Rohrl wasn't confident before the start of the 1985 Sanremo. The quattro S1 required much development work in the weeks and months leading up to the rally. Cracked brake discs were an on-going problem and much testing was completed on tarmac in Italy to rectify the problem, as well as tyre testing.
Rohrl felt some progress had been made here but there was a nagging doubt over the new differential. The open centre diff was to be used on tarmac for the first time but not on gravel. Audi boss Roland Gumpert felt the twisty Tuscany stages and wheelspin would overload the diff with torque from the engine, but could it be reliable for the tarmac? Walter was happy though, that Audi had decided to send one car to Sanremo so all resources could be concentrated on it and the team could work together as one.
A clip of Rohrl undertaking development and testing work on tarmac in the months leading up to the rally
The testing and development work appeared to pay off as Rohrl took command on the second day of the Sanremo in the Tuscany hills to leave the rest trailing. Rohrl particularly liked Sanremo and knew many of the stages by heart. Ironically it was Peugeot who were having the problems after dominating the season. Salonen, the just recently crowned World Champion, suffered various mechanical problems from the gearbox to the diff. His team mate, Saby, also suffered problems complaining mostly about the suspension but also steering problems which cost him the lead on the early tarmac sections. He retired on the final night with a cracked cylinder head. By the end Peugeot had to accept a crushing defeat by Audi, but this didn't concern them much as the manufacturers crown was already their's.
Rohrl in full flight
The cars on the rally
The winner Rohrl in the Audi quattro S1
Lancia were at a distinct disadvantage, having to use the ancient rear-wheel drive 037 as the S4 wouldn't be ready until the RAC. Toivonen must have been even more disconcerted as he had to use the car he not only crashed heavily on the Costa Smeralda Rally, but also crashed in Finland. He was complaining of handling problems from the off. Alen just didn't really want to know by this stage as he became more infuriated by the team delay in getting the new car out. Biasion was a little more motivated as had got a contract for 1986 in the senior team and initially he was the quickest Lancia until he suffered electrical problems on the final night which dropped him down. This left a final night shoot-out for third between Toivonen and Alen with Toivonen claiming the spot after an all out attack in the mountains and Alen refusing to get drawn into a fight.
Toivonen on all out attack for third
So in the end it was a rather more confident Rohrl who steam-rollered the opposition and suffered few, if any car problems, only a few punctures which didn't cost much time. The testing etc, had paid off and for once in 1985 Audi could justifiably celebrate. Salonen was a distant second and Peugeot, for once, were not centre stage.
Rohrl gets ready for a tarmac stage in the Audi Sport quattro S1 E2
The story of the 1985 San Remo Rally
1985 Rallye Sanremo Top Ten Results
| Pos | Nr | Driver/Car | Nat | Gr | Time | Pen. |
| 1st | 5 | Rohrl, Walter Audi quattro Sport S1 |
DE | B | 7h 10m 10s | --:-- |
| 2nd | 3 | Salonen, Timo Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2 |
FI | B | +6m 29s | --:-- |
| 3rd | 1 | Toivonen, Henri Lancia Rally 037 evo |
FI | B | +7m 52s | --:-- |
| 4th | 6 | Alen, Markku Lancia Rally 037 evo |
FI | B | +8m 33s | --:-- |
| 5th | 8 | Cerrato, Dario Lancia Rally 037 |
IT | B | +15m 25s | --:-- |
| 6th | 4 | Biasion, Massimo Lancia Rally 037 |
IT | B | +23m 23s | --:-- |
| 7th | 9 | del Zoppo, Giovanni Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 |
IT | B | +47m 52s | --:-- |
| 8th | 26 | Grissmann, Werner Audi quattro A2 |
AT | B | +1h 05m 06s | --:-- |
| 9th | 14 | Wittman, Franz Volkswagen Golf GTi |
AT | A | +1h 05m 37s | --:-- |
| 10th | 18 | Turiani, Auguste Opel Manta 400 |
MC | B | +1h 18m 46s | --:-- |
Similar Posts:
- Walter Röhrl Audi Sport quattro S1 Pikes Peak 1987 [VIDEO]
- Rohrl & Blomqvist Audi Sport quattro Monte Carlo Rally 1985 ES1 – Video Clips
- Look back at the Rally of Argentina 1985, Vatanen nearly dies, Audi Quattro Sport S1 makes WRC debut and Salonen on course for title
