1979 World Rally Championship

The 1979 World Rally Championship was the seventh season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC). The season consisted of 12 rallies, one more than the previous year. The addition marked the return to New Zealand, an event which would remain on the schedule through today.

1979 World Rally Championship
World Drivers' Champion:
Björn Waldegård
World Manufacturers' Champion:
Ford
Previous: 1978 Next: 1980

1979 marked the first season for the new World Rally Championship for Drivers. This successor to the preceding FIA Cup for Rally Drivers was aligned with the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers. Both championships used the same schedule of events for accumulating points toward the titles, although the point awarding methods were different for each. Manufacturers continued to receive points under the system adopted in 1977, in which points were garnered for both placement overall and placement within the car's group. Only the top finishing car from each manufacturer would garner points, and regardless of group finish, an overall finish of 10th or better was required to obtain points. Drivers were awarded points on the former system, simply based on overall finish, from 20 points for 1st place to 1 point for 10th place.

After several years of competitive but ultimately unsuccessful attempts to seize the championship, Ford finally gathered its first WRC manufacturer's title. A strong season which included five rally wins gave it the edge over new challenger Datsun, whose 160J (Violet) proved successful, and former champion Fiat. Ford's fortune would be short-lived however, and despite determined and competitive participation in WRC events, 1979 would be the company's sole WRC title until their return to victory in 2006.

The competition for the first WRC driver's title was extremely close, and ultimately was decided by the two contenders placing first and second in the final rally of the season. The final difference between the winner, Swede Björn Waldegård, and the runner-up, Finn Hannu Mikkola, was only a single point.

Events

1979 World Rally Championship event map
Black = Tarmac Brown = Gravel Blue = Snow/Ice Red = Mixed Surface
1979 World Rally Championship schedule and results
Round Rally name Stages Podium finishers
Rank Driver Co-driver Team Car Time
1
Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo
(20 January–26 January)
30 stages
619 km
Tarmac
1 Bernard Darniche Alain Mahé Team Chardonnet Lancia Stratos HF 8:13.38
2 Björn Waldegård Hans Thorszelius Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 8:13.44
3 Markku Alén Ilkka Kivimäki Alitalia Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth 8:17.47
2
Swedish Rally
(16 February–18 February)
38 stages
630 km
Snow/Ice
1 Stig Blomqvist Björn Cederberg Saab 99 Turbo 6:34.49
2 Björn Waldegård Hans Thorszelius Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 6:36.09
3 Pentti Airikkala Risto Virtanen Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS 6:39.31
3
Rallye de Portugal
(6 March–11 March)
45 stages
735 km
Tarmac/Gravel
1 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 9:13.52
2 Björn Waldegård Hans Thorszelius Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 9:16.36
3 Ove Andersson Henry Liddon Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica 2000GT 9:35.00
4
Safari Rally
(April 12–16)
82 controls
5028 km
Gravel
1 Shekhar Mehta Mike Doughty DT Dobie Team Datsun Datsun 160J +6:27 pen
2 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz DT Dobie Daimler-Benz Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0 +7:15 pen
3 Markku Alén Ilkka Kivimäki Alitalia Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth +7:20 pen
5
Acropolis Rally
(May 28–31)
54 stages
1008 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1 Björn Waldegård Hans Thorszelius Rothmans Rally Team Ford Escort RS1800 13:35.06
2 Timo Salonen Seppo Harjanne N. I. Theocharakis Datsun 160J 14:07.04
3 Harry Källström Claes Billstam N. I. Theocharakis Datsun 160J 14:11.39
6
Rally New Zealand
(14 July–18 July)
42 stages
672 km
Tarmac/Gravel
1 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Masport Ford Escort RS1800 8:05.45,8
2 Blair Robson Chris Porter Masport Ford Escort RS1800 8:27.03,0
3 Ari Vatanen David Richards Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 8:29.40,8
7
1000 Lakes Rally
(24 August–28 August)
45 stages
424 km
Gravel
1 Markku Alén Ilkka Kivimäki Alitalia Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth 4:01.11
2 Ari Vatanen David Richards Rothmans Rally Team Ford Escort RS1800 4:02.42
3 Björn Waldegård Hans Thorszelius Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 4:07.15
8
Critérium du Québec
(13 September–16 September)
25 stages
384 km
Tarmac/Gravel
1 Björn Waldegård Hans Thorszelius Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 3:35.32
2 Timo Salonen Seppo Harjanne Team Datsun Europe Datsun 160J 3:36.10
3 Ari Vatanen David Richards Rothmans Rally Team Ford Escort RS1800 3:41.50
9
Rallye Sanremo
(1 October–7 October)
66 stages
1078 km
Tarmac/Gravel
1 Antonio 'Tony' Fassina Mauro Mannini Jolly Club Lancia Stratos HF 12:37.17
2 Walter Röhrl Christian Geistdörfer Alitalia Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth 12:41.31
3 Attilio Bettega Maurizio Perissinot Fiat 131 Abarth 12:55.59
10
Tour de Corse
(2 November–4 November)
22 stages
1129 km
Tarmac
1 Bernard Darniche Alain Mahé Team Chardonnet Lancia Stratos HF 14:36.46
2 Jean Ragnotti Jean-Marc Andrié Renault 5 Alpine 15:12.52
3 Pierre-Louis Moreau Patrice Baron Porsche 911 SC 15:23.06
11
RAC Rally
(19 November–23 November)
56 stages
687 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Ford Motor Company Ford Escort RS1800 8:03.38
2 Russell Brookes Paul White Andrews Heat For Hire Ford Escort RS1800 8:14.07
3 Timo Salonen Stuart Pegg Team Datsun Europe Datsun 160J 8:16.22
12
Rallye Côte d'Ivoire
(9 December–14 December)
50 controls
5668 km
Gravel
1 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0 +3:23 pen
2 Björn Waldegård Hans Thorszelius Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0 +3:58 pen
3 Andrew Cowan Klaus Kaiser Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0 +4:10 pen

