1979 World Rally Championship
1979 World Rally Championship
Main page
1

1979 World Rally Championship

logo
Community Hub0 subscribers
Read side by side
1979 World Rally Championship
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

The 1979 World Rally Championship was the seventh season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC). The season consisted of 12 rallies, one more than the previous year.

1979 marked the first season for the new World Rally Championship for Drivers. This successor to the preceding FIA Cup for Rally Drivers was aligned with the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers. Both championships used the same schedule of events for accumulating points toward the titles, although the point awarding methods were different for each. Manufacturers continued to receive points under the system adopted in 1977, in which points were garnered for both placement overall and placement within the car's group. Only the top finishing car from each manufacturer would garner points, and regardless of group finish, an overall finish of 10th or better was required to obtain points. Drivers were awarded points on the former system, simply based on overall finish, from 20 points for 1st place to 1 point for 10th place.

After several years of competitive but ultimately unsuccessful attempts to seize the championship, Ford finally gathered its first WRC manufacturer's title. A strong season which included five rally wins gave it the edge over new challenger Datsun, whose 160J (Violet) proved successful, and former champion Fiat. Ford's fortune would be short-lived however, and despite determined and competitive participation in WRC events, 1979 would be the company's sole WRC title until their return to victory in 2006.

The competition for the first WRC driver's title was extremely close, and ultimately was decided by the two contenders placing first and second in the final rally of the season. The final difference between the winner, Swede Björn Waldegård, and the runner-up, Finn Hannu Mikkola, was only a single point.

Calendar

[edit]
Rd. Start date Finish date Rally Rally headquarters Surface Stages Distance
1 20 January 26 January Monaco 47th Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo Monte Carlo Mixed 30 619 km
2 16 February 18 February Sweden 29th International Swedish Rally Karlstad, Värmland County Snow 38 630 km
3 6 March 11 March Portugal 13th Rallye de Portugal - Vinho do Porto Estoril, Lisbon Mixed 45 737.5 km
4 12 April 16 April Kenya 27th Safari Rally Nairobi Gravel N/A 5027 km
5 28 May 31 May Greece 26th Acropolis Rally Athens Gravel 58 1006.5 km
6 14 July 18 July New Zealand 10th Motogard Rally of New Zealand Auckland Gravel 42 658 km
7 24 August 28 August Finland 29th Jyväskylän Suurajot - Rally of the 1000 Lakes Jyväskylä, Central Finland Gravel 47 423.5 km
8 13 September 16 September Canada 7th Critérium Molson du Québec Montreal Mixed 32 503.7 km
9 1 October 7 October Italy 21st Rallye Sanremo Sanremo, Liguria Mixed 74 962 km
10 2 November 4 November France 23rd Tour de Corse - Rallye de France Ajaccio, Corsica Tarmac 22 1128.9 km
11 18 November 21 November United Kingdom 35th Lombard RAC Rally Chester Gravel 59 661.48 km
12 9 December 14 December Ivory Coast 11th Rallye Bandama Côte d'Ivoire Abidjan Gravel N/A 5622 km
Sources:[1][2]

This was the only season that all rounds counted towards the Manufacturers championship until 1993.

Events

[edit]
1979 World Rally Championship event map
Black = Tarmac Brown = Gravel Blue = Snow/Ice Red = Mixed Surface
1979 World Rally Championship schedule and results
Round Rally name Stages Podium finishers
Rank Driver Co-driver Team Car Time
1 Monaco
Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo
(20 January–26 January) 		30 stages
619 km
Tarmac 		1 France Bernard Darniche France Alain Mahé France Team Chardonnet Lancia Stratos HF 8:13.38
2 Sweden Björn Waldegård Sweden Hans Thorszelius United States Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 8:13.44
3 Finland Markku Alén Finland Ilkka Kivimäki Italy Alitalia Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth 8:17.47
2 Sweden
Swedish Rally
(16 February–18 February) 		38 stages
630 km
Snow/Ice 		1 Sweden Stig Blomqvist Sweden Björn Cederberg Saab 99 Turbo 6:34.49
2 Sweden Björn Waldegård Sweden Hans Thorszelius United States Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 6:36.09
3 Finland Pentti Airikkala Finland Risto Virtanen Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS 6:39.31
3 Portugal
Rallye de Portugal
(6 March–11 March) 		45 stages
735 km
Tarmac/Gravel 		1 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz United States Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 9:13.52
2 Sweden Björn Waldegård Sweden Hans Thorszelius United States Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 9:16.36
3 Sweden Ove Andersson United Kingdom Henry Liddon West Germany Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica 2000GT 9:35.00
4 Kenya
Safari Rally
(April 12–16) 		82 controls
5028 km
Gravel 		1 Kenya Shekhar Mehta Kenya Mike Doughty Kenya DT Dobie Team Datsun Datsun 160J +6:27 pen
2 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz Kenya DT Dobie Daimler-Benz Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0 +7:15 pen
3 Finland Markku Alén Finland Ilkka Kivimäki Italy Alitalia Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth +7:20 pen
5 Greece
Acropolis Rally
(May 28–31) 		54 stages
1008 km
Gravel/Tarmac 		1 Sweden Björn Waldegård Sweden Hans Thorszelius United Kingdom Rothmans Rally Team Ford Escort RS1800 13:35.06
2 Finland Timo Salonen Finland Seppo Harjanne Greece N. I. Theocharakis Datsun 160J 14:07.04
3 Sweden Harry Källström Sweden Claes Billstam Greece N. I. Theocharakis Datsun 160J 14:11.39
6 New Zealand
Rally New Zealand
(14 July–18 July) 		42 stages
672 km
Tarmac/Gravel 		1 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz New Zealand Masport Ford Escort RS1800 8:05.45,8
2 New Zealand Blair Robson New Zealand Chris Porter New Zealand Masport Ford Escort RS1800 8:27.03,0
3 Finland Ari Vatanen United Kingdom David Richards United States Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 8:29.40,8
7 Finland
1000 Lakes Rally
(24 August–28 August) 		45 stages
424 km
Gravel 		1 Finland Markku Alén Finland Ilkka Kivimäki Italy Alitalia Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth 4:01.11
2 Finland Ari Vatanen United Kingdom David Richards United Kingdom Rothmans Rally Team Ford Escort RS1800 4:02.42
3 Sweden Björn Waldegård Sweden Hans Thorszelius United States Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 4:07.15
8 Canada
Critérium du Québec
(13 September–16 September) 		25 stages
384 km
Tarmac/Gravel 		1 Sweden Björn Waldegård Sweden Hans Thorszelius United States Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 3:35.32
2 Finland Timo Salonen Finland Seppo Harjanne Japan Team Datsun Europe Datsun 160J 3:36.10
3 Finland Ari Vatanen United Kingdom David Richards United Kingdom Rothmans Rally Team Ford Escort RS1800 3:41.50
9 Italy
Rallye Sanremo
(1 October–7 October) 		66 stages
1078 km
Tarmac/Gravel 		1 Italy Antonio 'Tony' Fassina Italy Mauro Mannini Italy Jolly Club Lancia Stratos HF 12:37.17
2 West Germany Walter Röhrl West Germany Christian Geistdörfer Italy Alitalia Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth 12:41.31
3 Italy Attilio Bettega Italy Maurizio Perissinot Fiat 131 Abarth 12:55.59
10 France
Tour de Corse
(2 November–4 November) 		22 stages
1129 km
Tarmac 		1 France Bernard Darniche France Alain Mahé France Team Chardonnet Lancia Stratos HF 14:36.46
2 France Jean Ragnotti France Jean-Marc Andrié Renault 5 Alpine 15:12.52
3 France Pierre-Louis Moreau France Patrice Baron Porsche 911 SC 15:23.06
11 United Kingdom
RAC Rally
(19 November–23 November) 		56 stages
687 km
Gravel/Tarmac 		1 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz United States Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 8:03.38
2 United Kingdom Russell Brookes United Kingdom Paul White United Kingdom Andrews Heat For Hire Ford Escort RS1800 8:14.07
3 Finland Timo Salonen South Africa Stuart Pegg Japan Team Datsun Europe Datsun 160J 8:16.22
12 Ivory Coast
Rallye Côte d'Ivoire
(9 December–14 December) 		50 controls
5668 km
Gravel 		1 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0 +3:23 pen
2 Sweden Björn Waldegård Sweden Hans Thorszelius Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0 +3:58 pen
3 United Kingdom Andrew Cowan West Germany Klaus Kaiser Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0 +4:10 pen

