1988 World Rally Championship

The 1988 World Rally Championship was the 16th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC). The season consisted of 13 rallies, following the same schedule as the previous season.

Martini Lancia followed their successful previous season with an even more dominant performance in 1988, winning ten of the eleven rallies in which manufacturer points were awarded. The Lancia Delta HF 4WD proved fast and reliable in the hands of returning drivers Finn Markku Alén and Italian Miki Biasion. During the season, the car was replaced by the Delta HF Integrale, which was an immediate success. Biasion would take the drivers' title, with his Finnish teammate placing second behind him. Third driver Frenchman Bruno Saby also contributed to the effort with a rally win, though was not a major contender for the title. Jolly Club driver, Italian Alex Fiorio, would take third place in the driver championship at the wheel of a Lancia Delta as well.

Ford Motor Company struggled to compete, though it was the only other manufacturer besides Lancia to win a rally, with primary driver Didier Auriol winning the Tour de Corse in his Sierra RS Cosworth. Auriol would only reach 6th in the drivers' competition, while Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz would struggle to reach 11th in the standings. Stig Blomqvist, racing for Rallysport Sweden in a Sierra, would finish best amongst Ford drivers, taking 4th in the championship standings.

1988 marked the withdrawal of Audi Sport from the WRC, although a number of small teams and privateers were successful enough using Audi Quattro versions for the manufacturer to place 3rd amongst manufacturers despite the lack of a works effort. Mazda Rally Team Europe made a significant effort to compete with Finn Timo Salonen as their primary driver for the Mazda 323 4WD. Timo would garner 5th place in the driver standings while the manufacturer gained 4th place.

In addition to the primary driver and manufacturer championships, WRC also awarded the FIA Cup for Drivers of Production Cars for a second season. Belgian Pascal Gaban won the hotly contested contest in a Mazda 323 against Argentine Jorge Recalde in his Lancia Delta while Italian Giovanni Del Zoppo, another Delta pilot, finished well behind in third place.

