|
|
After round eight of the season, Rally Argentina, Carlos Sainz had won five events and his title defense looked very strong indeed. Kankkunen won the next two events whereas in both Carlos went off, his roll in Australia being so violent that he had to contest San Remo wearing neck brace.
Season ended in a show-down at british forests from where Juha emerged as a winner and became first driver to win championship title more than twice.
Similar late-season charge was apparent in manufacturers championship too. Largely thanks to Sainz, Toyota had sizeable lead by mid-season but scored only 14 points in four final makes events while Lancia won all four.
|
Calendar was expanded to 14 events with addition of Rally Catalunya, a former European Rally Championship round.
|
There was only one debut of a completely new car, that of long-awaited Nissan Sunny GTI-R. Given the subsequent lessons, it was interesting that this car was debuted in arduous conditions of Safari rally. Sunny was an advanced design but suffered from having to use Dunlop tyres which were no match to Michelin or Pirelli but even more so from bad position of intercooler.
|
|
|
Drivers scoring their
|
first win
K. Shinozuka (Ivory Coast)
A. Schwarz (Catalunya)
first drivers' point
J. Puras (Portugal)
E. Harrach (Portugal)
G. Jack (Safari)
P. Bugalski (Corsica)
J. Manzagol (Corsica)
B. Stokes (New Zealand)
B. Watkin (New Zealand)
M. Sillankorva (Argentina)
M. bin Sulayem (Argentina)
N. Bates (Australia)
A. Aghini (San Remo)
J. Dupuis (Ivory Coast)
D. Chaballe (Ivory Coast)
P. Doue (Ivory Coast)
N. Min (Ivory Coast)
J. Ponce (Catalunya)
L. Monzon (Catalunya)
F. Capdevila (Catalunya)
J. Bardolet (Catalunya)
J. Casasayas (Catalunya)
L. Aitken-Walker (Great Britain)
first stage win
F. Delecour (Monte Carlo)
T. Makinen (Finland)
J. Bardolet (Catalunya)
|
|
