomqvist powered through the brutal Greek mountains to secure victory in the Audi Quattro, combining toughness, traction, and tactical speed in one of the WRC’s harshest events.

Stig Blomqvist delivered another commanding drive in the Audi Quattro, mastering New Zealand’s flowing gravel roads with trademark speed and precision.

Ari Vatanen and the revolutionary Peugeot 205 T16 claimed their first WRC victory together, outpacing rivals across Argentina’s tough gravel stages with raw speed and innovation.

Ari Vatanen thrilled the home crowd with a blistering drive through Finland’s iconic gravel stages, securing a second consecutive win in the Peugeot 205 T16.

Ari Vatanen secured a hat-trick of wins in the Peugeot 205 T16, mastering Sanremo’s tricky mix of gravel and asphalt with pace, adaptability, and precision.

Björn Waldegård and Hans Thorszelius brought Toyota another African victory, mastering the grueling West African terrain in a test of endurance, precision, and survival.

Stig Blomqvist sealed his World Championship with a clinical win in the foggy, rain-soaked forests of Britain—conquering over 800 km of muddy chaos in the Audi Quattro.

René Metge and Dominique Lemoyne claimed Porsche’s first Dakar victory in the all-wheel-drive 911, conquering a trans-African gauntlet of dunes, rocks, and jungle.

Ari Vatanen opened the 1985 season with a spectacular win, blending speed and ice-cold precision through snow-covered mountain stages in the dominant Peugeot 205 T16.

Timo Salonen proved unstoppable on Sweden’s snow and ice, guiding the agile Peugeot 205 T16 to a commanding victory through the frozen forests of Värmland.

Walter Röhrl returned to the top step in Portugal, mastering the brutal mixed-surface challenge with calm precision and delivering a decisive victory for Audi in the Quattro.

Kenjiro Shinozuka made history as the first Japanese driver to win a WRC event, surviving the grueling 5,000+ km Safari Rally in the rugged Nissan 240RS.

Jean Ragnotti danced the Renault 5 Maxi Turbo to a stunning asphalt victory, mastering the endless corners of Corsica and fending off Group B's AWD giants with pure tarmac brilliance.

Ari Vatanen tamed Greece’s brutal gravel stages with fearless pace and the raw power of the Peugeot 205 T16, overcoming the punishing terrain for a commanding win.

Timo Salonen dominated the flowing gravel stages of New Zealand, showcasing the full potential of the Peugeot 205 T16 in perfect conditions for Group B machinery.

Timo Salonen continued his winning streak with a dominant performance in Argentina, conquering the long, punishing gravel stages to strengthen his grip on the championship.

Timo Salonen thrilled the home crowd with a flawless display of speed and control, claiming his sixth win of the season on Finland’s ultra-fast gravel stages.

Walter Röhrl delivered a vintage performance on mixed-surface stages, taming the Audi Quattro S1 through asphalt and gravel to win one of Group B’s most technical and grueling rallies.

Björn Waldegård conquered Africa once again, using experience and mechanical sympathy to survive the relentless Côte d’Ivoire terrain in his Toyota Celica TCT.

Henri Toivonen stunned the rally world with a dominant debut win for the Lancia Delta S4, mastering the British forests in unpredictable weather to close the season in spectacular fashion.

Patrick Zaniroli led Mitsubishi to its first Dakar victory, mastering the 14,000 km route through harsh African deserts with skill, strategy, and mechanical resilience.

Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz made history by winning the inaugural Hong Kong–Beijing Rally, navigating a politically symbolic and geographically challenging route in their Audi Quattro A2.

Henri Toivonen delivered a sensational victory at Monte Carlo in the Lancia Delta S4, overcoming illness and treacherous conditions to mark the beginning of a fateful Group B season.

Juha Kankkunen mastered the snowy forests of Sweden to claim his first WRC victory, guiding the Peugeot 205 T16 through ice-lined roads with confidence and rising star composure.

The 1986 Rallye de Portugal was tragically cut short after a crash involving a Group B Ford RS200 resulted in spectator fatalities, leading teams to withdraw and no winner being declared.

Björn Waldegård delivered another masterclass in endurance, guiding the Toyota Celica TCT through Kenya’s brutal terrain to claim a record-breaking fourth Safari Rally win.

