1985 World Rally Championship

13th season of the FIA 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

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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

[edit]

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.

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.[1] 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

[edit]

Team  | Manufacturer  | Car  | Tyre  | Drivers  | Rounds

|
|
|
|
|

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

## Events

[edit]

### Map

[edit]

Black = Tarmac  | Brown = Gravel  | Blue = Snow/ice  | Red = Mixed surface

### Schedule and results

[edit]

Round  | Rally name  | Stages  | Podium finishers

|
|
|

Rank  | Driver  | Co-driver  | Team  | Car  | Time
1  |  Monte Carlo Rally
(26 January–1 February)  | 34 stages
852 km
Tarmac  | 1  |  Ari Vatanen |  Terry Harryman |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 | 10:20:49
2  |  Walter Röhrl |  Christian Geistdörfer |  Audi Sport | Audi Sport Quattro | 10:26:06
3  |  Timo Salonen |  Seppo Harjanne |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 | 10:30:54
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2  |  Swedish Rally
(15–17 February)  | 29 stages
505 km
Snow/Ice  | 1  |  Ari Vatanen |  Terry Harryman |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 | 4:38:49
2  |  Stig Blomqvist |  Björn Cederberg |  Audi Sport | Audi Sport Quattro | 4:40:38
3  |  Timo Salonen |  Seppo Harjanne |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 | 4:42:15
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
3  |  Rally de Portugal
(6–9 March)  | 47 stages
733 km
Gravel/Tarmac  | 1  |  Timo Salonen |  Seppo Harjanne |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 | 8:07.25
2  |  Miki Biasion |  Tiziano Siviero |  Jolly Club | Lancia 037 Rally evo | 8:12:12
3  |  Walter Röhrl |  Christian Geistdörfer |  Audi Sport | Audi Sport Quattro | 8:13:23
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
4  |  Safari Rally
(4–8 April)  | 88 controls
5167.6 km
Gravel  | 1  |  Juha Kankkunen |  Fred Gallagher |  Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica TCT | +5:18 pen
2  |  Björn Waldegård |  Hans Thorszelius |  Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica TCT | +5:52 pen
3  |  Mike Kirkland |  Anton Levitan |  Team Nissan Europe | Nissan 240RS | +6:01 pen
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
5  |  Tour de Corse

(2–4 May)

| 29 stages
1078 km
Tarmac  | 1  |  Jean Ragnotti |  Pierre Thimonier |  Renault Elf Philips | Renault R5 Maxi Turbo | 12:54:15
2  |  Bruno Saby |  Jean-François Fauchille |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 E2 | 13:06:47
3  |  Bernard Béguin |  Jean-Jacques Lenne |  Rothmans Porsche Rally Team  | Porsche 911 SC | 13:20:04
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
6  |  Acropolis Rally

(27–30 May)

| 47 stages
807.8 km
Gravel  | 1  |  Timo Salonen |  Seppo Harjanne |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 | 10:20:19
2  |  Stig Blomqvist |  Björn Cederberg |  Audi Sport | Audi Sport Quattro | 10:24:34
3  |  Ingvar Carlsson |  Benny Melander |  Mazda Rally Team Europe | Mazda RX-7 | 11:08:25
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
7  |  Rally New Zealand
(29 June–2 July)  | 46 stages
894 km
Gravel  | 1  |  Timo Salonen |  Seppo Harjanne |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 E2 | 8:29:16
2  |  Ari Vatanen |  Terry Harryman |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 E2 | 8:30:33
3  |  Walter Röhrl |  Christian Geistdörfer |  Audi Sport | Audi Sport Quattro | 8:31:42
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
8  |  Rally Argentina
(31 July–3 August)  | 23 stages
959 km
Gravel  | 1  |  Timo Salonen |  Seppo Harjanne |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 E2 | 10:04:33
2  |  Wilfred Wiedner |  Franz Zehetner |  Audi Sport | Audi Quattro A2 | 10:18:29
3  |  Carlos Reutemann |  Jean-François Fauchille |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 E2 | 10:35:47
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
9  |  1000 Lakes Rally

(23–25 August)

| 50 stages
479 km
Gravel  | 1  |  Timo Salonen |  Seppo Harjanne |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 E2 | 4:10:35
2  |  Stig Blomqvist |  Björn Cederberg |  Audi Sport | Audi Sport Quattro S1 | 4:11:23
3  |  Markku Alén |  Ilkka Kivimäki |  Martini Racing | Lancia 037 Rally evo | 4:14:14
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
10  |  Rallye Sanremo

(29 September–4 October)

| 45 stages
650 km
Gravel/Tarmac  | 1  |  Walter Röhrl |  Christian Geistdörfer |  Audi Sport | Audi Sport Quattro S1 | 7:10:10
2  |  Timo Salonen |  Seppo Harjanne |  Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 T16 E2 | 7:16:39
3  |  Henri Toivonen |  Juha Piironen |  Martini Racing | Lancia 037 Rally evo | 7:18:02
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
11  |  Rallye Côte d'Ivoire[2]

(30 October-3 November)

| 63 controls
4187 km
Gravel  | 1  |  Juha Kankkunen |  Fred Gallagher |  Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica TCT | +4:46 pen
2  |  Björn Waldegård |  Hans Thorszelius |  Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica TCT | +4:46 pen
3  |  Alain Ambrosino |  Daniel Le Saux |  Team Nissan Europe | Nissan 240RS | +6:19 pen
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
12  |  RAC Rally

(24–28 November)

| 63 stages
880 km
Gravel/Tarmac  | 1  |  Henri Toivonen |  Neil Wilson |  Martini Racing | Lancia Delta S4 | 9:32.05
2  |  Markku Alén |  Ilkka Kivimäki |  Martini Racing | Lancia Delta S4 | 9:33.01
3  |  Tony Pond |  Rob Arthur |  Austin Rover World Rally Team | MG Metro 6R4 | 9:34.32

## Standings

[edit]

### Drivers

[edit]

Rank  | Driver  | Event  | Total
points

|
|
|

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Maruszewska, Witolda. "Henri Toivonen biography". Post 14. Archived from the original on 31 December 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
2. ^ Event not included in the Manufacturers' Championship

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1985 in World Rally Championship.

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

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