1987 World Rally Championship

The 1987 World Rally Championship was the 15th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC). The season consisted of 13 rallies in the same venues of the previous season. The only alteration to the schedule was the move of the Olympus Rally from December to June on the calendar.

1987 marked the beginning of a new era for the WRC, as it was the first season driven without the powerful and popular Group B rally cars, seeing the Group A cars come to the forefront of the world stage and the institution of championships not only for manufacturers and drivers, but also drivers of production and two-wheel drive cars. Group A would remain at the forefront of the championship for ten years, where a new specification, World Rally Car were made standard in 1997. The FIA also changed the basic scoring rules for manufacturers although they retained the policy of having two rallies not count toward manufacturers totals. New Zealand and the Ivory Coast were selected in 1987 to count solely for drivers' titles.

Martini Lancia proved most successful in adjusting to the new lower-powered cars, adopting the Lancia Delta HF 4WD, driven by Finns Juha Kankkunen and Markku Alén as well as Italian Miki Biasion. Between the three, Lancia would gather nine rally wins over the thirteen race season, dominating the manufacturers' race for the championship. Meanwhile, the three drivers split success between them, placing closely in the top three places for the drivers' title by the end of the season.

Audi Sport retained both Hannu Mikkola and Walter Röhrl, although they could not duplicate the success of their Group B seasons, both placing well down in the drivers' title competition. Audi however did gain some points from others team running the Quattro. Clarion Team Europe with driver Per Eklund contributed 26 points to the work's effort while Mig Linz's entry, Georg Fischer added another eight, bolstering Audi's bid for second overall.

The Philips Renault Elf team struggled through the season with the Group A Renault 11 Turbo. French drivers Jean Ragnotti and François Chatriot were unable to gain much success, with the highlight of their season coming at Portugal with Ragnotti's second-place finish.

Volkswagen Motorsport followed their success of the previous season with Swede Kenneth Eriksson, the 1986 winner of the championship for drivers of Group A cars. Eriksson was able to place fourth overall on the season, beaten only by Lancia drivers. Volkswagen, lacking a major second driver, was surpassed by not only Lancia, but Audi and Renault as well in the manufacturer standings.

Ford Motor Company made its return to serious competition by enlisting drivers Ari Vatanen and Stig Blomqvist, but struggled early on with the Sierra XR 4x4. The car was dropped, its replacement on the works team coming in the end of the season in the form of the redesigned Sierra RS Cosworth, which met with much greater success, challenging the dominant Lancias in the final three events of the season.