The 1986 Tour de Corse ended in heartbreak with the fatal crash of Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto while leading. No winner was declared, and the event marked a turning point that led to the end of Group B.

Juha Kankkunen survived Greece’s brutal gravel stages to earn another victory in the Peugeot 205 T16, reinforcing his title bid with consistency and endurance.

Juha Kankkunen continued his dominant 1986 campaign with a composed and commanding drive through New Zealand’s flowing gravel roads in the Peugeot 205 T16.

Massimo 'Miki' Biasion claimed his first World Rally Championship victory on the rough roads of Argentina, mastering the Lancia Delta S4 over long, punishing gravel stages.

Markku Alén thrilled the home crowd with a classic Finnish drive, taking victory through the fast, flowing gravel of the 1000 Lakes in his Peugeot 205 T16.

Miki Biasion initially claimed victory at the 1986 Sanremo Rally, but controversy over Peugeot’s disqualification led to the results being annulled by the FIA—turning triumph into turmoil.

Björn Waldegård once again proved his mastery of African endurance rallies, winning the Côte d’Ivoire event in punishing conditions and securing vital points in a drivers-only round.

Timo Salonen closed the Group B era with a measured and decisive win on the muddy stages of Britain, mastering the fog, forests, and fatigue in his final rally with the Peugeot 205 T16.

René Metge and Dominique Lemoyne delivered Porsche its historic Dakar win in the advanced 959, conquering 15,000 km of brutal terrain and cementing their place in rally-raid legend.

Stig Blomqvist piloted the Audi Quattro A2 to victory in the second running of the Hong Kong–Beijing Rally, navigating China's evolving roadways in a showcase of endurance, diplomacy, and precision.

Miki Biasion opened the Group A era with a commanding win in the Lancia Delta HF 4WD, mastering Monte Carlo’s icy asphalt to mark a new chapter in rally history.

Hannu Mikkola showed that experience and quattro traction still mattered by winning the snow-covered Swedish Rally in the heavier but powerful Audi 200 Quattro.

Miki Biasion showcased the Lancia Delta HF 4WD’s superiority across Portugal’s gravel and tarmac roads, taking a confident win and further establishing Lancia’s Group A dominance.

Hannu Mikkola added another Safari win to his résumé, expertly handling the punishing African terrain in the Audi 200 Quattro to outlast the competition in one of the WRC’s most grueling events.

Bruno Saby tamed the narrow, twisting tarmac of Corsica to win the Tour de Corse in the Lancia Delta HF 4WD, showing finesse and control in one of rallying’s most demanding asphalt events.

Juha Kankkunen mastered the brutal heat and rocky terrain of Greece to take victory in the Lancia Delta HF 4WD, reinforcing his title bid and the Delta’s toughness in extreme conditions.

Franz Wittmann delivered a surprise victory in the Audi 200 Quattro, mastering New Zealand’s flowing gravel roads and scoring a rare win for Audi in the evolving Group A era.

Markku Alén thrilled the home crowd with a high-speed masterclass in the Lancia Delta HF 4WD, conquering Finland’s legendary jumps and blind crests for a dominant home win.

Didier Auriol took a breakthrough victory in the Ford Sierra XR4x4 at Sanremo, but the event was later removed from the championship standings due to irregularities in scrutineering procedures.

Yves Loubet claimed a major career win in the grueling Ivorian rally, surviving punishing African terrain in his Lancia Delta HF 4WD during this drivers-only WRC round.

Juha Kankkunen clinched the 1987 World Rally Championship by mastering Britain’s foggy forests in his Lancia Delta HF 4WD, securing both the rally win and the drivers' title.

Ari Vatanen and Bernard Giroux triumphed in the grueling 1987 Paris–Dakar, driving the heavily modified Peugeot 205 T16 Grand Raid across nearly 13,000 km of desert and savannah in a stunning return to rally-raid for both driver and manufacturer.

Bruno Saby opened the 1988 WRC season with a calculated and confident win in Monte Carlo, conquering snow-dusted tarmac in his Lancia Delta HF 4WD and leading a strong start for Lancia’s title defense.

