1980 World Rally Championship

8th season of the World Rally Championship series October 2023 1980 World Rally Championship World Drivers' Champion Walter Röhrl World Manufacturers' Champion Fiat 1979 1981 The 1980 World Rally Championship was the eighth season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC). The season consisted of 12 rallies. While this number was the same as the previous year, one change was made to the schedule, replacing Quebec with the Rally Codasur, marking the first WRC event to be held in South America.https://www.juwra.com/season_1980.html Season 1980 Juwra.com 1980 A new driver's champion was crowned, with Fiat backed German driver Walter Röhrl taking the championship convincingly while simultaneously earning for Fiat its third and final manufacturer's title. Finn Hannu Mikkola and Swede Björn Waldegård again battled to a one-point difference in the standings, though this time for second place overall, and this time with Mikkola coming out on top. Fiat's position in the standings was challenged by both Datsun and Ford, but neither could overcome the Italian company's initial lead, settling instead for second and third, respectively. 1980 also saw Mercedes-Benz's best and final effort to compete for a WRC title, placing fourth overall. For purposes of the championship, neither the Swedish or Finnish rallies were applied to the WRC for Manufacturers. __TOC__ thumb|Walter Röhrl won his first WRC drivers' title at the wheel of a Fiat 131 Abarth. Calendar Rd.Start dateFinish dateRallyRally headquartersSurfaceStagesDistancePoints119 January25 JanuaryMON 48th Rallye Automobile Monte-CarloMonte CarloMixed33695.30 kmDrivers & Manufacturers215 February17 FebruarySWE 30th International Swedish RallyKarlstad, Värmland CountySnow29413.50 kmDrivers only34 March9 MarchPOR 14th Rallye de Portugal - Vinho do PortoEstoril, LisbonMixed47673.50 kmDrivers & Manufacturers43 April7 AprilKEN 28th Marlboro Safari RallyNairobiGravelN/A5441 kmDrivers & Manufacturers526 May29 MayGRC 27th Acropolis RallyAthensGravel56956.16 kmDrivers & Manufacturers619 July24 JulyARG 2nd Rally Codasur Ultra Movil YPFTucumánGravel141223.7 kmDrivers & Manufacturers729 August31 AugustFIN 30th Jyväskylän Suurajot - Rally of the 1000 LakesJyväskylä, Central FinlandGravel48471.9 kmDrivers only813 September17 SeptemberNZL 11th Motogard Rally of New ZealandNelson, ChristchurchGravel411034 kmDrivers & Manufacturers96 October11 OctoberITA 22nd Rallye SanremoSanremo, LiguriaMixed51800.60 kmDrivers & Manufacturers1024 October25 OctoberFRA 24th Tour de Corse ESSO - Rallye de FranceAjaccio, CorsicaTarmac181128.1 kmDrivers & Manufacturers1116 November19 NovemberGBR 36th Lombard RAC RallyBath, SomersetGravel70708.09 kmDrivers & Manufacturers129 December14 DecemberCIV 12th Rallye Cote d'IvoireAbidjanGravelN/A5226 kmDrivers & ManufacturersSources:WRC 1980 https://www.ewrc-results.com/season/1980/ 13 September 2025 eWRC-results.com1980 WRC calendar https://www.juwra.com/calendar_1980.html 13 September 2025 Jonkka's World Rally Archive Championships Manufacturers 1980 World Rally Championship for Manufacturers Rank Manufacturer Event Totalpoints