Rallye d'Italia
The historic Italian rally that shaped WRC history.
Rallye Sanremo is a rally competition held in Sanremo, Italy. Except for the 1995 event, the event was part of the FIA World Rally Championship schedule from 1973 to the 2003. It was a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and is currently a round of the Italian national rally championship.
Quick Facts
- Surface
- Gravel
- Location
- Italy (staged on the island of Sardinia since 2004)
- Character
- Fast
- flowing
- precision-oriented gravel
- Season
- Typically staged in late spring/early summer (June) on the WRC calendar
- Notable trait
- One of the premier gravel rallies in the modern WRC schedule
Lore & Background
The first Rallye Internazionale di Sanremo was held in 1928. The rally name's French word 'rallye' was inspired by Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo. After another rally in 1929, the event was given to new organisers who set up a street race, the 1° Circuito Automobilistico Sanremo, held in 1937 and won by Achille Varzi. Rallye Sanremo was restarted in 1961 as Rallye dei Fiori and has been held every year since. From 1970 to 1972, it was part of the International Championship for Manufacturers. From 1973 to 2003, it was on the World Rally Championship schedule, except for 1995 when it was only part of the FIA 2-Litre World Championship for Manufacturers. The 1986 event became controversial after the stewards disqualified the factory Peugeot team for using illegal side skirts, handing victory to Lancia. Peugeot had used the same configuration in earlier rallies without problems and passed pre-rally scrutineering. Peugeot appealed but the organisers did not allow the team to continue. FIA later confirmed the exclusion was illegal as the Peugeot cars were legal, and decided to annul the results of the whole event. Rallye Sanremo was originally a mixed surface event but from 1997 on it was all-tarmac. After being dropped from the WRC schedule in 2004, it has been part of the Italian Rally Championship. Since 2006, it has also been a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. In 2015, the organizers and FIA included Rallye Femminile Perla di Sanremo (from 1952 to 1956) as part of Rallye Sanremo, changing the numbering from 57° to 62°.
Reader's Guide
Rallye Sanremo is a historic rally held annually in Sanremo, Italy. It was a WRC round from 1973 to 2003 (except 1995) and is now part of the Italian Rally Championship and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. The 1986 event results were annulled by the FIA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rallye d'Italia in the WRC?
It is a World Rally Championship round held on Italian asphalt that has been a fixture on the world championship calendar since the 1970s. The event is defined by its fast, flowing stages that reward smooth, committed driving far more than the aggressive, loose-surface style seen on gravel or snow rallies.
Where is the Rallye d'Italia staged?
The rally has rotated through several Italian regions over the decades, with Sardinia hosting it during the 2000s and 2010s. Despite those venue shifts, the event has always kept its identity as a high-speed tarmac showcase on the Italian peninsula.
When does the Rallye d'Italia usually take place in the WRC season?
It typically falls in the autumn window of the championship, giving teams a late-season tarmac round to prepare for. The Italian sun and warm asphalt conditions add their own layer of grip and heat management that drivers must adapt to on the fly.
What kind of driving does the Rallye d'Italia demand from competitors?
Rather than the heavy braking and loose-surface corrections typical of Scandinavian or Mexican stages, the Italian rally calls for smooth, committed lines through long, flowing sections. Drivers who can maintain a consistent rhythm and trust their setup over the tarmac tend to shine here.
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