1984 World Rally Championship

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The 1984 World Rally Championship was the 12th 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. Stig Blomqvist beat the defending world champion and Audi teammate Hannu Mikkola to the drivers' title. Audi took their second manufacturers' title, ahead of Lancia and the debuting Peugeot.

Summary

Walter Rohrl at the 1984 Rally Portugal Portugal 84 Audi Quattro A2.jpg
Walter Röhrl at the 1984 Rally Portugal

German team Audi Sport put together four of the top drivers in the world, with the defending world champion Hannu Mikkola returning to the team along with Stig Blomqvist. Michèle Mouton had a part-time contract and two-time champion Walter Röhrl was added from Martini Racing. Lancia Martini kept Markku Alén as their primary driver for the season and also featured Miki Biasion and Attilio Bettega. Lancia boss Cesare Fiorio had also signed Henri Toivonen from Porsche, stating that "Audi will have four top drivers next year so it would be very difficult competing with only two." [1]

Michele Mouton at the 1984 RAC Rally Michele Mouton - 1984 RAC Rally.jpg
Michèle Mouton at the 1984 RAC Rally

Blomqvist and Mikkola dominated the season in the Audi Quattro A2, with Blomqvist proving the best with five rally wins. Audi established an early lead, winning six of the first eight events, including sweeping the podium at the first two rallies. Mikkola had to settle for second overall despite a consistently strong season in which he took eight podium finishes. Alén was only able to reach third place, only capturing a single rally win in his Lancia Rally 037.

Late in the season, Ari Vatanen returned to the world rally scene in a Peugeot 205 T16, winning three of the final four rallies and reaching fourth place in the overall standings. His performance showed that Peugeot Sport, headed by Jean Todt, had a winner that could beat the Audi, which they would do in the coming years of Group B dominance.

As with previous seasons, while all twelve events were calculated for tallying the drivers' scores, only ten of the events applied to the championship for manufacturers. The two events in 1984 which applied only to driver standings were the Swedish Rally and the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire.

Teams and drivers

TeamManufacturerCarTyreDriversRounds
Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2
Quattro Sport
M
P
Flag of Germany.svg Walter Röhrl 1, 3, 5–7, 10
Flag of Finland.svg Hannu Mikkola 1, 3–4, 6–9, 11–12
Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist All
Flag of Sweden.svg Per Eklund 2, 9
Flag of France.svg Michèle Mouton 2, 4, 6, 9, 12
Flag of Finland.svg Lasse Lampi 2, 9
Flag of South Africa.svg Sarel van der Merwe 3
Flag of Austria.svg Franz Wittmann 4, 7
Flag of France.svg Bernard Darniche 5
Flag of the United States.svg John Buffum 6, 12
Flag of Argentina.svg Jorge Recalde 8
Flag of Argentina.svg Rubén Luis di Palma 8
Flag of Italy.svg Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 evo P Flag of Finland.svg Markku Alén 1, 3–7, 9–10
Flag of France.svg Jean-Claude Andruet 1, 5
Flag of Italy.svg Attilio Bettega 1, 3, 5–6, 10
