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 1984 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. thumb|Eventual champion Timo Salonen driving a Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2 at the 1985 Rallye Sanremo. Summary 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. thumb|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.Maruszewska, Witolda Henri Toivonen biography Post 14 http://www.thruxton.f9.co.uk/henri/henri_career.htm 2006-12-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20061231234253/http://www.thruxton.f9.co.uk/henri/henri_career.htm 31 December 2006 live 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. Calendar Rd.Start dateFinish dateRallyRally headquartersSurfaceStagesDistancePoints126 January1 FebruaryMON 53rd Rallye Automobile Monte-CarloMonte CarloMixed34851.10 kmDrivers & Manufacturers215 February17 FebruarySWE 35th International Swedish RallyKarlstad, Värmland CountySnow29513.68 kmDrivers & Manufacturers36 March9 MarchPOR 19th Rallye de Portugal - Vinho do PortoEstoril, LisbonMixed47730.50 kmDrivers & Manufacturers44 April8 AprilKEN 33rd Marlboro Safari RallyNairobiGravelN/A5167 kmDrivers & Manufacturers52 May4 MayFRA 29th Tour de Corse - Rallye de FranceAjaccio, CorsicaTarmac301122.25 kmDrivers & Manufacturers627 May30 MayGRC 32nd Rothmans Acropolis RallyAthensGravel47807.67 kmDrivers & Manufacturers729 June2 JulyNZL 16th AWA Clarion Rally of New ZealandAucklandGravel48935.50 kmDrivers & Manufacturers830 July3 AugustARG 5th Rally of ArgentinaBuenos AiresGravel23956.71 kmDrivers & Manufacturers923 August25 AugustFIN 35th Rally of the 1000 LakesJyväskylä, Central FinlandGravel51458.01 kmDrivers & Manufacturers1029 September4 OctoberITA 27th Rallye SanremoSanremo, LiguriaMixed45696.90 kmDrivers & Manufacturers1130 October3 NovemberCIV 17th Rallye Cote d'IvoireYamoussoukroGravelN/A4103 kmDrivers only1224 November28 NovemberGBR 41st Lombard RAC RallyNottinghamGravel65896.98 kmDrivers & ManufacturersSources:WRC 1985 https://www.ewrc-results.com/season/1985/ 10 September 2025 eWRC-results.com1985 WRC calendar https://www.juwra.com/calendar_1985.html 10 September 2025 Jonkka's World Rally Archive Teams and drivers Team Manufacturer Car Tyre Drivers Rounds DEU Audi Sport Audi Quattro Sport Michelin SWE Stig Blomqvist 1–4, 6–9DEU Walter Röhrl 1–3, 5–7, 10, 12FIN Hannu Mikkola 2, 4, 9, 12SWE Per Eklund 2, 9, 12FIN Lasse Lampi 2, 9GBR Malcolm Wilson 2GBR David Llewellin 2NZL Malcolm Stewart 7AUT Wilfred Wiedner 8FRA Michèle Mouton 11DEU Franz Braun 11 FRA Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 205 Turbo 16205 Turbo 16 E2 MichelinFIN Ari Vatanen 1–8 FIN Timo Salonen 1–10, 12FRA Bruno Saby 1, 4–5, 10ARG Carlos Reutemann 8SWE Kalle Grundel 9, 12Italia Giovanni del Zoppo 10FIN Mikael Sundström 12 ITA Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 evoDelta S4 PirelliFIN Henri Toivonen 1, 9–10, 12FIN Markku Alén 4–5, 9–10, 12ITA Attilio Bettega 4–5KEN Vic Preston Jr 4KEN Greg Criticos 4 ITA Jolly Club Lancia Rally 037 evo PirelliITA Miki Biasion 1, 3, 5, 10ITA Dario Cerrato 10 FRA Citroën Compétitions Citroën Visa MichelinFRA Jean-Claude Andruet 1FRA Philippe Wambergue 1FRA François Chauche 1FRA