Championship for manufacturers

[edit]
1979 World Rally Championship for Manufacturers
Rank Manufacturer Event Total
points
Monaco
MON 		Sweden
SWE 		Portugal
POR 		Kenya
KEN 		Greece
GRC 		New Zealand
NZL 		Finland
FIN 		Canada
CAN 		Italy
ITA 		France
FRA 		United Kingdom
GBR 		Ivory Coast
CIV
1 United Kingdom Ford 16 16 18 - 18 18 (16) 18 (12) - 18 - 122
2 Japan Datsun - (8) 14 18 17 (6) 14 17 - - 16 12 108
3 Italy Fiat 14 12 - 15 - - 18 - 16 12 5 - 92
4 Italy Lancia 18 - - - - - - - 18 18 11 - 65
5 Japan Toyota - - 16 - - - 10 12 - 10 - 10 58
6 Germany Opel - 13 9 - - - - - 14 13 - - 49
7 France Renault 11 - - - 13 - - - - 17 - - 41
8 Germany Mercedes - - - 17 - - - - - - - 18 35
9 Germany Porsche 8 - - - - - - - 9 15 - - 32
10 United Kingdom Vauxhall - 14 - - - 10 - - - - 7 - 31
11 France Peugeot - - - - - - - 8 - 6 - 8 22
12 Sweden Saab - 18 - - - - - - - - - - 18
13 Japan Mitsubishi - - - - - - - 13 - - - - 13
14 United Kingdom Talbot - - - - - - - - 12 - - - 12
15 Germany Audi - - 11 - - - - - - - - - 11
16 Japan Mazda - - - - - 10 - - - - - - 10
17 United Kingdom Triumph - - - - - - 7 - - - - - 7
18 Sweden Volvo - 6 - - - - - - - - - - 6
Czechoslovakia Škoda - - - - 6 - - - - - - - 6
20 Soviet Union Lada - - - - 4 - - - - - - - 4
1979 World Rally Championship point awards for manufacturers
Overall
finish 		Group finish
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 18 - - - - - - - - -
2 17 16 - - - - - - - -
3 16 15 14 - - - - - - -
4 15 14 13 12 - - - - - -
5 14 13 12 11 10 - - - - -
6 13 12 11 10 9 8 - - - -
7 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 - - -
8 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 - -
9 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 -
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1