Championship for manufacturers

1979 World Rally Championship for Manufacturers
Rank Manufacturer Event Total
points

MON

SWE

POR

KEN

GRC

NZL

FIN

CAN

ITA

FRA

GBR

CIV
1 Ford 161618-1818(16)18(12)-18- 122
2 Datsun -(8)141817(6)1417--1612 108
3 Fiat 1412-15--18-16125- 92
4 Lancia 18-------181811- 65
5 Toyota --16---1012-10-10 58
6 Opel -139-----1413-- 49
7 Renault 11---13----17-- 41
8 Mercedes ---17-------18 35
9 Porsche 8-------915-- 32
10 Vauxhall -14---10----7- 31
11 Peugeot -------8-6-8 22
12 Saab -18---------- 18
13 Mitsubishi -------13---- 13
14 Talbot --------12--- 12
15 Audi --11--------- 11
16 Mazda -----10------ 10
17 Triumph ------7----- 7
18 Volvo -6---------- 6
Škoda ----6------- 6
20 Lada ----4------- 4
1979 World Rally Championship point awards for manufacturers
Overall
finish
Group finish
12345678910
118---------
21716--------
3161514-------
415141312------
51413121110-----
61312111098----
71211109876---
81110987654--
91098765432-
109876543211

Championship for drivers

1979 World Rally Championship for Drivers
Rank Driver Event Total
points

MON

SWE

POR

KEN

GRC

NZL

FIN

CAN

ITA

FRA

GBR

CIV
1 Björn Waldegård 151515(6)20-1220--(2)15 112
2 Hannu Mikkola 882015-20----2020 111
3 Markku Alén 1210-12--20-6-8- 68
4 Timo Salonen ----15-815--12- 50
Ari Vatanen 1----121512--10- 50
6 Bernard Darniche 20--------20-- 40
7 Jean Ragnotti ----10----15-- 25
8 Andrew Cowan ---10-------12 22
9 Walter Röhrl ---3----15-3- 21
10 Stig Blomqvist -20---------- 20
Shekhar Mehta ---20-------- 20
Antonio 'Tony' Fassina --------20--- 20
13 Ove Andersson --12--------8 20
14 Andy Dawson --10----10---- 20
15 Pentti Airikkala -12--------4- 16
16 Blair Robson -----15------ 15
Russell Brookes ----------15- 15
18 Harry Källström ---212------- 14
19 Attilio Bettega --------12--- 12
Pierre-Louis Moreau ---------12-- 12
21 Michèle Mouton 4--------8-- 12
22 Jean-Claude Andruet 10----------- 10
Paul Adams -----10------ 10
Ulf Grönholm ------10----- 10
Tony Pond --------10--- 10
Alain Coppier ---------10-- 10
Vic Preston, Jr. -----------10 10
28 Carlos Torres --8--------- 10
Rauno Aaltonen ---8-------- 8
Anastasios 'Iaveris' Markouizos ----8------- 8
Shane Murland -----8------ 8
Taisto Heinonen -------8---- 8
Dario Cerrato --------8--- 8
34 Jean-Pierre Nicolas 6----------- 6
Björn Johansson -6---------- 6
Harald Demuth --6--------- 6
Iórgos Moschous ----6------- 6