Teams and drivers

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Team Manufacturer Car Tyre Drivers Rounds
  Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD
Delta HF Integrale
M   Miki Biasion 1, 3–4, 6–7, 9, 12
  Bruno Saby 1, 5
  Yves Loubet 1, 5
  Mikael Ericsson 2–3, 6, 10, 13
  Markku Alén 2–3, 6, 10, 12–13
  Vic Preston Jr 4
  Jorge Recalde 9
  Mazda Rally Team Europe Mazda 323 4WD M   Timo Salonen 1–2, 6, 10, 13
  Hannu Mikkola 1–3, 6, 10, 13
  Ingvar Carlsson 1–3
  Thorbjörn Edling 2, 10
  Pascal Gaban 2–3, 6, 10–13
  Rod Millen 7
  Grégoire de Mévius 10, 13
  Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF 4WD
Delta HF Integrale
P   Alex Fiorio 1–3, 6–7, 10, 12
  Yves Loubet 3, 6, 12
  Dario Cerrato 12
  Chantal Galli 12
  Philips Renault Elf Renault 11 Turbo M   Alain Oreille 1
  Inverno Amaral 3
  Bento Amaral 3
  Citroën Compétitions Citroën AX Sport M   Maurice Chomat 1–2, 5
  Dany Montagne 1, 3, 5, 12–13
  Denise Jacques 1, 3, 5, 12–13
  Rufino Fontes 3
  Carole Vergnaud 3, 12–13
  Laurent Poggi 5
  Massimo Ercolani 12
  Terry Kaby 13
  Top Run SRL Lancia Delta HF 4WD
Delta HF Integrale
M
P
  Giovanni del Zoppo 1, 3, 5–7, 10, 12
  Jorge Recalde 3, 5–7, 10, 12–13
  Massimo Ercolani 6, 10, 13
  Fredrik Skoghag 13
  Peugeot France Peugeot 205 GTI M   Jean-Pierre Ballet 1
  Simon Racing Renault 5 GT Turbo M   Richard Frau 1, 5
  Christophe Lapierre 1
  Alain Oreille 5
  Audi Sport Audi Coupé Quattro
200 Quattro
90 Quattro
M   Christophe Spiliotis 1
  Sebastian Lindholm 2–3, 6, 13
  David Llewellin 3
  Georg Fischer 3, 7, 9
  Rudi Stohl 4, 6, 9, 11
  John Buffum 7
  Malcolm Stewart 8
  Paola de Martini 12
  Armin Schwarz 13
  Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Sierra RS Cosworth M
P
  Stig Blomqvist 2–3, 10, 12–13
  Didier Auriol 3, 5, 10, 12
  Carlos Sainz 3, 5, 10, 12–13
  Joaquim Santos 3
  John Hellier 4
  Pierre-César Baroni 5
  Gianfranco Cunico 12
  David Llewellin 13
  Mark Lovell 13
  GM Euro Sport Opel
Vauxhall
Kadett GSI 16V
Astra GTE
M   Mats Jonsson 2, 10, 13
  Malcolm Wilson 2, 6, 13
  Björn Johansson 2
  Håkan Eriksson 2
  Hannu Mikkola 4
  Sepp Haider 4, 8
  Derek Bell 13
  David Metcalfe 13
  Chris Birkbeck 13
  Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V P   Erwin Weber 3–4
  Lars-Erik Torph 4
  Konstantinos Apostolou 6, 13
  Raimund Baumschlager 12
  Toyota Team Europe Toyota Supra Turbo
Celica GT-Four ST165
P   Kenneth Eriksson 4–5, 10, 12–13
  Juha Kankkunen 4–6, 10, 12–13
  Björn Waldegård 4, 6, 13
  Jimmy McRae 13
  Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX D   Per Eklund 4
  Alain Ambrosino 4, 11
  Mike Kirkland 4
  Jayant Shah 4
  Stratis Hatzipanayiotou 6
  Flory Roothaert 6
  Paddy Davidson 8
  Fuji Heavy Industries Subaru RX Turbo D   Peter 'Possum' Bourne 4, 8
  Ian Duncan 4
  Patrick Njiru 4
  José Celsi 9
  Bastos Motul BMW BMW M3 P   Bernard Béguin 5
  François Chatriot 5
  Marc Duez 5
  Ari Vatanen 10
  Andrea Zanussi 12
  Gema Racing Alfa Romeo 75 V6 P   Paul Rouby 5
  Jacques Panciatici 5
  Suzuki Sport Suzuki Cultus GTI Y   Alan Carter 7
  Nobuhiro Tajima 7
  Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 M   Kenjiro Shinozuka 8, 13
  Ari Vatanen 13
  Lancia Rally Team Austria Lancia Delta HF Integrale M   Franz Wittmann 9

Events

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1988 World Rally Championship event map
 