Teams and drivers

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Team Manufacturer Car Tyre Drivers Rounds
  Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD P   Juha Kankkunen 1–3, 6–7, 10, 13
  Miki Biasion 1, 3, 5–7, 9, 12
  Bruno Saby 1, 5, 12–13
  Markku Alén 2–3, 6–7, 10, 12–13
  Mikael Ericsson 2, 13
  Vic Preston Jr 4
  Yves Loubet 5
  Jorge Recalde 9
  Mazda Rally Team Europe Mazda 323 4WD M   Timo Salonen 1–3, 10, 13
  Ingvar Carlsson 1–3, 9–10
  Mikael Sundström 2, 10, 13
  Harri Toivonen 2, 10
  Rod Millen 7
  Jon Woodner 7
  Neil Allport 8
  Pascal Gaban 12
  Philips Renault Elf
  Renault Sport Elf
Renault 11 Turbo M   Jean Ragnotti 1, 3, 5–6, 12
  François Chatriot 1, 3, 5–6, 12
  Alain Oreille 1, 5
  Manuel Breyner 3
  Inverno Amaral 3
  Bento Amaral 3
  Audi Sport Audi 200 Quattro
80 Quattro
Coupé Quattro
M   Walter Röhrl 1, 4, 6
  Hannu Mikkola 4, 6, 10
  Lars-Erik Torph 2
  Per Eklund 2, 9, 10, 13
  Göran Åndberg 2
  Rudi Stohl 3–4, 6, 11–12
  Jorge Recalde 6
  Paolo Alessandrini 6
  John Buffum 7
  David Llewellin 12–13
  Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Sierra XR 4x4
Sierra RS Cosworth
P   Stig Blomqvist 1–2, 4–5, 8, 10, 13
  Kalle Grundel 1–2, 5
  Didier Auriol 1, 5, 12
  Carlos Sainz 3, 5, 13
  Joaquim Santos 3
  John Hellier 4
  Ari Vatanen 10
  Jimmy McRae 12–13
  Mark Lovell 13
  George Donaldson 13
  Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V P   Kenneth Eriksson 1–6, 8–9, 11, 13
  Erwin Weber 1, 3–4, 6, 9, 11
  Teemu Tahko 10
  Fuji Heavy Industries Subaru RX Turbo D   Per Eklund 1, 4
  Harald Demuth 1
  Ari Vatanen 4
  Peter 'Possum' Bourne 4, 8, 13
  Frank Tundo 4
  José Celsi 9
  Mercedes France Mercedes 190E 2.3 16V M   Bernard Darniche 1, 5
  Dany Snobeck 1
  Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF 4WD P   Vittorio Caneva 1–3, 6, 12
  Alex Fiorio 1–3, 6–7, 10, 12
  Giorgio Schön 1
  Mikael Ericsson 6, 12
  Giannis Vardinogiannis 6
  Jorge Recalde 9
  Gianfranco Cunico 12
  Alex Fassina 12
  Pierangela Riva 12
  GM Euro Sport Opel
Vauxhall
Kadett GSI 16V
Astra GTE
M   Mats Jonsson 2, 10, 13
  Björn Johansson 2
  Håkan Eriksson 2
  David Metcalfe 2, 13
  Rauno Aaltonen 4
  Guy Fréquelin 5, 12
  Sepp Haider 10, 12–13
  Derek Bell 13
  Malcolm Wilson 13
  Andrew Wood 13
  Pentti Airikkala 13
  Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe Mitsubishi Starion Turbo M   Robert Koch 2
  David Offier 8
  Lasse Lampi 10
  Antero Laine 10
  Patrick Tauziac 11
  Toyota Team Europe Toyota Supra 3.0i
Supra Turbo
P   Björn Waldegård 4, 7, 11
  Lars-Erik Torph 4, 7, 11
  Robin Ulyate 4, 11
  Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX D   Shekhar Mehta 4, 6–7, 11
  Andrea Zanussi 4, 6
  Mike Kirkland 4, 6, 11
  Jayant Shah 4
  Stratis Hatzipanayiotou 6
  Mikael Ericsson 7
  Per Eklund 7
  Paddy Davidson 8
  Alain Ambrosino 11
  Rothmans Motul BMW BMW M3 M   Bernard Béguin 5
  Marc Duez 5
  Patrick Bernardini 5
  Grifone Esso Lancia Delta HF 4WD P   Paolo Alessandriani 7, 12
  Fabrizio Tabaton 12
  Funkberaterring Rally Team Lancia Delta HF 4WD M   Franz Wittmann 8