Championship for drivers

[edit]
1979 World Rally Championship for Drivers
Rank Driver Event Total
points
Monaco
MON 		Sweden
SWE 		Portugal
POR 		Kenya
KEN 		Greece
GRC 		New Zealand
NZL 		Finland
FIN 		Canada
CAN 		Italy
ITA 		France
FRA 		United Kingdom
GBR 		Ivory Coast
CIV
1 Sweden Björn Waldegård 15 15 15 (6) 20 - 12 20 - - (2) 15 112
2 Finland Hannu Mikkola 8 8 20 15 - 20 - - - - 20 20 111
3 Finland Markku Alén 12 10 - 12 - - 20 - 6 - 8 - 68
4 Finland Timo Salonen - - - - 15 - 8 15 - - 12 - 50
Finland Ari Vatanen 1 - - - - 12 15 12 - - 10 - 50
6 France Bernard Darniche 20 - - - - - - - - 20 - - 40
7 France Jean Ragnotti - - - - 10 - - - - 15 - - 25
8 United Kingdom Andrew Cowan - - - 10 - - - - - - - 12 22
9 West Germany Walter Röhrl - - - 3 - - - - 15 - 3 - 21
10 Sweden Stig Blomqvist - 20 - - - - - - - - - - 20
Kenya Shekhar Mehta - - - 20 - - - - - - - - 20
Italy Antonio 'Tony' Fassina - - - - - - - - 20 - - - 20
13 Sweden Ove Andersson - - 12 - - - - - - - - 8 20
14 United Kingdom Andy Dawson - - 10 - - - - 10 - - - - 20
15 Finland Pentti Airikkala - 12 - - - - - - - - 4 - 16
16 New Zealand Blair Robson - - - - - 15 - - - - - - 15
United Kingdom Russell Brookes - - - - - - - - - - 15 - 15
18 Sweden Harry Källström - - - 2 12 - - - - - - - 14
19 Italy Attilio Bettega - - - - - - - - 12 - - - 12
France Pierre-Louis Moreau - - - - - - - - - 12 - - 12
21 France Michèle Mouton 4 - - - - - - - - 8 - - 12
22 France Jean-Claude Andruet 10 - - - - - - - - - - - 10
New Zealand Paul Adams - - - - - 10 - - - - - - 10
Finland Ulf Grönholm - - - - - - 10 - - - - - 10
United Kingdom Tony Pond - - - - - - - - 10 - - - 10
France Alain Coppier - - - - - - - - - 10 - - 10
Kenya Vic Preston, Jr. - - - - - - - - - - - 10 10
28 Portugal Carlos Torres - - 8 - - - - - - - - - 10
Finland Rauno Aaltonen - - - 8 - - - - - - - - 8
Greece Anastasios 'Iaveris' Markouizos - - - - 8 - - - - - - - 8
New Zealand Shane Murland - - - - - 8 - - - - - - 8
Canada Taisto Heinonen - - - - - - - 8 - - - - 8
Italy Dario Cerrato - - - - - - - - 8 - - - 8
34 France Jean-Pierre Nicolas 6 - - - - - - - - - - - 6
Sweden Björn Johansson - 6 - - - - - - - - - - 6
West Germany Harald Demuth - - 6 - - - - - - - - - 6
Greece Iórgos Moschous - - - - 6 - - - - - - - 6
New Zealand David Parkes - - - - - 6 - - - - - - 6
Finland Lasse Lampi - - - - - - 6 - - - - - 6
United States Hendrik Blok - - - - - - - 6 - - - - 6
France Bernard Picone - - - - - - - - - 6 - - 6
United Kingdom John Taylor - - - - - - - - - - 6 - 6
France Alain Ambrosino - - - - - - - - - - - 6 6
44 Sweden Ola Strömberg - 4 - - - - - - - - - - 4
Sweden Freddy Kottulinsky - - 4 - - - - - - - - - 4
Kenya Mike Kirkland - - - 4 - - - - - - - - 4
Greece Evangelos Gallo - - - - 4 - - - - - - - 4
New Zealand Brian Green - - - - - 4 - - - - - - 4
Finland Tapio Rainio - - - - - - 4 - - - - - 4
Canada Jack Swayze - - - - - - - 4 - - - - 4
Italy Angelo Presotto - - - - - - - - 4 - - - 4
France Paul Rouby - - - - - - - - - 4 - - 4
France Michel Mitri - - - - - - - - - - - 4 4
54 France Guy Fréquelin 3 - - - - - - - - - - - 3
Sweden Lars Carlsson - 3 - - - - - - - - - - 3
Portugal Joaquim Santos - - 3 - - - - - - - - - 3
Czech Republic Václav Blahna - - - - 3 - - - - - - - 3
New Zealand Roger Goss - - - - - 3 - - - - - - 3
Sweden Per Eklund - - - - - - 3 - - - - - 3
France Claude Laurent - - - - - - - 3 - - - - 3
Italy Antonio Tognana - - - - - - - - 3 - - - 3
France Jean-Pierre Mari - - - - - - - - - 3 - - 3
France Jean-Pierre Paure - - - - - - - - - - - 3 3
64 France Jacques Alméras 2 - - - - - - - - - - - 2
Norway John Haugland - 2 - - - - - - - - - - 2
Portugal Jorge Ortigão - - 2 - - - - - - - - - 2
Soviet Union Nikolay Elizarov - - - - 2 - - - - - - - 2
New Zealand Malcolm Stewart - - - - - 2 - - - - - - 2
Finland Erkki Pitkänen - - - - - - 2 - - - - - 2
Canada Nicole Quimet - - - - - - - 2 - - - - 2
Italy Domenico 'Nico' Grosoli - - - - - - - - 2 - - - 2
France Jean Bondrille - - - - - - - - - 2 - - 2
73 Sweden Sven-Inge Neby - 1 - - - - - - - - - - 1
Portugal Marques Baptista - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1
Italy Sandro Munari - - - 1 - - - - - - - - 1
Soviet Union Sergey Vukovich - - - - 1 - - - - - - - 1
New Zealand Bob Robb - - - - - 1 - - - - - - 1
Finland Pekka Vilpponen - - - - - - 1 - - - - - 1
Canada Paul Bourgeois - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 1
Italy Paolo Pasutti - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 1
France Jean-Charles Martinetti - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 1
Australia Greg Carr - - - - - - - - - - 1 - 1
1979 World Rally Championship point awards for drivers
Points awarded by finish 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
20 15 12 10 8 6 4 3 2 1
1979 driver points awarded by nationality
Rank Country Top ranked driver Event Total
points
Monaco
MON 		Sweden
SWE 		Portugal
POR 		Kenya
KEN 		Greece
GRC 		New Zealand
NZL 		Finland
FIN 		Canada
CAN 		Italy
ITA 		France
FRA 		United Kingdom
GBR 		Ivory Coast
CIV
1  Finland Hannu Mikkola 21 30 20 35 15 32 66 27 6 - 54 20 326
2  Sweden Björn Waldegård 15 49 31 2 32 - 12 23 - - - 23 187
3  France Bernard Darniche 45 - - - 10 - - 3 - 81 - 13 152
4  United Kingdom Andrew Cowan - - 10 10 - - - 10 10 - 21 12 73
5  Italy Tony - - - 1 - - - - 48 - - - 48
6  New Zealand Blair Robson - - - - - 43 - - - - - - 43
7  Kenya Shekhar Mehta - - - 24 - - - - - - - 10 34
8  West Germany Walter Röhrl - - 6 3 - - - - 15 - 3 - 27
9  Greece Iaveris - - - - 18 - - - - - - - 18
10  Canada Taisto Heinonen - - - - - - - 15 - - - - 15
11  Portugal Carlos Torres - - 14 - - - - - - - - - 14
12  United States Hendrik Blok - - - - - - - 6 - - - - 6
13  Czechoslovakia Václav Blahna - - - - 3 - - - - - - - 3
14  Soviet Union Nikolay Elizarov - - - - 3 - - - - - - - 3
15  Norway John Haugland - 2 - - - - - - - - - - 2
16  Australia Greg Carr - - - - - - - - - - 1 - 1