Black = Tarmac Brown = Gravel Blue = Snow/Ice Red = Mixed Surface
1988 World Rally Championship schedule and results
Round Rally name Stages Podium finishers
Rank Driver Co-driver Team Car Time
1   Rallye Monte Carlo
(16–21 January)
26 stages
624 km
Tarmac
1   Bruno Saby   Jean-François Fauchille   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 7:19.11
2   Alex Fiorio   Luigi Pirollo   Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF 4WD 7:30.01
3   Jean-Pierre Ballet   Marie-Christine Lallement   Peugeot France Peugeot 205 GTI 7:42.46
2   Swedish Rally
(4–6 February)
35 stages
491 km
Snow/Ice
1   Markku Alén   Ilkka Kivimäki   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 5:02.31
2   Stig Blomqvist   Benny Melander   Rallysport Sweden Ford Sierra XR 4x4 5:04.08
3   Lars-Erik Torph   Tina Thörner   Team VAG Sweden Audi Coupé Quattro 5:10.03
3   Rallye de Portugal
(1–6 March)
37 stages
589 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1   Miki Biasion   Carlo Cassina   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 6:44.01
2   Alex Fiorio   Luigi Pirollo   Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF 4WD 6:52.47
3   Yves Loubet   Jean-Bernard Vieu   Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF 4WD 6:53.23
4   Safari Rally
(31 March – 4 April)
82 controls
4205 km
Gravel
1   Miki Biasion   Tiziano Siviero   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 2:51.04
2   Mike Kirkland   Robin Nixon   Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX 3:03.57
3   Per Eklund   Dave Whittock   Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX 3:38.26
5   Tour de Corse
(3–6 May)
30 stages
623 km
Tarmac
1   Didier Auriol   Bernard Occelli   Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 7:12.04
2   Yves Loubet   Jean-Bernard Vieu   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 7:15.09
3   Bruno Saby   Jean-François Fauchille   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 7:16:53
6   Acropolis Rally
(29 May – 1 June)
36 stages
526 km
Gravel
1   Miki Biasion   Tiziano Siviero   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 7:03.00
2   Mikael Ericsson   Claes Billstam   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 7:04.43
3   Alex Fiorio   Luigi Pirollo   Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF Integrale 7:10.40
7   Olympus Rally
(23–26 June)
36 stages
502 km
Gravel
1   Miki Biasion   Tiziano Siviero   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 5:28.44
2   Alex Fiorio   Luigi Pirollo   Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF Integrale 5:34.07
3   John Buffum   John Bellefleur   Audi of America Audi Coupé Quattro 5:44.59
8   Rally New Zealand[1]
(9–12 July)
39 stages
611 km
Gravel
1   Sepp Haider   Ferdi Hinterleitner   GM Euro Sport Opel Kadett GSI 16V 7:38.39
2   Ray Wilson   Stuart Lewis   Mobil 1 Racing Mazda 323 4WD 7:57.16
3   Malcolm Stewart   John Kennard   Audi Sport New Zealand Audi Coupe Quattro 8:02.25
9   Rally Argentina
(2–6 August)
29 stages
588 km
Gtavel
1   Jorge Recalde   Jorge del Buono   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 7:05.16
2   Miki Biasion   Tiziano Siviero   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 7:08.51
3   Franz Wittmann   Jörg Pattermann   Lancia Rally Team Austria Lancia Delta HF Integrale 7:34.13
10   1000 Lakes Rally
(26–28 August)
39 stages
496 km
Gravel
1   Markku Alén   Ilkka Kivimäki   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 4:35.29
2   Mikael Ericsson   Claes Billstam   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 4:38.24
3   Didier Auriol   Bernard Occelli   Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4:45.15
11   Rallye Côte d'Ivoire[1]
(20–24 September)
80 controls
3421 km
Gravel
1   Alain Ambrosino   Daniel Le Saux   Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX +3:34.51 pen
2   Pascal Gaban   Willy Lux   Mazda Rally Team Belgium Mazda 323 4WD +5:06.33 pen
3   Patrick Tauziac   Claude Papin   Ralliart Mitsubishi Starion Turbo +7:20.20 pen
12   Rallye Sanremo
(10–14 October)
39 stages
531 km
Tarmac/Gravel
1   Miki Biasion   Tiziano Siviero   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 6:06.41
2   Alex Fiorio   Luigi Pirollo   Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF Integrale 6:07.34
3   Dario Cerrato   Giuseppe Cerri   Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF Integrale 6:08.35
13   RAC Rally
(20–24 November)
52 stages
602 km
Tarmac/Gravel
1   Markku Alén   Ilkka Kivimäki   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale 7:15.37
2   Timo Salonen   Voitto Silander   Mazda Rally Team Europe Mazda 323 4WD 7:19.43
3   Björn Waldegård   Fred Gallagher   Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 7:22.16
  1. ^ a b Event not included in the Manufacturers' Championship

Championship for manufacturers

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1988 World Rally Championship for Manufacturers
Rank Manufacturers Event Total
points
 
MON
 
SWE
 
POR
 
KEN
 
FRA
 
GRC
 
USA
 
ARG
 
FIN
 
ITA
 
GBR
1   Lancia (20) (20) (20) 20 (17) 20 20 20 20 20 20 140
2   Ford 17 10 20 14 10 8 79
3   Audi 7 14 4 10 14 12 (2) (2) 10 71
4   Mazda 10 12 9 6 12 17 66
5   Toyota 12 8 4 8 14 46
6   Renault 12 4 8 8 32
7   BMW 13 12 25
8   Nissan 17 6 23
9   Subaru 8 10 18
10   Peugeot 14 1 15
11   Volkswagen 6 4 4 14
12   Opel 10 1 2 13
13   Suzuki 8 1 9
14   Mitsubishi 7 7
15   Alfa Romeo 4 4
16   Fiat 2 2

Championship for drivers

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1988 World Rally Championship for Drivers
Rank Driver Event Total
points
 