Flag of Finland.svg Henri Toivonen 3, 6, 9
Flag of Kenya.svg Vic Preston Jr 4
Flag of Kenya.svg Greg Criticos 4
Flag of Japan.svg Team Nissan Europe Nissan 240RS D Flag of Finland.svg Timo Salonen 1, 4, 6–7, 12
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Terry Kaby 1, 9, 12
Flag of Sweden.svg Sören Nilsson 2
Flag of Finland.svg Erkki Pitkanen 3, 9
Flag of Kenya.svg Shekhar Mehta 4, 6, 11–12
Flag of Kenya.svg Mike Kirkland 4
Flag of Kenya.svg Jayant Shah 4, 6
Flag of Greece.svg George Moschous 6
Flag of Greece.svg Stratis Hatzipanayiotou 6
Flag of New Zealand.svg Reg Cook7
Flag of Finland.svg Pentti Airikkala 9
Flag of Finland.svg Peter Geitel 9, 12
Flag of France.svg Renault Elf Renault 5 Turbo M
P
Flag of France.svg Jean-Luc Thérier 1
Flag of France.svg Bruno Saby 1, 5, 9
Flag of France.svg François Chatriot 1, 5
Flag of France.svg Dany Snobeck 1
Flag of France.svg Jean Ragnotti 3, 5
Flag of Portugal.svg Joaquim Moutinho 3
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Manzagol 5
Flag of France.svg Didier Auriol 5
Flag of France.svg Camille Bartoli 5
Flag of Italy.svg Jolly Club Lancia Rally 037 evo P Flag of Italy.svg Miki Biasion 1, 3, 5–6, 10
Flag of Italy.svg Adartico Vudafieri 5, 10
Flag of Japan.svg Mazda Rally Team Europe Mazda RX-7 P Flag of Germany.svg Achim Warmbold 1, 6
Flag of Finland.svg Minna Sillankorva 1
Flag of Sweden.svg Ingvar Carlsson 6, 12
Flag of France.svg Philippe Wambergue 12
Flag of France.svg Marianne Hoepfner 12
Flag of France.svg Citroën Compétitions Citroën Visa M Flag of France.svg Christian Dorche 1, 3
Flag of France.svg Maurice Chomat 4, 9–10
Flag of France.svg Philippe Wambergue 4, 9–10
Flag of France.svg Christian Rio 4, 9–10
Flag of France.svg Oliver Tabatoni 5–6, 9
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Lovell 12
Flag of Germany.svg Opel Euro Team Opel Ascona 400
Manta 400
M Flag of Sweden.svg Mats Jonsson 2, 12
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alex Jackson 2
Flag of France.svg Guy Frequelin 4–5
Flag of Finland.svg Rauno Aaltonen 4
Flag of Japan.svg Yasuhiro Iwase 4, 8
Flag of France.svg Alain Ambrosino 11
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jimmy McRae 12
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Russell Brookes 12
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Collins12
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bertie Fisher12
Flag of Japan.svg Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica TCT P Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Waldegård 3–4, 7, 9, 12
Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen 3, 7, 9, 12
Flag of Sweden.svg Per Eklund 4, 12
Flag of Italy.svg Sandro Munari 4
Flag of France.svg Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 M Flag of Finland.svg Ari Vatanen 5–6, 9–10, 12
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Nicolas 5–6, 10
Flag of Germany.svg Rothmans Porsche Rally Team Porsche 911SC RS M Flag of Qatar.svg Saeed Al-Hajri 6, 12
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roger Clark 12
Flag of Germany.svg Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTi P Flag of Sweden.svg Kalle Grundel 1–3, 5, 9–10, 12