MonacoMON PortugalPOR KenyaKEN GreeceGRC ArgentinaARG New ZealandNZL ItalyITA FranceFRA United KingdomGBR Ivory CoastCIV 1 Italy Fiat 18 18 – 15 18 17 18 16 – (11) 120 2 Japan Datsun – – 18 17 14 18 – 13 8 5 93 3 UK Ford 8 12 – 18 11 8 16 – 17 – 90 4 Germany Mercedes – 13 16 – 17 15 – – – 18 79 5 Germany Opel 12 – 13 13 – – 10 10 13 – 71 6 UK Talbot – 16 – – – – 15 – 18 – 49 7 Japan Toyota – 9 – 9 – – – – – 14 32 8 France Peugeot – – – 2 12 – – – – 16 30 9 Germany Porsche 10 – – – – – – 18 – – 28 10 Italy Lancia 16 – – 4 – – – – – – 20 11 UK Vauxhall – – – – – 12 – – 4 – 16 12 Germany Volkswagen 14 – – – – – – – – – 14 13 France Renault – – – – – – – 12 – – 12 14 UK Triumph – – – – – – – – 9 – 9 15 Japan Mitsubishi – – – – – 2 – – – 7 9 16 Poland FSO – 2 – – – – – – – – 2 1980 World Rally Championship point awards for manufacturers Overallfinish 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 Drivers 1980 World Rally Championship for Drivers Rank Driver Event Totalpoints MonacoMON SwedenSWE PortugalPOR KenyaKEN GreeceGRC ArgentinaARG FinlandFIN New ZealandNZL ItalyITA FranceFRA United KingdomGBR Ivory CoastCIV 1 West Germany Walter Röhrl 20 – 20 – 8 20 – 15 20 15 – – 118 2 Finland Hannu Mikkola – 10 – – – 15 – 12 12 – 15 – 64 3 Sweden Björn Waldegård 12 12 10 1 – – – 8 – – – 20 63 4 Finland Ari Vatanen – – – – 20 – 15 – 15 – – – 50 5 Sweden Anders Kulläng 10 20 – – 10 – – – – – 8 – 48 6 Finland Markku Alén – – 15 – 12 – 20 – – – – – 47 7 Finland Timo Salonen – 4 – – 15 – 6 20 – – – – 45 8 France Guy Fréquelin – – 12 – – – – – 10 – 12 – 34 9 Kenya Shekhar Mehta – – – 20 – 10 – – – – – – 30 10 Finland Henri Toivonen – – – – – – – – 8 – 20 – 28 11 Sweden Per Eklund 8 3 – – – – 12 – – – – 4 27 12 France Jean-Luc Thérier – – – – – – – – – 20 – – 20 13 Kenya Vic Preston Jr. – – – 12 – – – – – – – 8 20 14 Argentina Jorge Recalde – – 3 – – – – – – – – 15 18 15 Sweden Björn Johansson – 8 – – – – 10 – – – – – 18 16 France Bernard Darniche 15 – – – – – – – – – – – 15 Sweden Stig Blomqvist – 15 – – – – – – – – – – 15 Finland Rauno Aaltonen – – – 15 – – – – – – – – 15 19 Italy Attilio Bettega 6 – – – 3 – – – 6 – – – 15 20 France Alain Coppier 2 – – – – – – – – 12 – – 14 21 Argentina Carlos Reutemann – – – – – 12 – – – – – – 12 France Alain Ambrosino – – – – – – – – – – – 12 12 23 France Michèle Mouton 4 – – – – – – – – 8 – – 12 24 Sweden Ove Andersson – – 6 – 6 – – – – – – – 12 25 France Jean-Claude Lefèbvre – – – – – 8 – – – – – 3 11 26 Kenya Mike Kirkland – – – 10 – – – – – – – – 10 Australia George Fury – – – – – – – 10 – – – – 10 France Bruno Saby – – – – – – – – – 10 – – 10 United Kingdom Russell Brookes – – – – – – – – – – 10 – 10 Lebanon Samir Assef – – – – – – – – – – – 10 10 31 Sweden Ingvar Carlsson – 1 8 – – – – – – – – – 9 32 United Kingdom Andy Dawson – – – – – – – – – 6 3 – 9 33 France Jean-Pierre Nicolas – – – 8 – – – – – – – – 8 Finland Lasse Lampi – – – – – – 8 – – – – – 8 35 Finland Timo Mäkinen – – – – 1 – – – – – 6 – 7 36 Finland Pentti Airikkala – 6 – – – – – – – – – – 6 United Kingdom Andrew Cowan – – – 6 – – – – – – – – 6 Uruguay Domingo De Vitta – – – – – 6 – – – – – – 6 New Zealand Paul Adams – – – – – – – 6 – – – – 6 Italy Sandro Munari – – – – – – – – – – – 6 6 41 West Germany Jochi Kleint 3 – – 2 – – – – – – – – 5 42 Portugal Carlos Torres – – 4 – – – – – – – – – 4 Japan Yoshio Iwashita – – – 4 – – – – – – – – 4 Sweden Harry Källström – – – – 4 – – – – – – – 4 Argentina Francisco Alcuaz – – – – – 4 – – – – – – 4 Finland Tapio Rainio – – – – – – 4 – – – – – 4 New Zealand Paddy Davidson – – – – – – – 4 – – – – 4 Italy Angelo Presotto – – – – – – – – 4 – – – 4 France Christian Gardavot – – – – – – – – – 4 – – 4 United Kingdom Tony Pond – – – – – – – – – – 4 – 4 51 Kenya Johnny Hellier – – – 3 – – – – – – – – 3 Argentina Nestor García-Veiga – – – – – 3 – – – – – – 3 Finland Erkki Pitkänen – – – – – – 3 – – – – – 3 New Zealand David Parkes – – – – – – – 3 – – – – 3 Italy Antonillo Zordan – – – – – – – – 3 – – – 3 France Paul Rouby – – – – – – – – – 3 – – 3 57 Spain 1977 Salvador Servià 2 – – – – – – – – – – – 2 Sweden Bengt Nilsson – 2 – – – – – – – – – – 2 Monaco Raymond 'Ray' Rué – – 2 – – – – – – – – – 2 Greece Tasos 'Siroco' Livieratos – – – – 2 – – – – – – – 2 Uruguay Federico West – – – – – 2 – – – – – – 2 Finland Heikki Enomaa – – – – – – 2 – – – – – 2 New Zealand Glenn McIntyre – – – – – – – 2 – – – – 2 Italy Giorgio Bernocchi – – – – – – – – 2 – – – 2 France Jean-Felix Farrucci – – – – – – – – – 2 – – 2 Sweden Bror Danielsson – – – – – – – – – – 2 – 2 France Jean-François Vincens – – – – – – – – – – – 2 2 68 Poland Maciej Stawowiak – – 1 – – – – – – – – – 1 Argentina Jorge Maggi – – – – – 1 – – – – – – 1 Finland Peter Geitel – – – – – – 1 – – – – – 1 New Zealand Morrie Chandler – – – – – – – 1 – – – – 1 Italy Massimo Paolieri – – – – – – – – 1 – – – 1 France Jean Bagarry – – – – – – – – – 1 – – 1 United Kingdom George Hill – – – – – – – – – – 1 – 1 Ivory Coast Naguib Saad – – – – – – – – – – – 1 1 1980 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 Events 1980 World Rally Championship event map 800px Black = Tarmac Brown = Gravel Blue = Snow/Ice Red = Mixed Surface 1980 World Rally Championship schedule and results Round Rally name Stages Podium finishers Rank Driver Co-driver Car Time1 MonacoRallye Automobile Monte Carlo( 19 – 25 January) 30 stages601 kmTarmac1West Germany Walter RöhrlWest Germany Christian GeistdörferFiat 131 Abarth8:42:202France Bernard DarnicheFrance Alain MahéLancia Stratos HF8:52:583Sweden Björn WaldegårdSweden Hans ThorszeliusFiat 131 Abarth8:53:48 2 SwedenSwedish RallyEvent not included in Manufacturers' Championship( 15 – 17 February) 29 stages413.5 kmSnow/Ice1Sweden Anders KullängSweden Bruno BerglundOpel Ascona 4004:17:522Sweden Stig BlomqvistSweden Björn CederbergSaab 99 Turbo4:19:223Sweden Björn WaldegårdSweden Hans ThorszeliusFiat 131 Abarth4:21:39 3 PortugalRallye de Portugal( 4 – 9 March) 47 stages673.5 kmGravel/Tarmac1West Germany Walter RöhrlWest Germany Christian GeistdörferFiat 131 Abarth8:45:352Finland Markku AlénFinland Ilkka KivimäkiFiat 131 Abarth8:59:543France Guy FréquelinFrance Jean TodtTalbot Sunbeam Lotus9:16:04 4 KenyaSafari Rally( 3 – 7 April) 95 controls5333 kmGravel1Kenya Shekhar MehtaKenya Mike DoughtyDatsun 160J+3:27 pen2Finland Rauno AaltonenKenya