1985 World Rally Championship

1985 World Rally Championship

World Drivers' Champion:
Timo Salonen
World Manufacturers' Champion:
Peugeot

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1984

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1986

The 1985 World Rally Championship was the 13th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC). The season consisted of 12 rallies following the same schedule as the previous season. Peugeot Sport's Timo Salonen beat Audi Sport's Stig Blomqvist and Walter Röhrl to the drivers' title. Peugeot won their first manufacturers' title, ahead of Audi and Lancia.

Summary

File:Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 - Race Retro 2008 01.jpg

Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2 in 2008

Peugeot Talbot Sport, having made a successful late-season entry to Group B with their new Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 car, returned in 1985 for a full season with the car. Ari Vatanen, who had won three of the last four rallies of 1984 in the car, also returned with the team and in the first rally of the season, passed Walter Röhrl's Quattro in the snowy and icy terrain after incurring an eight-minute penalty caused by co-driver Terry Harryman's error. At the Swedish Rally, Vatanen won again, establishing himself as the early favorite for a driver's title, as well as putting Peugeot ahead of Audi.

A disaster struck in May at the Tour de Corse. On the 4th stage of the rally, Italian driver Attilio Bettega crashed his Lancia 037 into a tree and was killed instantly. His co-driver Maurizio Perissinot survived the crash uninjured. The crash raised questions about the safety aspects of Group B cars. Exactly one year later at the same event Henri Toivonen suffered a similar fatal accident forcing FIA to ban Group B.

Unfortunately, Vatanen had a major accident in Argentina while speeding down a long, straight road in top gear when his car crashed and rolled end-over-front. The flimsy exterior of the car shattered, but the strong rollcage absorbed most of the impact. The drivers were airlifted to hospital by Peugeot's helicopter, and Vatanen's injuries were severe and seemed life-threatening. Although he would recover and return to the sport, the Peugeot team was forced to turn to its other driver, Timo Salonen. Salonen had already taken the points lead and finished with the driver's championship on the strength of five rally wins.

File:Audi Quattro A2.jpg

Audi Sport Quattro driven in 1985

Audi Sport faced the dual pressure of Peugeot's strong 205 car in competition, and waning company commitment to the Quattro rally program. With the danger of the Group B rally becoming a more publicized issue, the company was questioning its involvement in the sport unless major changes were made to improve safety. While both Stig Blomqvist and Walter Röhrl were retained as drivers, they suffered generally at the hands of the Peugeot team although they would ultimately place second and third respectively. Their season however only included a single rally win between them, with Röhrl's triumph at Sanremo proving to be Audi's last Group B victory in the World Rally Championship.

The Lancia Martini team's season was an even greater disappointment than Audi's. The rear-wheel drive Lancia Sport 037 met with little success, even in the hands of such drivers as Markku Alén, Massimo Biasion, and Henri Toivonen. Toivonen would suffer an accident, breaking three vertebrae in his neck early on and missing most of the season. The team awaited the arrival of the Delta S4, a four-wheel-drive car, hoping it would give them a competitive advantage. Arriving for the final rally of the season, the RAC Rally, it succeeded in collecting the victory and giving the team hope for competing in the following season.

Austin Rallying made its entrance to the rally scene with the new MG Metro 6R4 and its 3.0L V6 engine, taking a podium position at the RAC. Austin's success would be brief, however, as the Metro would struggle in the final season of Group B competition in 1986. As with previous seasons, while all 12 events were calculated for tallying the drivers' scores, only 11 of the events applied to the championship for manufacturers. The event in 1985 which applied only to driver standings was Rallye Côte d'Ivoire.