David Parkes -----6------ 6
Lasse Lampi ------6----- 6
Hendrik Blok -------6---- 6
Bernard Picone ---------6-- 6
John Taylor ----------6- 6
Alain Ambrosino -----------6 6
44 Ola Strömberg -4---------- 4
Freddy Kottulinsky --4--------- 4
Mike Kirkland ---4-------- 4
Evangelos Gallo ----4------- 4
Brian Green -----4------ 4
Tapio Rainio ------4----- 4
Jack Swayze -------4---- 4
Angelo Presotto --------4--- 4
Paul Rouby ---------4-- 4
Michel Mitri -----------4 4
54 Guy Fréquelin 3----------- 3
Lars Carlsson -3---------- 3
Joaquim Santos --3--------- 3
Václav Blahna ----3------- 3
Roger Goss -----3------ 3
Per Eklund ------3----- 3
Claude Laurent -------3---- 3
Antonio Tognana --------3--- 3
Jean-Pierre Mari ---------3-- 3
Jean-Pierre Paure -----------3 3
64 Jacques Alméras 2----------- 2
John Haugland -2---------- 2
Jorge Ortigão --2--------- 2
Nikolay Elizarov ----2------- 2
Malcolm Stewart -----2------ 2
Erkki Pitkänen ------2----- 2
Nicole Quimet -------2---- 2
Domenico 'Nico' Grosoli --------2--- 2
Jean Bondrille ---------2-- 2
73 Sven-Inge Neby -1---------- 1
Marques Baptista --1--------- 1
Sandro Munari ---1-------- 1
Sergey Vukovich ----1------- 1
Bob Robb -----1------ 1
Pekka Vilpponen ------1----- 1
Paul Bourgeois -------1---- 1
Paolo Pasutti --------1--- 1
Jean-Charles Martinetti ---------1-- 1
Greg Carr ----------1- 1
1979 World Rally Championship point awards for drivers
Points awarded by finish 1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th
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1979 driver points awarded by nationality
Rank Country Top ranked driver Event Total
points

MON

SWE

POR

KEN

GRC

NZL

FIN

CAN

ITA

FRA

GBR

CIV
1  Finland Hannu Mikkola 21302035153266276-5420 326
2  Sweden Björn Waldegård 154931232-1223---23 187
3  France Bernard Darniche 45---10--3-81-13 152
4  United Kingdom Andrew Cowan --1010---1010-2112 73
5  Italy Tony ---1----48--- 48
6  New Zealand Blair Robson -----43------ 43
7  Kenya Shekhar Mehta ---24-------10 34
8  West Germany Walter Röhrl --63----15-3- 27
9  Greece Iaveris ----18------- 18
10  Canada Taisto Heinonen -------15---- 15
11  Portugal Carlos Torres --14--------- 14
12  United States Hendrik Blok -------6---- 6
13  Czechoslovakia Václav Blahna ----3------- 3
14  Soviet Union Nikolay Elizarov ----3------- 3
15  Norway John Haugland -2---------- 2
16  Australia Greg Carr ----------1- 1