Teams

[edit]
1979 team performance
Team Drivers Cars Performance Results Points
Entries Finishes Wins Maker Driver
United Kingdom Ford Motor Company Sweden Björn Waldegård
Finland Hannu Mikkola 		Ford Escort RS1800 11 11 3 86 147
Italy Alitalia Fiat Sweden Finland Markku Alén
Germany Walter Röhrl
Italy Sandro Munari 		Fiat 131 Abarth 9 8 1 80 82
Japan Team Datsun Europe Finland Timo Salonen
United Kingdom Andy Dawson
Sweden Harry Källström
Norway John Haugland
Finland Erkki Pitkänen 		Datsun 160J 10 6 - 61 59
France Team Chardonnet France Bernard Darniche Lancia Stratos HF 4 2 2 36 40
United Kingdom Rothmans Rally Team Sweden Björn Waldegård
Finland Ari Vatanen 		Ford Escort RS1800
Ford Fiesta 		9 5 1 34 66
Germany Toyota Team Europe Sweden Ove Andersson Toyota Celica 2000GT 9 2 - 26 20
New Zealand Masport Finland Hannu Mikkola
New Zealand Blair Robson 		Ford Escort RS1800 3 2 1 18 35
Kenya DT Dobie Team Datsun Kenya Shekhar Mehta
Sweden Harry Källström
Finland Rauno Aaltonen
Kenya Mike Kirkland 		Datsun 160J 4 4 1 18 34
Italy Jolly Club Italy Tony Lancia Stratos HF 1 1 1 18 20
Greece N. I. Theocharakis Finland Timo Salonen
Sweden Harry Källström
Greece Iórgos Moschous
Greece Evangelos Gallo 		Datsun 160J 4 4 - 17 37
Kenya DT Dobie Daimler-Benz Finland Hannu Mikkola
United Kingdom Andrew Cowan
Sweden Björn Waldegård 		Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0
Mercedes 280 E 		5 3 - 17 31
Italy Conrero Italy Dario Cerrato Opel Ascona B 1 1 - 14 8
France Renault Elf Calberson France Jean Ragnotti Renault 5 Alpine 1 1 - 13 10
France Fiat France France Michèle Mouton
France Jean-Claude Andruet 		Fiat 131 Abarth 2 2 - 12 14
Germany Audi Motorsport Germany Harald Demuth
Sweden Freddy Kottulinsky
Austria Franz Wittmann 		Audi 80 GLE 10 7 - 11 10
United Kingdom Lancia GB Finland Markku Alén Lancia Stratos HF 1 1 - 11 8
Portugal Team Lopes Correia Portugal Joaquim Santos
Portugal Joaquim Moutinho 		Opel Kadett GT/E 2 1 - 9 3
United Kingdom Dealer Team Vauxhall Finland Pentti Airikkala Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS 1 1 - 7 4
Poland Biamar Czechoslovakia Václav Blahna Škoda 130RS 2 1 - 6 3
Soviet Union Autoexport Moskva Soviet Union Nikolay Elizarov
Soviet Union Sergey Vukovich 		Lada 21011 3 2 - 4 3
Australia Nylex New Zealand Paul Adams Ford Escort RS1800 2 1 - - 10
Australia Ford Australia Australia Greg Carr Ford Escort RS1800 1 1 - - 1
United Kingdom British Leyland Cars Sweden Per Eklund
United Kingdom Graham Elsmore
Finland Simo Lampinen 		Triumph TR 7 V8 4 3 - - -
Kenya Marshalls France Jean-Claude Lefèbvre Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé 4 1 - - -
Poland FSO Poland Andrzej Jaroszewicz FSO Polonez 2000 2 1 - - -
Portugal Aleuropa Portugal Vítor Oliveira Opel 1204 SL 1 1 - - -
Kenya Fiat Kenya Kenya Robin Ulyate Fiat 131 Abarth 1 1 - - -
Greece Kassidopoulos Greece Manolis Halivelakis Toyota Corolla 1 1 - - -
United Kingdom Toyota Team Great Britain Finland Tapio Rainio Toyota Celica 2000GT 1 1 - - -
Netherlands Opel Dealer Team Holland Sweden Anders Kulläng Opel Kadett GT/E 5 - - - -
New Zealand GM Dealer Team New Zealand Finland Pentti Airikkala Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS 1 - - - -
Portugal GM Portugal Portugal Mêquêpê Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS 1 - - - -
France Opel France France Jean-Louis Clarr Opel Kadett GT/E 1 - - - -
Sweden Saab Scania Sweden Stig Blomqvist
Sweden Ola Strömberg 		Saab 99 Turbo 2 - - - -
France Talbot France France Jean-Pierre Nicolas Talbot Sunbeam Lotus 1 - - - -

