1983 World Rally Championship

1983 World Rally Championship
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The 1983 World Rally Championship was the 11th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC). The season consisted of 12 rallies. By this time, the schedule format had become generally stable, with only one or two changes to venues year to year. 1983 brought the return of Argentina to the schedule in place of Brazil. Audi's Hannu Mikkola beat the defending world champion Walter Röhrl and his Lancia teammate Markku Alén to the drivers' title. Lancia captured the manufacturers' title from Audi by just two points.

Summary

German Walter Röhrl, champion of the previous year despite his manufacturer's failed bid to capture the title, was tapped to drive for the Martini Racing team along with Finn Markku Alén in the new Lancia Rally 037 car. Audi Sport meanwhile carried forward from its successful title run in 1982 led by the same pair of drivers, Finn Hannu Mikkola and Frenchwoman Michèle Mouton, equipped with the Quattro A1 (later in the season upgrading to the A2 model). The team also future champion Swede Stig Blomqvist. Rothmans Opel Rally Team tapped former champion Finn Ari Vatanen and fellow countryman Henri Toivonen to drive the Ascona 400 during the season.

Competition was fierce both for drivers and manufacturers. The works battle quickly centered on the Audi and Lancia, and over the course of the season the two cars would win 10 of the 12 events and sit on 30 of the year's 36 podium positions. Lancia emerged on top, returning the manufacturer to glory for the first time since the company seized three consecutive titles in the mid-1970s, despite deciding not to participate in last two events. Audi's performance was impressive and the car was improved in the second half of the season, winning three of the final four events to nearly catch the Italian maker (who, of course, withdrew from two last events, leaving Audi with little competition).

Driver competition was no less intense, with both of the Martini team-mates scoring well through the season. However, they were outpaced by Mikkola, who was able to garner four wins and seven podiums to take the title by a healthy margin in the end. However, while Mikkola appeared in all events, Röhrl and Alén only appeared in six and seven events respectively, which gave Mikkola clear path to the title. Martini teammate Blomqvist was impressive, finally winning in the last event of the year to place fourth overall, but Mouton's season was a disappointment, her fifth-place finish well off the pace. The Rothmans team meanwhile suffered an unimpressive season, the lone highlight being Vatanen's win in Kenya. This however would prove to be the team's only podium finish, and Ari himself would finish a distant sixth place on the year.

As with previous seasons, while all 12 events were calculated for tallying the drivers' scores, only 10 of the events applied to the championship for manufacturers. The two events in 1983 which applied only to driver standings were Sweden and the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire.

Teams and drivers

Team Constructor Car Tyre Drivers Rounds
Italy Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 P Germany Walter Röhrl 1, 3, 5–7, 10
Finland Markku Alén 1, 3, 5–6, 8–10
France Jean-Claude Andruet 1, 5
Italy Adartico Vudafieri 3, 8
Italy Attilio Bettega 5–7, 10
Argentina Francisco Mayorga 8
Finland Pentti Airikkala 9
Germany Audi Sport Audi Quattro A1
Quattro A2
M
P
Finland Hannu Mikkola All
France Michèle Mouton 1–10, 12
Sweden Stig Blomqvist 1–3, 6–10, 12
Finland Lasse Lampi 2, 9, 11–12
Austria Franz Wittmann 3, 6
Kenya Vic Preston Jr 4
Kenya Shekhar Mehta 8
Argentina Rubén Luis di Palma 8
France Bernard Darniche 10
United States John Buffum 12
Germany Rothmans Opel Rally Team Opel Ascona 400
Manta 400
M Finland Ari Vatanen 1–2, 4, 6, 9–10, 12
Finland Henri Toivonen 1, 6, 9–10, 12
France Guy Frequelin 1, 5
Finland Rauno Aaltonen 4
United Kingdom Jimmy McRae 6, 12
United Kingdom Phil Colins 12
United Kingdom Clinton Smith 12
United Kingdom Alastair Sutherland 12
United Kingdom Alex Jackson 12
France Renault Elf Renault 5 Turbo M France Jean Ragnotti 1, 5–6
France Jean-Luc Thérier 1, 3, 5
France Bruno Saby 1, 5
France Dany Snobeck 1
France François Chatriot 5
Japan Team Nissan Europe Nissan 240RS D Finland Timo Salonen 1, 3–4, 6–7, 9, 12
United Kingdom Terry Kaby 3
Kenya Shekhar Mehta 4, 6–7
Kenya Mike Kirkland 4
Kenya Jayant Shah 4
United Kingdom Tony Pond 5
Greece George Moschous 6
New Zealand Reg Cook 7
Finland Erkki Pitkänen 9
Finland Peter Geitel 12
France Citroën Competitions Citroën Visa M France Maurice Chomat 1, 3, 6, 12
France Alain Coppier 1, 3, 5–6, 9–10, 12
France Christian Dorche 1–3, 5–6, 12
France Philippe Wambergue 3, 6, 12
France Christian Rio 3, 6, 12
Japan Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer 2000 Turbo Y Austria Georg Fischer 3, 9
Finland Harri Toivonen 9, 12
France BMW Motul BMW M1 P France Bernard Béguin 5
Italy Jolly Club Lancia Rally 037 P Italy Adartico Vudafieri 5, 10
Italy Miki Biasion 10
Italy Tonino Tognana 10
Japan Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica TCT P Sweden Björn Waldegård 9, 11–12
Finland Juha Kankkunen 9, 11–12
Sweden Per Eklund 11
Italy Pro Motor Sport Ferrari 308 GTB M Sweden Björn Waldegård 10
Italy Federico Ormezzano 10
Italy Maurizio Cavalli 10
United Kingdom GM Dealer Sport Vauxhall Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR M United Kingdom Russell Brookes 12
United Kingdom Terry Kaby 12
United Kingdom George Hill 12