Maurice Chomat 1FRA Christian Dorche 1FRA Olivier Tabatoni 5ITA Gabriele Noberasco 10 JPN Mazda Rally Team Europe Mazda RX-7 MichelinSWE Ingvar Carlsson 2, 6, 12DEU Achim Warmbold 6NZL Neil Allport 7NZL Mike Montgomery 7FIN Minna Sillankorva 9NZL Rod Millen 12 DEU Opel Euro Team Opel Manta 400 Michelin FIN Rauno Aaltonen 4 DEU Erwin Weber 4, 12 FRA Guy Fréquelin 5 GBR Russell Brookes 12 GBR Jimmy McRae 12 GBR Phil Colins 12 JPN Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica TCT Pirelli SWE Björn Waldegård 4, 7, 9, 11–12 KEN Dave Horsey 4 FIN Juha Kankkunen 4, 7, 9, 11–12 JPN Team Nissan Europe Nissan 240RS Dunlop KEN Shekhar Mehta 4, 6–8 KEN Jayant Shah 4, 6, 8 KEN Mike Kirkland 4, 6, 11 FRA Alain Ambrosino 4, 11 GRC George Moschous 6 GRC Stratis Hatzipanayiotou 6 NZL Reg Cook 7 NZL Jim Donald 7 FIN Peter Geitel 9 GBR Terry Kaby 12 FRA Renault Elf Philips Renault R5 Maxi Turbo Michelin FRA Jean Ragnotti 5 FRA François Chatriot 5 FRA Didier Auriol 5 DEU Rothmans Porsche Rally Team Porsche 911SC RS Michelin FRA Bernard Béguin 5 IRL Billy Coleman 5 QAT Saeed Al-Hajri 6 ITA West Lancia Team Lancia Rally 037 evo PirelliITA Andrea Zanussi 6ITA Mauro Pregliasco 6 GBR Austin Rover World Rally Team MG Metro 6R4 MichelinGBR Tony Pond 12GBR Malcolm Wilson 12 DEU Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTi PirelliDEU Jochi Kleint 3, 5–6, 10AUT Franz Wittmann 3, 5–6, 10 JPN Subaru Motor Sport Subaru RX Turbo Pirelli KEN Mike Kirkland 7 NZL Possum Bourne 7 NZL Tony Teesdale 7 Events Map 800px Black = Tarmac Brown = Gravel Blue = Snow/ice Red = Mixed surface Schedule and results RoundRally nameStagesPodium finishers Rank Driver Co-driver Team Car Time1 MCO Monte Carlo Rally(26 January–1 February) 34 stages852 kmTarmac1FIN Ari VatanenGBR Terry HarrymanFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T1610:20:492FRG Walter RöhrlFRG Christian GeistdörferFRG Audi SportAudi Sport Quattro10:26:063FIN Timo SalonenFIN Seppo HarjanneFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T1610:30:54 2 SWE Swedish Rally(15–17 February) 29 stages505 kmSnow/Ice1FIN Ari VatanenGBR Terry HarrymanFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T164:38:492SWE Stig BlomqvistSWE Björn CederbergFRG Audi SportAudi Sport Quattro4:40:383FIN Timo SalonenFIN Seppo HarjanneFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T164:42:15 3 PRT Rally de Portugal(6–9 March) 47 stages733 kmGravel/Tarmac1FIN Timo SalonenFIN Seppo HarjanneFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T168:07.252ITA Miki BiasionITA Tiziano SivieroITA Jolly ClubLancia 037 Rally evo8:12:123FRG Walter RöhrlFRG Christian GeistdörferFRG Audi SportAudi Sport Quattro8:13:23 4 KEN Safari Rally(4–8 April)88 controls5167.6 kmGravel1FIN Juha KankkunenGBR Fred GallagherJPN Toyota Team EuropeToyota Celica TCT+5:18 pen2SWE Björn WaldegårdSWE Hans ThorszeliusJPN Toyota Team EuropeToyota Celica TCT+5:52 pen3KEN Mike KirklandKEN Anton LevitanJPN Team Nissan EuropeNissan 240RS+6:01 pen 5 FRA Tour de Corse (2–4 May) 29 stages1078 kmTarmac1FRA Jean RagnottiFRA Pierre ThimonierFRA Renault Elf PhilipsRenault R5 Maxi Turbo12:54:152FRA Bruno SabyFRA Jean-François FauchilleFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T16 