Schedule and results

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1987 World Rally Championship schedule and results
Round Rally name Stages Podium finishers
Rank Driver Co-driver Team Car Time
1   Rallye Monte Carlo
(17 January–22 January)
26 stages
571 km
Tarmac
1   Miki Biasion   Tiziano Siviero   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 7:39.50
2   Juha Kankkunen   Juha Piironen   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 7:40.49
3   Walter Röhrl   Christian Geistdörfer   Audi Sport Audi 200 Quattro 7:44.00
2   Swedish Rally
(13 February–14 February)
26 stages
400 km
Snow/Ice
1   Timo Salonen   Seppo Harjanne   Mazda Rally Team Europe Mazda 323 4WD 4:11.00
2   Mikael Ericsson   Claes Billstam   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 4:11.23
3   Juha Kankkunen   Juha Piironen   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 4:12.46
3   Rallye de Portugal
(11 March–14 March)
37 stages
597 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1   Markku Alén   Ilkka Kivimäki   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 7:09.39
2   Jean Ragnotti   Pierre Thimonier   Renault Sport Elf Renault 11 Turbo 7:12.32
3   Kenneth Eriksson   Peter Diekmann   Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V 7:14.37
4   Safari Rally
(16 April–20 April)
83 controls
4011 km
Gravel
1   Hannu Mikkola   Arne Hertz   Audi Sport Audi 200 Quattro 3:39.44
2   Walter Röhrl   Christian Geistdörfer   Audi Sport Audi 200 Quattro 3:56.59
3   Lars-Erik Torph   Benny Melander   Toyota Team Europe Toyota Supra 3.0i 4:31.09
5   Tour de Corse
(7 May–9 May)
24 stages
619 km
Tarmac
1   Bernard Béguin   Jean-Jacques Lenne   Rothmans Motul BMW BMW M3 7:22.30
2   Yves Loubet   Jean-Bernard Vieu   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 7:24.38
3   Miki Biasion   Tiziano Siviero   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 7:24.58
6   Acropolis Rally
(May 31–3)
33 stages
538 km
Gravel
1   Markku Alén   Ilkka Kivimäki   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 7:25.57
2   Juha Kankkunen   Juha Piironen   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 7:26.45
3   Hannu Mikkola   Arne Hertz   Audi Sport Audi 200 Quattro 7:31.21
7   Olympus Rally
(26 June–29 June)
42 stages
540 km
Gravel
1   Juha Kankkunen   Juha Piironen   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 5:59.24
2   Miki Biasion   Tiziano Siviero   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 5:59.36
3   Markku Alén   Ilkka Kivimäki   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 6:00.06
8   Rally New Zealand[1]
(11 July–14 July)
36 stages
593 km
Gravel
1   Franz Wittmann   Jörg Pattermann   Funkberaterring Rally Team Lancia Delta HF 4WD 6:56.00
2   Kenneth Eriksson   Peter Diekmann   Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V 6:56.47
3   Possum Bourne   Michael Eggleton   Fuji Heavy Industries Subaru RX Turbo 7:04.25
9   Rally Argentina
(4 August–8 August)
26 stages
596 km
Gravel
1   Miki Biasion   Tiziano Siviero   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 7:10.27
2   Jorge Recalde   Jorge del Buono   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 7:11.28
3   Erwin Weber   Matthias Feltz   Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V 7:37.11
10   1000 Lakes Rally
(27 August–30 August)
52 stages
494 km
Gravel
1   Markku Alén   Ilkka Kivimäki   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 5:12.22
2   Ari Vatanen   Terry Harryman   Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 5:17.54
3   Stig Blomqvist   Bruno Berglund   Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 5:18.51
11   Rallye Côte d'Ivoire[1]
(22 September–26 September)
29 controls
3831 km
Gravel
1   Kenneth Eriksson   Peter Diekmann   Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V +48.57 pen
2   Shekhar Mehta   Rob Combes   Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX +1:09.18 pen
3   Erwin Weber   Matthias Feltz   Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V +2:05.56 pen
12   Rallye Sanremo
(12 October–15 October)
38 stages
529 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1   Miki Biasion   Tiziano Siviero   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 6:09.19
2   Bruno Saby   Jean-François Fauchille   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 6:14.30
3   Jean Ragnotti   Pierre Thimonier   Renault Sport Elf Renault 11 Turbo 6:16.55
13   RAC Rally
(22 November–25 November)
47 stages
539 km
Gravel/Tarmac
1   Juha Kankkunen   Juha Piironen   Martini Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD 5:26.36
2   Stig Blomqvist   Bruno Berglund   Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 5:29.48
3   Jimmy McRae   Ian Grindrod   RED Ford Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 5:33.15

Championship for manufacturers

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1987 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 20 20 20 - 140
2   Audi 14 6 8 20 - 14 - - 12 - 8 82
3   Renault 8 - 17 - 12 10 - 10 - 14 - 71
4   Volkswagen 10 4 14 12 - 8 - 14 - - 2 64
5   Ford - 8 2 - 6 - - - 17 12 17 62
6   Mazda 12 20 - - - - 12 - 8 - - 52
7   Toyota - - - 14 - - 8 - - - - 22
8   BMW - - - - 20 - - - - - - 20
9   Opel - - - 2 - - - - - 8 6 16
10   Subaru 1 - - 10 - - - - - - 1 12
11   Nissan - - - 4 - 1 4 - - - - 9
12   Fiat - - 1 - - - - 4 - - - 5
1987 World Rally Championship point awards for manufacturers
Points awarded by finish 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
20 17 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 1

Championship for drivers

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1987 World Rally Championship for Drivers
Rank Driver Event Total
points
 