Teams and drivers

Team	Manufacturer	Car	Tyre	Drivers	Rounds
Template:Flagicon Audi Sport	Audi	Quattro Sport	M	Template:Flagicon Stig Blomqvist	1–4, 6–9
				Template:Flagicon Walter Röhrl	1–3, 5–7, 10, 12
				Template:Flagicon Hannu Mikkola	2, 4, 9, 12
				Template:Flagicon Per Eklund	2, 9, 12
				Template:Flagicon Lasse Lampi	2, 9
				Template:Flagicon Malcolm Wilson	2
				Template:Flagicon David Llewellin	2
				Template:Flagicon Malcolm Stewart	7
				Template:Flagicon Wilfred Wiedner	8
				Template:Flagicon Michèle Mouton	11
				Template:Flagicon Franz Braun	11
Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot	205 Turbo 16 205 Turbo 16 E2	M	Template:Flagicon Ari Vatanen	1–8
				Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen	1–10, 12
				Template:Flagicon Bruno Saby	1, 4–5, 10
				Template:Flagicon Carlos Reutemann	8
				Template:Flagicon Kalle Grundel	9, 12
				Template:Flagicon Giovanni del Zoppo	10
				Template:Flagicon Mikael Sundström	12
Template:Flagicon Martini Racing	Lancia	Rally 037 evo Delta S4	P	Template:Flagicon Henri Toivonen	1, 9–10, 12
				Template:Flagicon Markku Alén	4–5, 9–10, 12
				Template:Flagicon Attilio Bettega	4–5
				Template:Flagicon Vic Preston Jr	4
				Template:Flagicon Greg Criticos	4
Template:Flagicon Jolly Club	Lancia	Rally 037 evo	P	Template:Flagicon Miki Biasion	1, 3, 5, 10
				Template:Flagicon Dario Cerrato	10
Template:Flagicon Citroën Compétitions	Citroën	Visa	M	Template:Flagicon Jean-Claude Andruet	1
				Template:Flagicon Philippe Wambergue	1
				Template:Flagicon François Chauche	1
				Template:Flagicon Maurice Chomat	1
				Template:Flagicon Christian Dorche	1
				Template:Flagicon Olivier Tabatoni	5
				Template:Flagicon Gabriele Noberasco	10
Template:Flagicon Mazda Rally Team Europe	Mazda	RX-7	M	Template:Flagicon Ingvar Carlsson	2, 6, 12
				Template:Flagicon Achim Warmbold	6
				Template:Flagicon Neil Allport	7
				Template:Flagicon Mike Montgomery	7
				Template:Flagicon Minna Sillankorva	9
				Template:Flagicon Rod Millen	12
Template:Flagicon Opel Euro Team	Opel	Manta 400	M	Template:Flagicon Rauno Aaltonen	4
				Template:Flagicon Erwin Weber	4, 12
				Template:Flagicon Guy Fréquelin	5
				Template:Flagicon Russell Brookes	12
				Template:Flagicon Jimmy McRae	12
				Template:Flagicon Phil Colins	12
Template:Flagicon Toyota Team Europe	Toyota	Celica TCT	P	Template:Flagicon Björn Waldegård	4, 7, 9, 11–12
				Template:Flagicon Dave Horsey	4
				Template:Flagicon Juha Kankkunen	4, 7, 9, 11–12
Template:Flagicon Team Nissan Europe	Nissan	240RS	D	Template:Flagicon Shekhar Mehta	4, 6–8
				Template:Flagicon Jayant Shah	4, 6, 8
				Template:Flagicon Mike Kirkland	4, 6, 11
				Template:Flagicon Alain Ambrosino	4, 11
				Template:Flagicon George Moschous	6
				Template:Flagicon Stratis Hatzipanayiotou	6
				Template:Flagicon Reg Cook	7
				Template:Flagicon Jim Donald	7
				Template:Flagicon Peter Geitel	9
				Template:Flagicon Terry Kaby	12
Template:Flagicon Renault Elf Philips	Renault	R5 Maxi Turbo	M	Template:Flagicon Jean Ragnotti	5
				Template:Flagicon François Chatriot	5
				Template:Flagicon Didier Auriol	5
Template:Flagicon Rothmans Porsche Rally Team	Porsche	911SC RS	M	Template:Flagicon Bernard Béguin	5
				Template:Flagicon Billy Coleman	5
				Template:Flagicon Saeed Al-Hajri	6
Template:Flagicon West Lancia Team	Lancia	Rally 037 evo	P	Template:Flagicon Andrea Zanussi	6
				Template:Flagicon Mauro Pregliasco	6
Template:Flagicon Austin Rover World Rally Team	MG	Metro 6R4	M	Template:Flagicon Tony Pond	12
				Template:Flagicon Malcolm Wilson	12
Template:Flagicon Volkswagen Motorsport	Volkswagen	Golf GTi	P	Template:Flagicon Jochi Kleint	3, 5–6, 10
				Template:Flagicon Franz Wittmann	3, 5–6, 10
Template:Flagicon Subaru Motor Sport	Subaru	RX Turbo	P	Template:Flagicon Mike Kirkland	7
				Template:Flagicon Possum Bourne	7
				Template:Flagicon Tony Teesdale	7