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

1979 World Rally Championship

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 1979 World Rally Championship marked the inaugural season of the FIA-sanctioned series for drivers, comprising 12 international rallies contested on diverse surfaces including tarmac, gravel, snow, and dirt, spanning continents from Europe to Africa, North America, and Oceania.[1] This championship built upon the existing International Championship for Manufacturers by introducing a dedicated drivers' title, with points awarded to the top ten finishers in each event under a system granting 20 points for first place down to 1 point for tenth.[1] Swedish driver Björn Waldegård clinched the first drivers' crown, accumulating 112 points to edge out teammate Hannu Mikkola by a single point in a dramatic finale at the Rallye Bandama Côte d'Ivoire, driving a Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.0 to second place behind Mikkola's victory.[2][3] Ford also dominated the manufacturers' standings, securing the title with 122 points thanks to five rally victories and consistent podiums from its Escort RS1800 models, outpacing Datsun's 108 points achieved primarily through strong performances in the Safari Rally and other events.[1] The season featured intense competition among factory teams from Ford, Fiat, Lancia, and emerging Japanese entrants like Datsun and Toyota, highlighting the Escort RS1800's versatility across rally types while Lancia's Stratos HF excelled on tarmac rounds such as the Monte Carlo and Tour de Corse.[2] Notable individual wins included Bernard Darniche's triumphs at Monte Carlo and Corsica for Lancia, Stig Blomqvist's home victory in Sweden with the innovative Saab 99 Turbo, and Shekhar Mehta's repeat success at the grueling Safari Rally for Datsun.[1] The championship's close conclusion underscored its excitement, as Waldegård's consistent results— including wins at the Acropolis and Quebec rallies—proved decisive after Mikkola's late surge with four victories in New Zealand, RAC, Bandama, and Portugal.[2] This debut year established the WRC as a global spectacle, drawing top talent and setting the stage for the sport's evolution through the 1980s, with Ford's success signaling the end of European dominance by Fiat and Lancia in the prior manufacturers' series.[1]

Background

Season Overview

The 1979 FIA World Rally Championship marked the seventh season of the series, spanning from January to December and comprising 12 international rallies across diverse terrains worldwide.[1] This year introduced the official World Drivers' Championship—the first full title, upgrading from the FIA Cup for Drivers in 1977-1978—fully integrating it with the existing Manufacturers' Championship.[1] The season emphasized endurance and versatility, with events testing crews on snow, gravel, tarmac, and desert stages, contributing to a highly competitive landscape that showcased technological advancements in rally cars.[3] Ford secured its inaugural Manufacturers' Championship victory, dominating with the Escort RS1800, which claimed five rally wins and demonstrated superior reliability and performance throughout the year.[1] The Escort RS1800, lightened and powered by a Kugelfischer fuel-injected engine producing over 270 bhp, proved instrumental in Ford's success, edging out challengers like Datsun's 160J.[3] This triumph highlighted Ford's strategic entries, despite occasional use of alternative vehicles like the Mercedes 450 SLC for specific events such as the Safari Rally.[3] The Drivers' Championship unfolded as a tense contest, culminating in Sweden's Björn Waldegård clinching the first-ever title by a single point over Finland's Hannu Mikkola, both competing for Ford.[1] Waldegård amassed 112 points to Mikkola's 111, with the outcome decided in the season finale at the Bandama Rally.[3] Drivers' points were awarded to the top 10 finishers on a 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 scale based on overall finishes, with only the seven best results from the 12 rounds counting toward the total for both championships (discarding the five lowest scores); manufacturers scored via the best-placed car per event, summing points from overall (10-1 scale) and group (8-1 scale) classifications for top-10 finishers.[1] This structure underscored the season's intensity, where consistency across varied conditions proved decisive.[3]

Regulatory Changes

The 1979 World Rally Championship marked a significant expansion in its calendar, increasing to 12 counting events from 11 in the previous year, encompassing a variety of surfaces including snow, gravel, tarmac, and asphalt to better assess the versatility of competing vehicles.[1][4] This broader schedule included rallies across Europe, Africa, and Australia, promoting greater international participation and globalizing the series beyond its European roots.[5] For the first time, only the seven best results out of 12 events counted toward both drivers' and manufacturers' championships, discarding the five lowest scores and heightening strategic pressure on teams.[6] Drivers accumulated points based on individual overall finishes using a 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 scale for the top 10, while manufacturers derived scores from the best-placed eligible car per event—summing overall classification points (10 for 1st decreasing to 1 for 10th) and group classification points (8 for 1st decreasing to 1 for 8th), limited to top-10 overall finishers.[6] Technical regulations centered on Group 4 standards for production-based rally cars, which permitted substantial modifications to enhance performance while maintaining a link to road-going models, as exemplified by entries like the Ford Escort RS1800, Fiat 131 Abarth, and Datsun 160J.[7] These rules emphasized reliability and adaptability across diverse terrains, influencing strategies such as Ford's focus on consistent top finishes to maximize their championship potential.[6]

Calendar and Events

Event Schedule

The 1979 World Rally Championship featured a 12-round calendar spanning from late January to mid-December, providing logistical challenges that tested teams' preparation across diverse geographies and conditions.[5] Events were distributed across Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and North America, with durations ranging from three to seven days to accommodate varying formats and travel demands.
RoundEvent NameLocationDatesSurfaceSpecial Stage Distance (km)
1Rallye Monte CarloMonaco20–26 JanuaryTarmac/Snow619
2Swedish RallySweden (Karlstad)16–18 FebruarySnow630
3Rallye de PortugalPortugal (Estoril)6–11 MarchTarmac/Gravel737.5
4Safari RallyKenya (Nairobi)12–16 AprilGravelN/A (5027 total km)
5Acropolis RallyGreece (Athens)28–31 MayGravel1006.5
6Rally New ZealandNew Zealand (Auckland)14–18 JulyTarmac/Gravel658
71000 Lakes RallyFinland (Jyväskylä)24–28 AugustGravel423.5
8Critérium du QuébecCanada (Montreal)13–16 SeptemberTarmac/Gravel503.7
9Rallye SanremoItaly (Sanremo)1–7 OctoberTarmac/Gravel962
10Tour de CorseCorsica, France (Ajaccio)2–4 NovemberTarmac1,128.9
11RAC RallyUnited Kingdom (Chester)18–21 NovemberGravel661.5
12Rallye Côte d'IvoireIvory Coast (Abidjan)9–14 DecemberTarmac/GravelN/A (5622 total km)
The calendar emphasized surface diversity, with four events primarily on gravel, five mixed tarmac and gravel, one pure tarmac, one snow, and one tarmac/snow combination, reflecting the global challenges of adapting vehicles and strategies to everything from icy Nordic roads to dusty African tracks.[5] Event lengths varied widely for logistical planning, from shorter European tarmac sprints like the Tour de Corse, covering around 1,129 km of competitive distance over three days, to extended endurance rallies in Africa such as the Safari Rally at 5,027 km total and the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire at over 5,600 km, which demanded robust reliability over multiple days.[8][9]