Events

Map

WRC-1983.png
Black = TarmacBrown = GravelBlue = Snow/iceRed = Mixed surface

Schedule and results

RoundRally nameStagesPodium finishers
RankDriverCo-driverTeamCarTime
1 Flag of Monaco.svg Rallye Monte Carlo
(21–27 January)
30 stages
722 km
Tarmac
1 Flag of Germany.svg Walter Röhrl Flag of Germany.svg Christian Geistdörfer Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 8:52:29
2 Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Cederberg Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 8:53:42
3 Flag of Finland.svg Hannu Mikkola Flag of Sweden.svg Arne Hertz Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 9:05:09
2 Flag of Sweden.svg Swedish Rally [2]
(10–12 February)
27 stages
450 km
Snow/Ice
1 Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Cederberg Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 4:16:45
2 Flag of France.svg Michèle Mouton Flag of Italy.svg Fabrizia Pons Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 4:24:12
3 Flag of Sweden.svg Per Eklund Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Whittock Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 4:33:27
3 Flag of Portugal.svg Rallye de Portugal
(6–11 March)
45 stages
684 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1 Flag of Finland.svg Hannu Mikkola Flag of Sweden.svg Arne Hertz Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 7:35:32
2 Flag of Finland.svg Markku Alén Flag of Finland.svg Ilkka Kivimäki Flag of Italy.svg Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 evo 7:35:59
3 Flag of Italy.svg Attilio Bettega Flag of Italy.svg Maurizio Perissinot Flag of Italy.svg Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 evo 7:58:21
4 Flag of Kenya.svg Safari Rally
(19–23 April)
105 controls
5254 km
Gravel
1 Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Waldegård Flag of Sweden.svg Hans Thorszelius Flag of Japan.svg Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica TCT +2:02 pen
2 Flag of Finland.svg Rauno Aaltonen Flag of Kenya.svg Lofty Drews Flag of Germany.svg Opel Euro Team Opel Manta 400 +2:13 pen
3 Flag of Finland.svg Hannu Mikkola Flag of Sweden.svg Arne Hertz Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 +2:25 pen
5 Flag of France.svg Tour de Corse
(3–5 May)
30 stages
1119 km
Tarmac
1 Flag of Finland.svg Markku Alén Flag of Finland.svg Ilkka Kivimäki Flag of Italy.svg Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 evo 13:24:56
2 Flag of Italy.svg Miki Biasion Flag of Italy.svg Tiziano Siviero Flag of Italy.svg Jolly Club Lancia Rally 037 evo 13:29:11
3 Flag of France.svg Jean Ragnotti Flag of France.svg Pierre Thimonier Flag of France.svg Renault Elf Renault 5 Turbo 13:33:16
6 Flag of Greece.svg Acropolis Rally
(28–31 May)
47 stages
830 km
Gravel
1 Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Cederberg Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 10:41:51
2 Flag of Finland.svg Hannu Mikkola Flag of Sweden.svg Arne Hertz Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 10:44:58
3 Flag of Finland.svg Markku Alén Flag of Finland.svg Ilkka Kivimäki Flag of Italy.svg Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 evo 10:56:01
7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Rally New Zealand
(23–26 June)
45 stages
1044 km
Gravel
1 Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Cederberg Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 10:40:41
2 Flag of Finland.svg Markku Alén Flag of Finland.svg Ilkka Kivimäki Flag of Italy.svg Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 evo 10:45:28
3 Flag of Finland.svg Hannu Mikkola Flag of Sweden.svg Arne Hertz Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 10:48:10
8 Flag of Argentina.svg Rally Argentina
(27 July – 1 August)
23 stages
948 km
Gravel
1 Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Cederberg Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 10:33:38
2 Flag of Finland.svg Hannu Mikkola Flag of Sweden.svg Arne Hertz Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 10:36:54
3 Flag of Argentina.svg Jorge Recalde Flag of Argentina.svg Jorge del Bouno Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 10:38:48
9 Flag of Finland.svg 1000 Lakes Rally
(24–26 August)
50 stages
457 km
Gravel
1 Flag of Finland.svg Ari Vatanen Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Terry Harryman Flag of France.svg Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 4:07:27
2 Flag of Finland.svg Markku Alén Flag of Finland.svg Ilkka Kivimäki Flag of Italy.svg Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 evo 4:08:26
3 Flag of Finland.svg Henri Toivonen Flag of Finland.svg Juha Piironen Flag of Italy.svg Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 evo 4:10:19
10 Flag of Italy.svg Rallye Sanremo
(30 September – 5 October)
46 stages
777 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1 Flag of Finland.svg Ari Vatanen Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Terry Harryman Flag of France.svg Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 8:44:34
2 Flag of Italy.svg Attilio Bettega Flag of Italy.svg Maurizio Perissinot Flag of Italy.svg Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 evo 8:50:01
3 Flag of Italy.svg Miki Biasion Flag of Italy.svg Tiziano Siviero Flag of Italy.svg Jolly Club Lancia Rally 037 evo 8:53:58
11 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Rallye Côte d'Ivoire [2]
(31 October – 5 November)
46 controls
4012 km
Gravel
1 Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Cederberg Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Sport Quattro +5:24 pen
2 Flag of Finland.svg Hannu Mikkola Flag of Sweden.svg Arne Hertz Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 +5:46 pen
3 Flag of Kenya.svg Shekhar Mehta Flag of Kenya.svg Yvonne Mehta Flag of Japan.svg Team Nissan Europe Nissan 240RS +6:28 pen
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg RAC Rally
(November 25–29)
56 stages
863 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1 Flag of Finland.svg Ari Vatanen Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Terry Harryman Flag of France.svg Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 9:19:48
2 Flag of Finland.svg Hannu Mikkola Flag of Sweden.svg Arne Hertz Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2 9:20:29
3 Flag of Sweden.svg Per Eklund Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Whittock Flag of Japan.svg Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica TCT 9:37:07