Events

Map

File:WRC-1983.png
Black = Tarmac	Brown = Gravel	Blue = Snow/ice	Red = Mixed surface

Schedule and results

Round	Rally name	Stages	Podium finishers
			Rank	Driver	Co-driver	Team	Car	Time
1	Template:Flagicon Monte Carlo Rally (26 January–1 February)	34 stages 852 km Tarmac	1	Template:Flagicon Ari Vatanen	Template:Flagicon Terry Harryman	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16	10:20:49
			2	Template:Flagicon Walter Röhrl	Template:Flagicon Christian Geistdörfer	Template:Flagicon Audi Sport	Audi Sport Quattro	10:26:06
			3	Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen	Template:Flagicon Seppo Harjanne	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16	10:30:54
2	Template:Flagicon Swedish Rally (15–17 February)	29 stages 505 km Snow/Ice	1	Template:Flagicon Ari Vatanen	Template:Flagicon Terry Harryman	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16	4:38:49
			2	Template:Flagicon Stig Blomqvist	Template:Flagicon Björn Cederberg	Template:Flagicon Audi Sport	Audi Sport Quattro	4:40:38
			3	Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen	Template:Flagicon Seppo Harjanne	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16	4:42:15
3	Template:Flagicon Rally de Portugal (6–9 March)	47 stages 733 km Gravel/Tarmac	1	Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen	Template:Flagicon Seppo Harjanne	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16	8:07.25
			2	Template:Flagicon Miki Biasion	Template:Flagicon Tiziano Siviero	Template:Flagicon Jolly Club	Lancia 037 Rally evo	8:12:12
			3	Template:Flagicon Walter Röhrl	Template:Flagicon Christian Geistdörfer	Template:Flagicon Audi Sport	Audi Sport Quattro	8:13:23
4	Template:Flagicon Safari Rally (4–8 April)	88 controls 5167.6 km Gravel	1	Template:Flagicon Juha Kankkunen	Template:Flagicon Fred Gallagher	Template:Flagicon Toyota Team Europe	Toyota Celica TCT	+5:18 pen
			2	Template:Flagicon Björn Waldegård	Template:Flagicon Hans Thorszelius	Template:Flagicon Toyota Team Europe	Toyota Celica TCT	+5:52 pen
			3	Template:Flagicon Mike Kirkland	Template:Flagicon Anton Levitan	Template:Flagicon Team Nissan Europe	Nissan 240RS	+6:01 pen
5	Template:Flagicon Tour de Corse (2–4 May)	29 stages 1078 km Tarmac	1	Template:Flagicon Jean Ragnotti	Template:Flagicon Pierre Thimonier	Template:Flagicon Renault Elf Philips	Renault R5 Maxi Turbo	12:54:15
			2	Template:Flagicon Bruno Saby	Template:Flagicon Jean-François Fauchille	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16 E2	13:06:47
			3	Template:Flagicon Bernard Béguin	Template:Flagicon Jean-Jacques Lenne	Template:Flagicon Rothmans Porsche Rally Team	Porsche 911 SC	13:20:04
6	Template:Flagicon Acropolis Rally (27–30 May)	47 stages 807.8 km Gravel	1	Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen	Template:Flagicon Seppo Harjanne	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16	10:20:19
			2	Template:Flagicon Stig Blomqvist	Template:Flagicon Björn Cederberg	Template:Flagicon Audi Sport	Audi Sport Quattro	10:24:34
			3	Template:Flagicon Ingvar Carlsson	Template:Flagicon Benny Melander	Template:Flagicon Mazda Rally Team Europe	Mazda RX-7	11:08:25
7	Template:Flagicon Rally New Zealand (29 June–2 July)	46 stages 894 km Gravel	1	Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen	Template:Flagicon Seppo Harjanne	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16 E2	8:29:16
			2	Template:Flagicon Ari Vatanen	Template:Flagicon Terry Harryman	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16 E2	8:30:33
			3	Template:Flagicon Walter Röhrl	Template:Flagicon Christian Geistdörfer	Template:Flagicon Audi Sport	Audi Sport Quattro	8:31:42
8	Template:Flagicon Rally Argentina (31 July–3 August)	23 stages 959 km Gravel	1	Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen	Template:Flagicon Seppo Harjanne	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16 E2	10:04:33
			2	Template:Flagicon Wilfred Wiedner	Template:Flagicon Franz Zehetner	Template:Flagicon Audi Sport	Audi Quattro A2	10:18:29
			3	Template:Flagicon Carlos Reutemann	Template:Flagicon Jean-François Fauchille	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16 E2	10:35:47
9	Template:Flagicon 1000 Lakes Rally (23–25 August)	50 stages 479 km Gravel	1	Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen	Template:Flagicon Seppo Harjanne	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16 E2	4:10:35
			2	Template:Flagicon Stig Blomqvist	Template:Flagicon Björn Cederberg	Template:Flagicon Audi Sport	Audi Sport Quattro S1	4:11:23
			3	Template:Flagicon Markku Alén	Template:Flagicon Ilkka Kivimäki	Template:Flagicon Martini Racing	Lancia 037 Rally evo	4:14:14
10	Template:Flagicon Rallye Sanremo (29 September–4 October)	45 stages 650 km Gravel/Tarmac	1	Template:Flagicon Walter Röhrl	Template:Flagicon Christian Geistdörfer	Template:Flagicon Audi Sport	Audi Sport Quattro S1	7:10:10
			2	Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen	Template:Flagicon Seppo Harjanne	Template:Flagicon Peugeot Talbot Sport	Peugeot 205 T16 E2	7:16:39
			3	Template:Flagicon Henri Toivonen	Template:Flagicon Juha Piironen	Template:Flagicon Martini Racing	Lancia 037 Rally evo	7:18:02
11	Template:Flagicon Rallye Côte d'Ivoire (30 October-3 November)	63 controls 4187 km Gravel	1	Template:Flagicon Juha Kankkunen	Template:Flagicon Fred Gallagher	Template:Flagicon Toyota Team Europe	Toyota Celica TCT	+4:46 pen
			2	Template:Flagicon Björn Waldegård	Template:Flagicon Hans Thorszelius	Template:Flagicon Toyota Team Europe	Toyota Celica TCT	+4:46 pen
			3	Template:Flagicon Alain Ambrosino	Template:Flagicon Daniel Le Saux	Template:Flagicon Team Nissan Europe	Nissan 240RS	+6:19 pen
12	Template:Flagicon RAC Rally (24–28 November)	63 stages 880 km Gravel/Tarmac	1	Template:Flagicon Henri Toivonen	Template:Flagicon Neil Wilson	Template:Flagicon Martini Racing	Lancia Delta S4	9:32.05
			2	Template:Flagicon Markku Alén	Template:Flagicon Ilkka Kivimäki	Template:Flagicon Martini Racing	Lancia Delta S4	9:33.01
			3	Template:Flagicon Tony Pond	Template:Flagicon Rob Arthur	Template:Flagicon Austin Rover World Rally Team	MG Metro 6R4	9:34.32