Key Rally Results

The 1979 World Rally Championship season featured 12 diverse events across various surfaces, from tarmac and snow to punishing gravel and endurance tests in Africa, showcasing intense manufacturer rivalries between Ford, Lancia, Fiat, and others.[10] The season opened with the Rallye Automobile de Monte Carlo on snow-covered asphalt roads, where French driver Bernard Darniche and co-driver Alain Mahé secured victory in a Lancia Stratos HF, capitalizing on the car's superior handling in mixed conditions; the podium was completed by Björn Waldegård/Hans Thorszelius in a Ford Escort RS1800 and Markku Alén/Ilkka Kivimäki in a Fiat 131 Abarth, with only 154 of 233 starters finishing the 619 km route.[10] In the snow-dominated International Swedish Rally, Stig Blomqvist/Björn Cederberg claimed Saab's first WRC win with the turbocharged 99, benefiting from local knowledge and the car's traction in deep snow; Waldegård/Thorszelius took second in the Ford Escort, ahead of Pentti Airikkala/Risto Virtanen in a Vauxhall Chevette, amid harsh conditions that saw just 39 of 145 cars complete the 630 km event.[10] The Rallye de Portugal on gravel roads highlighted Ford's strength, as Hannu Mikkola/Arne Hertz won in the Escort RS1800, fending off teammate Waldegård/Thorszelius in second and Ove Andersson/Henry Liddon third in a Toyota Celica; the 737.5 km test reduced the field to only 16 finishers from 88 starters, underscoring the rally's abrasive challenges.[10] Kenya's Safari Rally, an epic endurance event over 5,027 km of dusty gravel, saw local hero Shekhar Mehta/Mike Doughty triumph in a Datsun 160J, with Mikkola/Hertz second in a Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC and Alén/Kivimäki third in the Fiat 131 Abarth; mechanical failures and extreme heat led to 45 retirements, emphasizing the rally's reputation for attrition.[10] The Acropolis Rally's rocky gravel stages favored durable machinery, where Waldegård/Thorszelius dominated in the Ford Escort to win, followed by Timo Salonen/Seppo Harjanne and Harry Källström/Claes Billstam both in Datsun 160Js on the podium; the 1,006.5 km Greek classic claimed 133 of 153 entrants, with suspension failures common due to the terrain's brutality.[10][11] On New Zealand's fast gravel forests, Mikkola/Hertz secured another Ford victory in the Escort RS1800, ahead of privateer Blair Robson/Chris Porter and Ari Vatanen/David Richards, both in Escorts; the event's high-speed stages saw 45 of 82 cars retire, highlighting the precision required on the 1,000+ km course.[10] Finland's 1000 Lakes Rally, known for its airborne jumps on gravel, was won by Alén/Kivimäki in the Fiat 131 Abarth, with Vatanen/Richards and Waldegård/Billstam taking the Escort podium spots; the 423.5 km rally retained a high completion rate of 74 from 128 starters, but crashes from mistimed jumps were notable incidents.[10] The Critérium Molson du Québec on North American gravel saw Waldegård/Thorszelius return to the top in the Ford Escort, with Salonen/Harjanne second in the Datsun and Vatanen/Richards third; the 503.7 km event, run in forested stages, ended 13 of 39 cars, affected by variable weather.[10] Italy's Rallye Sanremo on twisting tarmac roads provided home-soil success for Antonio "Tony" Fassina/Mauro Mannini in the Lancia Stratos HF, ahead of Walter Röhrl/Christian Geistdörfer and Attilio Bettega/Maurizio Perissinotto in Fiat 131 Abarths; the 962 km rally saw numerous spins due to its demanding asphalt.[10] The Tour de Corse's high-speed tarmac suited Lancia, as Darniche/Mahé repeated their Monte Carlo form to win, followed by Jean Ragnotti/Jean-Marc Andrié in a Renault 5 Alpine and Pierre-Louis Moreau/Patrice Baron in a Porsche 911 SC; French home advantage shone through, with only 14 finishers out of 112 starters on the 1,128.9 km island loop amid barrier-hugging stages.[10] Britain's Lombard RAC Rally, plagued by mud and fog on gravel-forest roads, went to Mikkola/Hertz in the Ford Escort, with Russell Brookes/Paul White second and Salonen/Stuart Pegg third in a Datsun; the 661 km event retained 74 of 175 starters, but weather-induced retirements and navigation errors were key dramas.[10][12] The season closed with the Rallye Bandama Côte d'Ivoire, a grueling 5,622 km African endurance test in extreme heat, where Mikkola/Hertz won in the Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC, leading a 1-2-3 sweep with Waldegård/Thorszelius and Andrew Cowan/Klaus Kaiser; only 8 of 57 cars finished, with rampant mechanical breakdowns due to dust and rough tracks underscoring the gravel's toll on machinery.[10]

Championships

Manufacturers' Standings

The 1979 Manufacturers' Championship concluded with Ford securing its first title in the series, amassing 122 points across 12 events through a combination of five outright victories and consistent finishes.[1][2] This marked the end of Fiat's back-to-back dominance from 1977 and 1978, as Ford's Escort RS1800 demonstrated superior reliability on diverse surfaces, particularly gravel rallies like the Acropolis and RAC.[1][2] Points were awarded to the top two eligible cars from each manufacturer at every event, with the scoring scale allocating 18 points for first place, 15 for second, 12 for third, 10 for fourth, 8 for fifth, 6 for sixth, 4 for seventh, 3 for eighth, 2 for ninth, and 1 for tenth; only the best seven results counted toward the final tally, including at least two from non-European rounds.[2] For instance, Ford's double podium in the gravel-heavy 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland) yielded 27 points from that event alone, bolstering their lead despite Fiat taking the win.[2] Ford's strategy emphasized broad-surface adaptability, enabling wins in Portugal, Acropolis, New Zealand, Quebec-City, and RAC, while Datsun mounted a late challenge with strong African and mixed-terrain performances, including the Safari Rally victory, but fell short at 108 points.[1][2] Fiat, with 92 points from consistent tarmac and gravel efforts like the win in Finland, and Lancia's 65 points via European asphalt successes in Monte Carlo and San Remo, highlighted the season's tactical focus on specialized strengths, though none could match Ford's overall consistency.[1][2]
PositionManufacturerPoints
1Ford122
2Datsun108
3Fiat92
4Lancia65
5Toyota58
6Opel49
7Renault41
8Mercedes-Benz35
9Porsche32
10Vauxhall31