Standings

Drivers' championship

RankDriverEventTotal
points
Flag of Monaco.svg
MON
Flag of Sweden.svg
SWE
Flag of Portugal.svg
POR
Flag of Kenya.svg
KEN
Flag of France.svg
FRA
Flag of Greece.svg
GRC
Flag of New Zealand.svg
NZL
Flag of Argentina.svg
ARG
Flag of Finland.svg
FIN
Flag of Italy.svg
ITA
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg
CIV
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
GBR
1 Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist 152000(8)202020100200125
2 Flag of Finland.svg Hannu Mikkola 12201215(12)1501515104
3 Flag of Finland.svg Markku Alén 3151020121515090
4 Flag of Finland.svg Ari Vatanen 0020202060
5 Flag of Italy.svg Attilio Bettega 8124101549
6 Flag of Italy.svg Miki Biasion 6101501243
7 Flag of Sweden.svg Per Eklund 12061230
8 Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Waldegård 02080028
9 Flag of Kenya.svg Shekhar Mehta 08412327
10 Flag of Finland.svg Timo Salonen 14610627
11 Flag of Germany.svg Walter Röhrl 206000026
12 Flag of France.svg Michèle Mouton 150001025
13 Flag of France.svg Jean Ragnotti 81220
14 Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Nicolas 100818
15 Flag of Finland.svg Rauno Aaltonen 1515
16 Flag of Argentina.svg Jorge Recalde -1212
Flag of Finland.svg Henri Toivonen 0012
18 Flag of Sweden.svg Kalle Grundel 20406012
19 Flag of France.svg Jean-Luc Thérier 1010
Flag of Sweden.svg Mats Jonsson 100
Flag of Argentina.svg Mario Stillo 10
Flag of Italy.svg Fabrizio Tabaton 10
Flag of France.svg Alain Ambrosino 10
24 Flag of Sweden.svg Lars-Erik Torph 808
Flag of the United States.svg John Buffum 80
Flag of Japan.svg Yasuhiro Iwase 8
Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen 0080
Flag of Kenya.svg David Horsey 8
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Russell Brookes 8
30 Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Johansson 66
Flag of Kenya.svg Vic Preston, Jr. 6
Flag of France.svg Jean-Claude Andruet 06
Flag of New Zealand.svg Reg Cook 6
Flag of Argentina.svg Miguel Torrás 6
Flag of France.svg Patrick Tauziac 6
36 Flag of France.svg Bernard Darniche 404
Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth Eriksson 40
Flag of New Zealand.svg Malcolm Stewart 4
Flag of Argentina.svg Carlos Bassi 4
Flag of Finland.svg Erkki Pitkänen 04
Flag of San Marino.svg Massimo Ercolani 4
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jimmy McRae 4
43 Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Andervang 303
Flag of Portugal.svg Jorge Ortigão 3
Flag of Austria.svg Franz Wittmann 30
Flag of France.svg François Chatriot 03
Flag of Greece.svg Iórgos Moschous 3
Flag of New Zealand.svg 'Possum' Bourne 3
Flag of Argentina.svg Hugo Hernández 3
Flag of France.svg Bruno Saby 0030
Flag of Austria.svg Gerhard Kalnay 3
52 Flag of Japan.svg Yoshio Iwashita 213
53 Flag of Sweden.svg Gunnar Pettersson 22
Flag of France.svg Christian Dorche 02
Flag of France.svg Guy Fréquelin 02
Flag of Germany.svg Achim Warmbold 02
Flag of New Zealand.svg Tony Teesdale 2
Flag of Argentina.svg Monnenmacher Pérez 2
Flag of Finland.svg Jouko Pöysti 20
Flag of Italy.svg Michele Rayneri 2
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bertie Fisher 2
62 Flag of Sweden.svg Jerry Åhlin 101
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Russell Gooding 10
Flag of Kenya.svg Basil Criticos 1
Flag of France.svg Yves Loubet 01
Flag of New Zealand.svg Blair Robson 1
Flag of Argentina.svg Walter d'Agostini 1
Flag of Finland.svg Kalevi Aho 1
Flag of Austria.svg Werner Grissmann 01
Flag of Sweden.svg Mikael Ericsson 001

Manufacturers' championship

RankManufacturersEventTotal
points
Flag of Monaco.svg
MON
Flag of Portugal.svg
POR
Flag of Kenya.svg
KEN
Flag of France.svg
FRA
Flag of Greece.svg
GRC
Flag of New Zealand.svg
NZL
Flag of Argentina.svg
ARG
Flag of Finland.svg
FIN
Flag of Italy.svg
ITA
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
GBR
1 Flag of Germany.svg Audi 181814(10)18181816120
2 Flag of Italy.svg Lancia (10)16121814161616108
3 Flag of France.svg Peugeot 12818181874
4 Flag of Japan.svg Toyota 101810101462
5 Flag of France.svg Renault 12101415455
6 Flag of Germany.svg Opel 16211271048
7 Flag of Japan.svg Nissan 2108126846
8 Flag of Germany.svg Volkswagen 9121334
9 Flag of Japan.svg Subaru 1111
10 Flag of Italy.svg Alfa Romeo 99
Flag of Italy.svg Fiat 99
12 Flag of the United States.svg Ford 66
13 Flag of France.svg Citroën 44
14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Vauxhall 22
Flag of Japan.svg Mazda 22
Flag of Japan.svg Mitsubishi 22

Pointscoring systems

Drivers' championship

Points awarded by finish1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th
20151210864321

Manufacturers' championship

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

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References

  1. Collins, Peter (2008). Lancia 037: The Development & Rally History of a World Champion. Veloce Publishing Ltd. p. 138. ISBN   978-1-84584-076-1.
  2. 1 2 Event not included in the Manufacturers' Championship