E213:06:473FRA Bernard BéguinFRA Jean-Jacques LenneFRG Rothmans Porsche Rally TeamPorsche 911 SC13:20:04 6 GRC Acropolis Rally (27–30 May) 47 stages807.8 kmGravel1FIN Timo SalonenFIN Seppo HarjanneFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T1610:20:192SWE Stig BlomqvistSWE Björn CederbergFRG Audi SportAudi Sport Quattro10:24:343SWE Ingvar CarlssonSWE Benny MelanderJPN Mazda Rally Team EuropeMazda RX-711:08:25 7 NZL Rally New Zealand(29 June–2 July) 46 stages894 kmGravel1FIN Timo SalonenFIN Seppo HarjanneFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T16 E28:29:162FIN Ari VatanenGBR Terry HarrymanFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T16 E28:30:333FRG Walter RöhrlFRG Christian GeistdörferFRG Audi SportAudi Sport Quattro8:31:42 8 ARG Rally Argentina(31 July–3 August) 23 stages959 kmGravel1FIN Timo SalonenFIN Seppo HarjanneFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T16 E210:04:332AUT Wilfred WiednerAUT Franz ZehetnerFRG Audi SportAudi Quattro A210:18:293ARG Carlos ReutemannFRA Jean-François FauchilleFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T16 E210:35:47 9 FIN 1000 Lakes Rally (23–25 August) 50 stages479 kmGravel1FIN Timo SalonenFIN Seppo HarjanneFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T16 E24:10:352SWE Stig BlomqvistSWE Björn CederbergFRG Audi SportAudi Sport Quattro S14:11:233FIN Markku AlénFIN Ilkka KivimäkiITA Martini RacingLancia 037 Rally evo4:14:14 10 ITA Rallye Sanremo (29 September–4 October) 45 stages650 kmGravel/Tarmac1FRG Walter RöhrlFRG Christian GeistdörferFRG Audi SportAudi Sport Quattro S17:10:102FIN Timo SalonenFIN Seppo HarjanneFRA Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 T16 E27:16:393FIN Henri ToivonenFIN Juha PiironenITA Martini RacingLancia 037 Rally evo7:18:02 11 Ivory Coast Rallye Côte d'IvoireEvent not included in the Manufacturers' Championship (30 October-3 November)63 controls4187 kmGravel1FIN Juha KankkunenGBR Fred GallagherJPN Toyota Team EuropeToyota Celica TCT+4:46 pen2SWE Björn WaldegårdSWE Hans ThorszeliusJPN Toyota Team EuropeToyota Celica TCT+4:46 pen3FRA Alain AmbrosinoFRA Daniel Le SauxJPN Team Nissan EuropeNissan 240RS+6:19 pen 12GBR RAC Rally (24–28 November) 63 stages880 kmGravel/Tarmac1FIN Henri ToivonenGBR Neil WilsonITA Martini RacingLancia Delta S49:32.052FIN Markku AlénFIN Ilkka KivimäkiITA Martini RacingLancia Delta S49:33.013GBR Tony PondGBR Rob ArthurGBR Austin Rover World Rally TeamMG Metro 6R49:34.32 Standings Drivers Rank Driver Event Totalpoints MCOMON SWESWE PRTPOR KENKEN FRAFRA GRCGRC NZLNZL ARGARG FINFIN ITAITA Ivory CoastCIV GBRGBR 1 FIN Timo Salonen 12 12 20 4 - 20 20 20 20 15 - - 127 2 SWE Stig Blomqvist 10 15 10 - - 15 10 - 15 - - - 75 3 FRG Walter Röhrl 15 - 12 - - - 12 - - 20 - - 59 4 FIN Ari Vatanen 20 20 - - - - 15 - - - - - 55 5 FIN Juha Kankkunen - - - 20 - - - - - - 20 8 48 6 FIN Henri Toivonen 6 - - - - - - - 10 12 - 20 48 7 FIN Markku Alén - - - - - - - - 12 10 - 15 37 8 SWE Björn Waldegård - - - 15 - - - - 4 - 15 - 34 9 KEN Mike Kirkland - - - 12 - 4 - - - - 10 - 26 References External links FIA World Rally Championship 1985 at ewrc-results.com World Rally Championship Category:World Rally Championship seasons