MON
 
SWE
 
POR
 
KEN
 
FRA
 
GRC
 
USA
 
NZL
 
ARG
 
FIN
 
CIV
 
ITA
 
GBR
1   Miki Biasion 20 20 20 20 15 20 115
2   Markku Alén 20 6 10 20 10 20 86
3   Alex Fiorio 15 15 12 15 4 15 76
4   Stig Blomqvist 15 8 8 4 6 41
5   Timo Salonen 8 10 15 33
6   Bruno Saby 20 12 32
  Didier Auriol 20 12 32
8   Mikael Ericsson 15 15 30
9   Jorge Recalde 1 6 20 27
10   Yves Loubet 12 15 27
11   Carlos Sainz 8 6 8 4 26
12   Kenneth Eriksson 10 6 6 22
13   Rudi Stohl 3 8 10 21
14   Sepp Haider 20 20
  Alain Ambrosino 20 20
16   Pascal Gaban 1 15 16
17   Björn Waldegård 4 12 16
18   Mike Kirkland 15 15
  Ray Wilson 15 15
20   Jean-Pierre Ballet 12 12
  Lars-Erik Torph 12 12
  Per Eklund 12 12
  John Buffum 12 12
  Malcolm Stewart 12 12
  Franz Wittmann Sr. 12 12
  Patrick Tauziac 12 12
  Dario Cerrato 12 12
28   Alain Oreille 10 1 11
29   Giovanni Del Zoppo 3 8 11
30   Erik Johansson 10 10
  Hannu Mikkola 10 10
  François Chatriot 10 10
  Georg Fischer 10 10
  David Officer 10 10
  Alain Oudit 10 10
  Pentti Airikkala 10 10
37   Håkan Eriksson 8 8
  Juha Kankkunen 8 8
  Ross Meekings 8 8
  José Celsi 8 8
  Adolphe Choteau 8 8
  Armin Schwarz 8 8
43   François Chauche 6 6
  Björn Johansson 6 6
  Ian Duncan 6 6
  Jigger 6 6
  Marty Roestenburg 6 6
  Juan Maria Traverso 6 6
  Didier Monin 6 6
50   Christophe Spiliotis 4 4
  Bror Danielsson 4 4
  Erwin Weber 4 4
  Bernard Béguin 4 4
  Stratissino 4 4
  Nobuhiro Tajima 4 4
  Joe McAndrew 4 4
  Marcelo Raies 4 4
  Roberto Ambrosoli 4 4
59   Malcolm Wilson 3 3
  Inverno Amaral 3 3
  Paul Rouby 3 3
  Kóstas Apostolou 3 3
  Rod Millen 3 3
  Tetsuo Sano 3 3
  Claudio Israel 3 3
  Harry Joki 3 3
  Soumare Mafell 3 3
  Raimund Baumschlager 3 3
  Stig-Olov Walfridsson 3 3
70   Tomas Jansson 1 2 3
  Mats Jonsson 1 2 3
72   Pierre Bos 2 2
  Sebastian Lindholm 2 2
  Carlos Bica 2 2
  'Possum' Bourne 2 2
  César Baroni 2 2
  Flory Roothaert 2 2
  Alan Carter 2 2
  Dave Strong 2 2
  José Luis Grasso 2 2
  Michel Molinie 2 2
  Paola De Martini 2 2
83   Richard Frau 1 1
  Jim Heather-Hayes 1 1
  Michael Lieu 1 1
  Murray Walker 1 1
  Fernando Urrutia 1 1
  Samir Assef 1 1
  Paolo Alessandrini 1 1
  Kalle Grundel 1 1
1988 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

Cup for production car drivers

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1988 FIA Cup for Drivers of Production Cars
Rank Driver Event Total
points
 
MON
 
SWE
 
POR
 
KEN
 
FRA
 
GRC
 
USA
 
NZL
 
ARG
 
FIN
 
CIV
 
ITA
 
GBR
1   Pascal Gaban 10 13 13 7 2 45
2   Jorge Recalde 13 10 13 7 43
3   Giovanni Del Zoppo 10 13 7 30
4   Grégoire de Mévius 3 13 16
5   Massimo Ercolani 5 5 5 15
6   François Chauche 13 13
  Sören Nilsson 13 13
  César Baroni 13 13
  Dave Strong 13 13
  Andrea Aghini 13 13
11   Richard Frau 7 5 12

See also

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