Events

Map

Black = Tarmac Brown = Gravel Blue = Snow/Ice Red = Mixed Surface

Schedule and results

Round Rally name Stages Podium finishers
Rank Driver Co-driver Car Time
1 Monaco
Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo
(22–29 January)
30 stages
709 km
Tarmac
1 West Germany Walter Röhrl West Germany Christian Geistdörfer Lancia Rallye 037 7:58:57
2 Finland Markku Alén Finland Ilkka Kivimäki Lancia Rallye 037 8:05:59
3 Sweden Stig Blomqvist Sweden Björn Cederberg Audi Quattro A1 8:10:15
2 Sweden
Swedish Rally[1]
(11–13 February)
24 stages
466 km
Snow/Ice
1 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz Audi Quattro A1 4:28:47
2 Sweden Stig Blomqvist Sweden Björn Cederberg Audi 80 Quattro 4:29:34
3 Finland Lasse Lampi Finland Pentti Kuukkala Audi Quattro A1 4:32:51
3 Portugal
Rallye de Portugal
(2–5 March)
40 stages
642 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz Audi Quattro A1 7:17:24
2 France Michèle Mouton Italy Fabrizia Pons Audi Quattro A1 7:18:19
3 West Germany Walter Röhrl West Germany Christian Geistdörfer Lancia Rallye 037 7:19:14
4 Kenya
Safari Rally
(30 March – 4 April)
87 controls
5035 km
Gravel
1 Finland Ari Vatanen United Kingdom Terry Harryman Opel Ascona 400 +3:96 pen
2 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz Audi Quattro A1 +4:02 pen
3 France Michèle Mouton Italy Fabrizia Pons Audi Quattro A1 +4:55 pen
5 France
Tour de Corse
(5–7 May)
28 stages
1008 km
Tarmac
1 Finland Markku Alén Finland Ilkka Kivimäki Lancia Rallye 037 12:43:38
2 West Germany Walter Röhrl West Germany Christian Geistdörfer Lancia Rallye 037 12:45:27
3 Italy Adartico Vudafieri Italy Luigi Pirollo Lancia Rallye 037 12:50:08
6 Greece
Acropolis Rally Greece
(30 May – 2 June)
45 stages
836 km
Gravel
1 West Germany Walter Röhrl West Germany Christian Geistdörfer Lancia Rallye 037 11:12:22
2 Finland Markku Alén Finland Ilkka Kivimäki Lancia Rallye 037 11:18:42
3 Sweden Stig Blomqvist Sweden Björn Cederberg Audi Quattro A2 11:26:18
7 New Zealand
Rally New Zealand
(25–28 June)
33 stages
1069 km
Gravel
1 West Germany Walter Röhrl West Germany Christian Geistdörfer Lancia Rallye 037 12:10:13
2 Finland Timo Salonen Finland Seppo Harjanne Nissan 240RS 12:26:11
3 Italy Attilio Bettega Italy Maurizio Perissinot Lancia Rallye 037 12:41:42
8 Argentina
Rally Argentina
(2–6 August)
18 stages
1274 km
Gravel
1 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz Audi Quattro A2 10:18:54
2 Sweden Stig Blomqvist Sweden Björn Cederberg Audi Quattro A2 10:21:28
3 France Michèle Mouton Italy Fabrizia Pons Audi Quattro A2 10:25:35
9 Finland
Rally Finland
(26–28 August)
50 stages
473 km
Gravel
1 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz Audi Quattro A2 4:23:44
2 Sweden Stig Blomqvist Sweden Björn Cederberg Audi Quattro A2 4:24:05
3 Finland Markku Alén Finland Ilkka Kivimäki Lancia Rallye 037 4:24:33
10 Italy
Rallye Sanremo
(2–8 October)
58 stages
775 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1 Finland Markku Alén Finland Ilkka Kivimäki Lancia Rallye 037 8:50:17
2 West Germany Walter Röhrl West Germany Christian Geistdörfer Lancia Rallye 037 8:52:26
3 Italy Attilio Bettega Italy Maurizio Perissinot Lancia Rallye 037 8:55:27
11 Ivory Coast
Rallye Côte d'Ivoire[1]
(25–30 October)
54 controls
4600 km
Gravel
1 Sweden Björn Waldegård Sweden Hans Thorszelius Toyota Celica TCT +5:18 pen
2 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz Audi Quattro A2 +5:29 pen
3 Sweden Per Eklund United Kingdom Dave Whittock Toyota Celica TCT +6:58 pen
12 United Kingdom
RAC Rally
(19–23 November)
57 stages
790 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1 Sweden Stig Blomqvist Sweden Björn Cederberg Audi Quattro A2 8:50:28
2 Finland Hannu Mikkola Sweden Arne Hertz Audi Quattro A2 9:00:21
3 United Kingdom Jimmy McRae United Kingdom Ian Grindrod Opel Manta 400 9:12:19