Teams

1979 team performance
Team Drivers Cars Performance Results Points
Entries Finishes Wins Maker Driver
Ford Motor Company Björn Waldegård
Hannu Mikkola
Ford Escort RS1800 1111 3 86147
Alitalia Fiat Markku Alén
Walter Röhrl
Sandro Munari
Fiat 131 Abarth 98 1 8082
Team Datsun Europe Timo Salonen
Andy Dawson
Harry Källström
John Haugland
Erkki Pitkänen
Datsun 160J 106 - 6159
Team Chardonnet Bernard Darniche Lancia Stratos HF 42 2 3640
Rothmans Rally Team Björn Waldegård
Ari Vatanen
Ford Escort RS1800
Ford Fiesta
95 1 3466
Toyota Team Europe Ove Andersson Toyota Celica 2000GT 92 - 2620
Masport Hannu Mikkola
Blair Robson
Ford Escort RS1800 32 1 1835
DT Dobie Team Datsun Shekhar Mehta
Harry Källström
Rauno Aaltonen
Mike Kirkland
Datsun 160J 44 1 1834
Jolly Club Tony Lancia Stratos HF 11 1 1820
N. I. Theocharakis Timo Salonen
Harry Källström
Iórgos Moschous
Evangelos Gallo
Datsun 160J 44 - 1737
DT Dobie Daimler-Benz Hannu Mikkola
Andrew Cowan
Björn Waldegård
Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0
Mercedes 280 E
53 - 1731
Conrero Dario Cerrato Opel Ascona B 11 - 148
Renault Elf Calberson Jean Ragnotti Renault 5 Alpine 11 - 1310
Fiat France Michèle Mouton
Jean-Claude Andruet
Fiat 131 Abarth 22 - 1214
Audi Motorsport Harald Demuth
Freddy Kottulinsky
Franz Wittmann
Audi 80 GLE 107 - 1110
Lancia GB Markku Alén Lancia Stratos HF 11 - 118
Team Lopes Correia Joaquim Santos
Joaquim Moutinho
Opel Kadett GT/E 21 - 93
Dealer Team Vauxhall Pentti Airikkala Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS 11 - 74
Biamar Václav Blahna Škoda 130RS 21 - 63
Autoexport Moskva Nikolay Elizarov
Sergey Vukovich
Lada 21011 32 - 43
Nylex Paul Adams Ford Escort RS1800 21 - -10
Ford Australia Greg Carr Ford Escort RS1800 11 - -1
British Leyland Cars Per Eklund
Graham Elsmore
Simo Lampinen
Triumph TR 7 V8 43 - --
Marshalls Jean-Claude Lefèbvre Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé 41 - --
FSO Andrzej Jaroszewicz FSO Polonez 2000 21 - --
Aleuropa Vítor Oliveira Opel 1204 SL 11 - --
Fiat Kenya Robin Ulyate Fiat 131 Abarth 11 - --
Kassidopoulos Manolis Halivelakis Toyota Corolla 11 - --
Toyota Team Great Britain Tapio Rainio Toyota Celica 2000GT 11 - --
Opel Dealer Team Holland Anders Kulläng Opel Kadett GT/E 5- - --
GM Dealer Team New Zealand Pentti Airikkala Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS 1- - --
GM Portugal Mêquêpê Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS 1- - --
Opel France Jean-Louis Clarr Opel Kadett GT/E 1- - --
Saab Scania Stig Blomqvist
Ola Strömberg
Saab 99 Turbo 2- - --
Talbot France Jean-Pierre Nicolas Talbot Sunbeam Lotus 1- - --

See also

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