Markku Alén dominated Sweden’s snow-covered forests in the Lancia Delta HF 4WD, delivering an aggressive and confident performance that showcased the car’s icy-road mastery.

Miki Biasion powered through Portugal’s iconic gravel and tarmac stages to take a commanding win, further cementing Lancia’s dominance and his position atop the championship standings.

Miki Biasion endured Kenya’s brutal landscapes to claim his first Safari Rally victory, combining speed and survival in a punishing test of man and machine.

Didier Auriol earned his first WRC victory in commanding fashion on the torturous asphalt of Corsica, mastering the island’s relentless corners in the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth.

Miki Biasion delivered another crushing win in the punishing Greek terrain, guiding his Lancia Delta HF 4WD through the rocks and dust to tighten his grip on the 1988 championship.

Miki Biasion dominated New Zealand’s flowing gravel roads, using the Lancia Delta HF 4WD’s precision and power to outpace the competition and extend his championship lead.

Local hero Jorge Recalde made history by becoming the first (and only) Argentine driver to win his home rally, mastering the punishing terrain in a factory-supported Lancia Delta HF 4WD.

Markku Alén thrilled the Finnish crowds with another masterclass on home gravel, soaring to victory over the crests and through the forests in his Lancia Delta HF 4WD.

Alex Fiorio stunned the WRC field with his first and only career victory, handling Sanremo’s tricky asphalt with calm precision in the Lancia Delta HF 4WD and securing a proud home win for Italy.

Patrick Tauziac conquered the brutal Ivorian rally to earn his first WRC win, mastering Africa’s punishing heat and rough terrain in a Mitsubishi Pajero during this drivers-only endurance marathon.

Miki Biasion sealed his championship-winning season with a dominant victory in the British forests, conquering the fog, mud, and pressure in his Lancia Delta HF 4WD.

Juha Kankkunen overcame nearly 13,000 km of treacherous African terrain to win the 1988 Paris–Dakar Rally, adding endurance rally glory to his already decorated WRC career in a factory Peugeot 205 T16 Grand Raid.

Miki Biasion opened the 1989 season with a commanding win in Monte Carlo, taming the unpredictable tarmac and snow in the new Lancia Delta Integrale to cement his championship defense.

Ingvar Carlsson thrilled the home crowds with a dominant drive through the frozen forests, giving Mazda its first WRC victory and proving the 323 4WD’s capability on snow and ice.

Miki Biasion mastered Portugal’s demanding gravel and tarmac mix to claim victory, showing calm authority as he guided the Lancia Delta Integrale to its second win of the season.

Björn Waldegård added another legendary African win to his resume, steering the Toyota Celica GT-Four to victory across Kenya’s vast, unforgiving landscapes.

Didier Auriol repeated his Corsican brilliance with another commanding win on home asphalt, proving unstoppable on the island’s endless corners in the Lancia Delta Integrale.

Miki Biasion powered through the punishing Greek gravel to secure another key win in his championship campaign, outlasting both rivals and terrain in the Lancia Delta Integrale.

Alex Fiorio delivered a career-defining performance in New Zealand’s fast-flowing forests, capturing victory in the Lancia Delta Integrale and proving his strength on gravel.

In its inaugural WRC appearance, Rally Australia delivered fast, technical gravel action through Western Australia’s forests—Juha Kankkunen claimed victory for Toyota with a commanding drive in the Celica GT-Four.

Juha Kankkunen soared to a dominant home victory over the jumps and crests of Finland’s fastest gravel stages, delivering another win for Toyota in the Celica GT-Four.

Didier Auriol delivered another tarmac masterclass at Sanremo, dominating Italy’s coastal and mountain stages in the Lancia Delta Integrale to secure his third win of the season.

Alain Ambrosino survived the punishing African terrain to take his only WRC victory in the Nissan 200SX, mastering the heat and isolation of the drivers-only endurance rally.

Pentti Airikkala claimed a long-awaited WRC victory in his home-away-from-home forests, guiding the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 to an emotional win through the slippery British stages.

Ari Vatanen claimed back-to-back Dakar victories with a commanding performance across the Sahara in the Peugeot 405 Turbo 16, mastering over 11,000 km of punishing terrain and fierce competition.