Standings

Drivers' championship

Rank Driver Event Total
points
Monaco
MON
Sweden
SWE
Portugal
POR
Kenya
KEN
France
FRA
Greece
GRC
New Zealand
NZL
Argentina
ARG
Finland
FIN
Italy
ITA
Ivory Coast
CIV
United Kingdom
GBR
1 Finland Hannu Mikkola (10)20201520201515 125
2 West Germany Walter Röhrl 201215202015 102
3 Finland Markku Alén 1510201581220 100
4 Sweden Stig Blomqvist 121512151520 89
5 France Michèle Mouton 101512124 53
6 Finland Ari Vatanen 862010 44
7 Italy Attilio Bettega 1081212 42
8 Finland Lasse Lampi 12410 26
9 Kenya Shekhar Mehta 61010 26
10 Sweden Per Eklund 1012 22
11 Sweden Björn Waldegård 20 20
12 Italy Adartico Vudafieri 812 20
13 Finland Timo Salonen 153 18
14 Finland Henri Toivonen 613 16
15 United Kingdom Jimmy McRae 312 15
16 Sweden Kalle Grundel 83 11
17 Kenya Jayant Shah 10 10
France Alain Ambrosino 10 10
19 Finland Juha Kankkunen 64 10
20 France Bruno Saby 18 9
21 Kenya Johnny Hellier 8 8
New Zealand Reg Cook 8 8
Finland Pentti Airikkala 8 8
Italy Miki Biasion 8 8
Ivory Coast Eugène Salim 8 8
United Kingdom Russell Brookes 8 8
27 Austria Franz Wittmann 44 8
28 Spain Antonio Zanini 6 6
West Germany Wolfgang Stiller 6 6
United Kingdom Tony Pond 6 6
New Zealand Possum Bourne 6 6
Austria Franz Wurz 6 6
Italy Dario Cerrato 6 6
United States John Buffum 6 6
35 France Jean Ragnotti 4 4
Sweden Sören Nilsson 4 4
Kenya Manoj Shah 4 4
France Jean-Sébastien Couloumiès 4 4
New Zealand Michael Bish 4 4
Argentina Ernesto Soto 4 4
41 France Jean-Claude Andruet 3 3
Sweden Mikael Ericsson 3 3
United Kingdom Terry Kaby 3 3
Kenya Paul de Voest 3 3
France Alain Coppier 3 3
New Zealand Peter Watt 3 3
Argentina Jorge Recalde 3 3
Italy Lucky 3 3
49 Finland Mikael Sundström 12 3
50 France Francis Serpaggi 2 2
Sweden Lars-Erik Walfridsson 2 2
France Christian Dorche 2 2
France Jean-Michel Guyot 2 2
France Philippe Wambergue 2 2
New Zealand Mike Cameron 2 2
Argentina Carlos Celis 2 2
Finland Erkki Pitkänen 2 2
France Bernard Darniche 2 2
59 Sweden Ola Strömberg 1 1
Belgium Marc Duez 1 1
France Jean-Louis Ravenel 1 1
France Maurice Chomat 1 1
Argentina Gerardo Campo 1 1
Italy Gabriele Noberasco 1 1
Sweden Mats Holmbom 1 1

Manufacturers' championship

Rank Manufacturers Event Total
points
Monaco
MON
Portugal
POR
Kenya
KEN
France
FRA
Greece
GRC
New Zealand
NZL
Argentina
ARG
Finland
FIN
Italy
ITA
United Kingdom
GBR
1 Italy Lancia 1814181818(10)1418 118
2 West Germany Audi 141816141818(6)18 116
3 West Germany Opel 10(9)18121291214 87
4 Japan Nissan 41288164 52
5 France Renault 61011 27
6 Japan Toyota 1086 24
7 Japan Subaru 13 13
8 United Kingdom British Leyland Cars 11 11
West Germany Volkswagen 11 11
10 France Peugeot 10 10
United Kingdom Vauxhall 10 10
12 Japan Mazda 9 9
Italy Alfa Romeo 9 9
14 France Citroën 252 9
15 United Kingdom Talbot 8 8
16 Japan Mitsubishi 7 7

Pointscoring systems

Drivers' championship

Points awarded by finish 1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th
20151210864321

Manufacturers' championship

Overall
finish
Group finish
12345678910
118
21716
3161514
415141312
51413121110
61312111098
71211109876
81110987654
91098765432
109876543211

References

  1. 1 2 Event not included in the Manufacturers' Championship
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