Drivers' Standings

The 1979 World Rally Championship introduced the official Drivers' Championship, awarding points based on overall finishes in the 12 rounds, with drivers counting their best seven results (including at least two from non-European events) toward the final tally under the scoring system of 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 for positions 1 through 10.[1] Swedish driver Björn Waldegård emerged as the inaugural champion, securing the title with 112 points primarily in a Ford Escort RS1800, highlighted by his two victories on gravel surfaces at the Acropolis Rally and the Critérium Molson du Québec.[2][10] The final Drivers' Championship standings were as follows:
PositionDriverNationalityCarPointsWins
1Björn WaldegårdSWEFord Escort RS1800 / Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC (Bandama)1122
2Hannu MikkolaFINFord Escort RS1800 / Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC (Bandama)1114
3Markku AlénFINFiat 131 Abarth681
4Timo SalonenFINDatsun 160J500
5Ari VatanenFINFord Escort RS1800500
Hannu Mikkola, Waldegård's Ford teammate for most of the season, mounted a strong challenge with 111 points and four wins across diverse terrains: the Rally de Portugal (asphalt-gravel), Motogard Rally of New Zealand (gravel), Lombard RAC Rally (mixed), and Rallye Bandama Côte d'Ivoire (gravel).[10][13] Despite his victories, Mikkola's earlier inconsistencies—such as retirements in key events like the Acropolis and 1000 Lakes rallies—prevented him from overtaking Waldegård.[14] Markku Alén finished third with 68 points for Fiat, bolstered by a win at the Rally of the 1000 Lakes on home gravel and several podiums, demonstrating the Italian marque's competitiveness.[10] Timo Salonen and Ari Vatanen tied at 50 points in fourth and fifth, with Salonen's steady Datsun finishes and Vatanen's strong Ford performances, including a third place in New Zealand, underscoring the depth of Finnish talent in the field.[2] The championship came down to the final round at the Rallye Bandama Côte d'Ivoire, where Mikkola's victory earned him maximum points but was insufficient to close the one-point gap, as Waldegård's second-place finish secured the title through superior overall consistency across the season's seven counting events. Notably, both drivers competed in Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.0 entries for this event, where Mercedes secured the top four positions.[3][13] This razor-thin margin marked a pivotal moment in rallying, shifting focus toward individual driver achievements while supported by manufacturer efforts like Ford's dominant Escort program.[1] Waldegård's triumph as the first Drivers' Champion highlighted his experience from prior international successes, setting a precedent for personal stardom in the sport.[14]

Participants

Manufacturer Teams

The Ford factory team campaigned the Escort RS1800, a lightweight rear-wheel-drive saloon equipped with a 2.0-litre Cosworth BDA engine tuned for high-revving performance and reliability across diverse surfaces. Sponsored by Rothmans, the team was supported by experienced British driver Roger Clark among its core lineup, with strategies centered on gravel handling and endurance to tackle demanding African events like the Safari Rally, where budget allocations prioritized robust suspension and cooling systems for prolonged stages. Ford adopted a two-car entry approach in major rallies to enhance points accumulation under the manufacturers' championship rules, balancing official factory resources against occasional privateer support.[15][1][14] Fiat's works effort revolved around the 131 Abarth, a rear-engine saloon developed by Abarth with a 2.4-litre DOHC engine, prominently featuring Alitalia livery for visibility and funding. The team capitalized on the car's tarmac prowess, particularly in Italian home events like the Rallye Sanremo, where local knowledge and circuit-like stages provided a strategic edge. To maximize championship points, Fiat deployed multiple factory-prepared entries per rally, fostering a competitive intra-team dynamic while integrating privateer Fiat 131s in European rounds to bolster overall presence.[16][17] Datsun relied heavily on the 160J (also known as the Violet), a front-wheel-drive saloon with a 1.6-litre engine optimized for quick acceleration, supported by a blend of factory backing and privateer operations. The team's approach emphasized aggressive suspension tuning for high-speed gravel sections in Pacific events like the Southern Cross Rally, with official support channeled toward select drivers to challenge established European marques. This hybrid model allowed Datsun to expand beyond endurance-focused African rallies into broader WRC competition.[18][14][19] Among other prominent manufacturers, Lancia continued with the mid-engine Stratos HF, a Group 4 icon powered by a Ferrari-derived V6, directing factory resources toward French driver Jean-Claude Andruet for targeted asphalt and mixed-surface rallies to defend prior successes. Toyota fielded the Celica (RA40), a rear-wheel-drive coupe with a 2.0-litre DOHC engine, under the guidance of team manager Ove Andersson, who prioritized durable setups for desert-oriented events like the Bandama Rally in Côte d'Ivoire. Renault entered the 5 Alpine, a front-engine hatchback with a tuned 1.4-litre engine, achieving competitive results such as second place in the Tour de Corse, as an entry point into rally competition before the later introduction of the turbocharged 5 Turbo prototype. Opel debuted the Ascona 400, a Group 4 saloon with a 2.4-litre inline-four and wide-body kit for improved aerodynamics, though factory efforts yielded limited top finishes in its inaugural season amid competition from more established rivals. Mercedes-Benz campaigned the 450 SLC 5.0, a V8 coupe focused on endurance rallies in Africa, securing a victory at the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire with driver Hannu Mikkola.[20][21][22][23] Factory teams like Ford and Fiat generally outpaced privateers through dedicated engineering and logistics, but the latter played a key role in European dominance, especially with Fiat 131s leveraging widespread availability and tuner networks to secure regional points.[14]