Standings

Drivers

Rank	Driver	Event												Total points
		Template:Flagicon MON	Template:Flagicon SWE	Template:Flagicon POR	Template:Flagicon KEN	Template:Flagicon FRA	Template:Flagicon GRC	Template:Flagicon NZL	Template:Flagicon ARG	Template:Flagicon FIN	Template:Flagicon ITA	Template:Flagicon CIV	Template:Flagicon GBR
1	Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen	12	12	20	4	-	20	20	20	20	15	-	-	127
2	Template:Flagicon Stig Blomqvist	10	15	10	-	-	15	10	-	15	-	-	-	75
3	Template:Flagicon Walter Röhrl	15	-	12	-	-	-	12	-	-	20	-	-	59
4	Template:Flagicon Ari Vatanen	20	20	-	-	-	-	15	-	-	-	-	-	55
5	Template:Flagicon Juha Kankkunen	-	-	-	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	20	8	48
6	Template:Flagicon Henri Toivonen	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10	12	-	20	48
7	Template:Flagicon Markku Alén	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	12	10	-	15	37
8	Template:Flagicon Björn Waldegård	-	-	-	15	-	-	-	-	4	-	15	-	34
9	Template:Flagicon Mike Kirkland	-	-	-	12	-	4	-	-	-	-	10	-	26

External links

• FIA World Rally Championship 1985 at ewrc-results.com