Lofty DrewsDatsun 160J+4:02 pen3Kenya Vic Preston Jr.Kenya John LyallMercedes 450 SLC 5.0+5:07 pen 5 GreeceAcropolis Rally( 25 – 29 May) 56 stages964 kmGravel/Tarmac1Finland Ari VatanenUK David RichardsFord Escort RS180012:55:442Finland Timo SalonenFinland Seppo HarjanneDatsun 160J12:58:263Finland Markku AlénFinland Ilkka KivimäkiFiat 131 Abarth13:02:48 6 ArgentinaRally Codasur( 19 – 24 July) 18 stages1224.4 kmGravel/Tarmac1West Germany Walter RöhrlWest Germany Christian GeistdörferFiat 131 Abarth12:48:362Finland Hannu MikkolaSweden Arne HertzMercedes 500 SLC13:04:353Argentina alt Carlos ReutemannItaly Mirko PerissuttiFiat 131 Abarth13:35.26 7 Finland1000 Lakes Rally( 29 – 31 August) 48 stages472 kmGravel1Finland Markku AlénFinland Ilkka KivimäkiFiat 131 Abarth4:24:112Finland Ari VatanenUK David RichardsFord Escort RS18004:25:073Sweden Per EklundSweden Hans SylvanTriumph TR 7 V84:35:25 8 New ZealandRally New Zealand( 13 – 17 September) 40 stages1040 kmGravel1Finland Timo SalonenFinland Seppo HarjanneDatsun 160J12:06:572West Germany Walter RöhrlWest Germany Christian GeistdörferFiat 131 Abarth12:09:383Finland Hannu MikkolaSweden Arne HertzMercedes 500 SLC12:29:22 9 ItalyRallye Sanremo( 6 – 11 October) 50 stages821 kmGravel1West Germany Walter RöhrlWest Germany Christian GeistdörferFiat 131 Abarth10:22:422Finland Ari VatanenUK David RichardsFord Escort RS180010:29:173Finland Hannu MikkolaSweden Arne HertzFord Escort RS10:36:52 10 FranceRallye de France( 24 – 25 October) 18 stages1128 kmTarmac1France Jean-Luc ThérierFrance Michel VialPorsche 911 SC14:51:432West Germany Walter RöhrlWest Germany Christian GeistdörferFiat 131 Abarth15:02:063France Alain CoppierFrance Josépha LalozPorsche 911 SC15:17:21 11 UKRAC Rally( 16 – 19 November) 70 stages708 kmGravel/Tarmac1Finland Henri ToivonenUK Paul WhiteTalbot Sunbeam Lotus8:17:332Finland Hannu MikkolaSweden Arne HertzFord Escort RS18008:22:093France Guy FréquelinFrance Jean TodtTalbot Sunbeam Lotus8:31:24 12 Ivory CoastRallye Côte d'Ivoire( 9 – 14 December) 62 controls5336 kmGravel1Sweden Björn WaldegårdSweden Hans ThorszeliusMercedes 500 SLC+2:36 pen2Argentina alt Jorge RecaldeArgentina alt Nestor StraimelMercedes 500 SLC+3:47 pen3France Alain AmbrosinoFrance Jean-Robert BureauPeugeot 504 V6+5:17 pen References See also 1980 in sports External links Porter Martin https://hyppyrally.blogspot.com/2009/06/history-of-world-rally-championship.html The History of the World Rally Championship: 1980 The Hyppy June 2009 Vilamajó Lluis Vazquez https://www.wrcwings.tech/2016/01/08/early-80s-waiting-for-group-b-revolution/ Early 80’s: waiting for group B revolution WRCWings January 2016 Phillips Greg https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1980/84/rally-1000-lakes/ The Rally of the 1000 Lakes Motor Sport Magazine October 1980 limited https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/january-1980/63/lombard-rac-rally-of-great-britain-3-january-1980/ Rally Review - Lombard RAC Rally of Great Britain Motor Sport Magazine January 1980 limited FIA World Rally Championship 1980 at ewrc-results.com World Rally Championship Category:World Rally Championship seasons