Notable Drivers and Co-Drivers

Björn Waldegård, a Swedish rally veteran whose international career began in the 1960s, became the inaugural World Rally Championship Drivers' Champion in 1979, securing the title by a single point with two event victories driving the Ford Escort RS1800.[1][24] His prior successes included East African Safari Rally wins in 1974 and 1975, showcasing his durability on rough, long-distance terrains.[25] Paired with co-driver Hans Thorszelius, Waldegård's steady performance across diverse surfaces like gravel and tarmac highlighted their effective partnership in navigation and pace management.[10] Hannu Mikkola, a Finnish driver renowned for his precise handling on high-speed gravel stages, finished as runner-up in the 1979 Drivers' Championship with 111 points and victories in the Rally de Portugal, Motogard Rally of New Zealand, Bandama Côte d'Ivoire Rally, and Lombard RAC Rally.[1][10] His near-miss for the title came despite strong showings in events like the 1000 Lakes Rally, where his expertise in fast Finnish forests proved invaluable.[26] Co-driver Arne Hertz played a pivotal role, delivering accurate pace notes that enabled Mikkola's late-season surge and adaptability across gravel, tarmac, and mixed conditions.[10][27] Markku Alén, a 28-year-old Finnish talent competing for Fiat in the 131 Abarth, claimed victory at the 1000 Lakes Rally and accumulated 68 points in 1979, demonstrating his versatility on gravel despite a reputation as a tarmac specialist honed in later seasons.[1][10] His consistent podiums, including third at the East African Safari Rally, built on his 1978 Drivers' Cup win and marked him as a rising force in the Fiat-Lancia program.[16] Teamed with co-driver Ilkka Kivimäki, Alén benefited from precise route calls that supported aggressive driving on Finland's demanding stages.[10][28] Other standout participants included Ari Vatanen, a Finnish newcomer driving the Ford Escort RS1800 with co-driver David Richards, who achieved breakthroughs like third place at the Motogard Rally of New Zealand and second at the 1000 Lakes Rally, signaling his potential in the British forests.[10][29] Bernard Darniche, a French master of the Monte Carlo Rally with four career wins there, dominated the 1979 edition and the Tour de Corse in a Lancia Stratos HF alongside co-driver Alain Mahé, leveraging his record-setting performances on the Col de Turini.[10] Stig Blomqvist, a Swedish snow rally pioneer, piloted the innovative Saab 99 Turbo to victory at the Swedish Rally with co-driver Björn Cederberg, marking the first turbocharged win in WRC history on icy conditions.[10] Shekhar Mehta, a Kenyan driver of Indian descent, secured victory at the grueling East African Safari Rally driving the Datsun 160J with co-driver Mike Doughty, demonstrating exceptional endurance on the event's demanding terrain and contributing significantly to Datsun's manufacturers' championship performance. Co-drivers were essential in 1979's diverse terrains, from snowy Scandinavian stages to African gravel, providing navigation via detailed pace notes on corner severity, surface changes, and hazards to allow drivers to maintain speed without visual reliance.[30] Pairs like Hertz and Mikkola exemplified this synergy, with Hertz's calls enabling precise lines on high-speed sections, while Thorszelius's experience complemented Waldegård's veteran instincts for endurance events.[10] Emerging talents shone through consistency, such as Timo Salonen's reliable podiums—including second at the Acropolis Rally and Rallye du Quebec—in the Datsun 160J with co-driver Seppo Harjanne, helping secure Datsun's surprise second in manufacturers' standings.[1][10] Ove Andersson, a Swedish veteran and occasional Toyota driver with prior Alpine successes, participated in events like the Bandama Rally in a Celica 2000 GT alongside Henry Liddon, drawing on his expertise in technical gravel.[11][31]

References

  1. WRC Season Archive
  2. juwra.com  |  Season 1979 - Championship standings
  3. How Björn Waldegård became the WRC's first drivers' champion
  4. 1978 - WRC Season Archive
  5. 1979 WRC Calendar - juwra.com
  6. Rule changes summary - juwra.com
  7. 50 Years of WRC: The Evolution of Rally Cars - Hyundai Motor Group
  8. Safari Rally 1979 [WRC] | Rally-Maps.com
  9. https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/1594-rallye-automobile-monte-carlo-1979/
  10. Season 1979 rally - eWRC-results.com
  11. Final results Acropolis Rally 1979
  12. Final results Lombard RAC Rally 1979
  13. 11. Rallye Bandama Côte d'Ivoire 1979 - eWRC-results.com
  14. Season 1979 - juwra.com
  15. Ford Escort RS1800 - juwra.com
  16. FIAT 131 Abarth Rally Gr.4 - FCA Heritage
  17. https://petrolicious.com/blogs/articles/thanks-to-abarth-bertone-and-a-big-budget-the-humble-fiat-131-became-a-wrc-hero
  18. Datsun Stanza: Nissan's greatest rally car - Shannons Club
  19. you-might-not-be-familiar-datsun-160j-here-are-50-photos-them-rallyi
  20. Lancia Stratos HF Gr. 4 - FCA Heritage
  21. 1979 Toyota Celica GT RA40 Group 4 Ex-Works WRC Rally Car
  22. Renault 5 Turbo (1979) - pictures, information & specs
  23. Opel Ascona 400 RA48 - Ihle Motorsport
  24. Björn Waldegård - WRC.com
  25. Björn Waldegård - Mercedes-benz-archive.com
  26. Competing with Mikkola: What it was like - DirtFish
  27. How a Finnish rally legend helped hone the Audi Quattro | Hagerty UK
  28. 539 Markku Alen Stock Photos, High-Res Pictures, and Images
  29. https://www.arivatanenrally.com/en/rallies/rally-new-zealand-2.html
  30. A Beginner's Guide to Rally Pace Notes - MotorTrend
  31. https://www.juwra.com/acropolis_1979_results.html
  32. How Björn Waldegård became the WRC’s first drivers’ champion
User Avatar
No comments yet.