MON
 
SWE
 
POR
 
KEN
 
FRA
 
GRC
 
USA
 
NZL
 
ARG
 
FIN
 
CIV
 
ITA
 
GBR
1   Juha Kankkunen 15 12 10 - - 15 20 - - 8 - - 20 100
2   Miki Biasion 20 - 3 - 12 4 15 - 20 - - 20 - 94
3   Markku Alén - 8 20 - - 20 12 - - 20 - - 8 88
4   Kenneth Eriksson 8 3 12 - - - - 15 10 - 20 - 2 70
5   Jean Ragnotti 6 - 15 - 10 8 - - - - - 12 - 51
6   Erwin Weber 4 - - 10 - 6 - - 12 - 12 - - 44
7   Stig Blomqvist - 6 - - - - - - - 12 - - 15 33
8   Hannu Mikkola - - - 20 - 12 - - - - - - - 32
9   Jorge Recalde - - 1 - - 10 4 - 16 - - - - 30
10   Mikael Ericsson - 15 - - - - - - - - - 3 10 28
11   Walter Röhrl 12 - - 15 - - - - - - - - - 27
12   Per Eklund 1 4 - 8 - - 2 - - 10 - - - 25
13   François Chatriot 3 - 8 - 8 3 - - - - - - - 22
14   Timo Salonen - 20 - - - - - - - - - - - 20
  Bernard Béguin - - - - 20 - - - - - - - - 20
  Franz Wittmann - - - - - - - 20 - - - - - 20
17   Ingvar Carlsson 10 10 - - - - - - - - - - - 20
18   Shekhar Mehta - - - - - - 3 - - - 15 - - 18
19   Ari Vatanen - - - 1 - - - - - 15 - - - 16
20   Yves Loubet - - - - 15 - - - - - - - - 15
  Bruno Saby - - - - - - - - - - - 15 - 15
22   Didier Auriol - - - - 3 - - - - - - 10 - 13
23   Lars-Erik Torph - - - 12 - - - - - - - - - 12
  'Possum' Bourne - - - - - - - 12 - - - - - 12
  Jimmy McRae - - - - - - - - - - - - 12 12
26   Rod Millen - - - - - - 10 - - - - - - 10
  Tony Teesdale - - - - - - - 10 - - - - - 10
  Patrick Tauziac - - - - - - - - - - 10 - - 10
29   Paolo Alessandrini - - - - - - 8 - - - - 2 - 10
30   Rudi Stohl - - 4 4 - 2 - - - - - - - 10
31   David Officer - - - - - - - 8 - - - - - 8
  Gabriel Raies - - - - - - - - 8 - - - - 8
  Patrick Copetti - - - - - - - - - - 8 - - 8
  Fabrizio Tabaton - - - - - - - - - - - 8 - 8
35   Carlos Sainz - - - - 4 - - - - - - - 3 7
36   Georg Fischer - - 6 - - - - - - - - - - 6
  Robin Ulyate - - - 6 - - - - - - - - - 6
  Marc Duez - - - - 6 - - - - - - - - 6
  Björn Waldegård - - - - - - 6 - - - - - - 6
  Ken Adamson - - - - - - - 6 - - - - - 6
  Paulo Lemos - - - - - - - - 6 - - - - 6
  Thorbjörn Edling - - - - - - - - - 6 - - - 6
  Adolphe Choteau - - - - - - - - - - 6 - - 6
  Guy Fréquelin - - - - - - - - - - - 6 - 6
  David Llewellin - - - - - - - - - - - - 6 6
46   Stuart Weeber - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - 4
  Jorge Fleck - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - 4
  Sebastian Lindholm - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - 4
  Martial Yacé - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - 4
  Alex Fiorio - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - 4
  Mats Jonsson - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 4
52   Mike Kirkland - - - 3 - 1 - - - - - - - 4
53   Simon Davies - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - 3
  Jorge Bescham - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - 3
  Tomi Palmqvist - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - 3
  Alessandro Molino - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - 3
57   Erik Johansson - 1 - - - - - - - 2 - - - 3
58   Bertrand Balas 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
  Bror Danielsson - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - 2
  Joaquim Santos - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - 2
  Rauno Aaltonen - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - 2
  Alain Oreille - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - 2
  Kouichi Hazu - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - 2
  Ernesto Soto - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - 2
  Fredrik Donner - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - 2
66   Laurent Poggi - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - 1
  Clive Smith - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - 1
  Grant Goile - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - 1
  Alejandro Schmauk - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 1
  Timo Heinonen - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 1
  Lambert Kouame - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 1
  Sepp Haider - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - 1
  Roger Ericsson - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 1
1987 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

Sources

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  1. ^ a b Event not included in the Manufacturers' Championship

See also

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