The 1984 World Rally Championship was the 12th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC). The season consisted of 12 rallies following the same schedule as the previous season. Stig Blomqvist beat the defending world champion and Audi teammate Hannu Mikkola to the drivers' title. Audi took their second manufacturers' title, ahead of Lancia and the debuting Peugeot.

Summary

German team Audi Sport put together four of the top drivers in the world, with the defending world champion Hannu Mikkola returning to the team along with Stig Blomqvist. Michèle Mouton had a part-time contract and two-time champion Walter Röhrl was added from Martini Racing. Lancia Martini kept Markku Alén as their primary driver for the season and also featured Miki Biasion and Attilio Bettega. Lancia boss Cesare Fiorio had also signed Henri Toivonen from Porsche, stating that "Audi will have four top drivers next year so it would be very difficult competing with only two."

Blomqvist and Mikkola dominated the season in the Audi Quattro A2, with Blomqvist proving the best with five rally wins. Audi established an early lead, winning six of the first eight events, including sweeping the podium at the first two rallies. Mikkola had to settle for second overall despite a consistently strong season in which he took eight podium finishes. Alén was only able to reach third place, only capturing a single rally win in his Lancia Rally 037.

Late in the season, Ari Vatanen returned to the world rally scene in a Peugeot 205 T16, winning three of the final four rallies and reaching fourth place in the overall standings. His performance showed that Peugeot Sport, headed by Jean Todt, had a winner that could beat the Audi, which they would do in the coming years of Group B dominance.

As with previous seasons, while all twelve events were calculated for tallying the drivers' scores, only ten of the events applied to the championship for manufacturers. The two events in 1984 which applied only to driver standings were the Swedish Rally and the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire.

Calendar

Rd.Start dateFinish dateRallyRally headquartersSurfaceStagesDistancePoints121 January27 January 52nd Rallye Automobile Monte-CarloMonte CarloMixed30753.20 kmDrivers & Manufacturers210 February12 February 34th International Swedish RallyKarlstad, Värmland CountySnow27447.70 kmDrivers only36 March10 March 18th Rallye de Portugal - Vinho do PortoEstoril, LisbonMixed45685 kmDrivers & Manufacturers419 April23 April 32nd Marlboro Safari RallyNairobiGravelN/A5254 kmDrivers & Manufacturers53 May5 May 28th Tour de Corse - Rallye de FranceAjaccio, CorsicaTarmac301130.09 kmDrivers & Manufacturers626 May31 May 31st Rothmans Acropolis RallyAthensGravel47796.62 kmDrivers & Manufacturers723 June26 June 15th Sanyo Rally of New ZealandAucklandGravel451063.26 kmDrivers & Manufacturers827 July1 August 4th Marlboro Rally of Argentina YPFBuenos AiresGravel24948.58 kmDrivers & Manufacturers924 August26 August 34th Rally of the 1000 LakesJyväskylä, Central FinlandGravel51460.96 kmDrivers & Manufacturers1030 September5 October 26th Rallye SanremoSanremo, LiguriaMixed56807.69 kmDrivers & Manufacturers1131 October4 November 16th Rallye Cote d'IvoireAbidjanGravelN/A4012 kmDrivers only1225 November29 November 40th Lombard RAC RallyChester, CheshireGravel56868.54 kmDrivers & ManufacturersSources:

Teams and drivers Team Manufacturer Car Tyre Drivers Rounds Audi Sport Audi Quattro A2Quattro Sport Walter Röhrl 1, 3, 5–7, 10 Hannu Mikkola 1, 3–4, 6–9, 11–12 Stig Blomqvist All Per Eklund 2, 9 Michèle Mouton 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 Lasse Lampi 2, 9 Sarel van der Merwe 3 Franz Wittmann 4, 7 Bernard Darniche 5 John Buffum 6, 12 Jorge Recalde 8 Rubén Luis di Palma 8 Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 evo Markku Alén 1, 3–7, 9–10 Jean-Claude Andruet 1, 5 Attilio Bettega 1, 3, 5–6, 10 Henri Toivonen 3, 6, 9 Vic Preston Jr 4 Greg Criticos 4 Team Nissan Europe Nissan 240RS Timo Salonen 1, 4, 6–7, 12 Terry Kaby 1, 9, 12 Sören Nilsson 2 Erkki Pitkanen 3, 9 Shekhar Mehta 4, 6, 11–12 Mike Kirkland 4 Jayant Shah 4, 6 George Moschous 6 Stratis Hatzipanayiotou 6 Reg Cook 7 Pentti Airikkala 9 Peter Geitel 9, 12 Renault Elf Renault 5 Turbo Jean-Luc Thérier 1 Bruno Saby 1, 5, 9 François Chatriot 1, 5 Dany Snobeck 1 Jean Ragnotti 3, 5 Joaquim Moutinho 3 Jean-Pierre Manzagol 5 Didier Auriol 5 Camille Bartoli 5 Jolly Club Lancia Rally 037 evo Miki Biasion 1, 3, 5–6, 10 Adartico Vudafieri 5, 10 Mazda Rally Team Europe Mazda RX-7 Achim Warmbold 1, 6 Minna Sillankorva 1 Ingvar Carlsson 6, 12 Philippe Wambergue 12 Marianne Hoepfner 12 Citroën Compétitions Citroën Visa Christian Dorche 1, 3 Maurice Chomat 4, 9–10 Philippe Wambergue 4, 9–10 Christian Rio 4, 9–10 Oliver Tabatoni 5–6, 9 Mark Lovell 12 Opel Euro Team Opel Ascona 400Manta 400 Mats Jonsson 2, 12 Alex Jackson 2 Guy Frequelin 4–5 Rauno Aaltonen 4 Yasuhiro Iwase 4, 8 Alain Ambrosino 11 Jimmy McRae 12 Russell Brookes 12 Phil Collins 12 Bertie Fisher 12 Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica TCT Björn Waldegård 3–4, 7, 9, 12 Juha Kankkunen 3, 7, 9, 12 Per Eklund 4, 12 Sandro Munari 4 Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Ari Vatanen 5–6, 9–10, 12 Jean-Pierre Nicolas 5–6, 10 Rothmans Porsche Rally Team Porsche 911SC RS Saeed Al-Hajri 6, 12 Roger Clark 12 Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTi Kalle Grundel 1–3, 5, 9–10, 12

Events

Map Black = Tarmac Brown = Gravel Blue = Snow/ice Red = Mixed surface

Schedule and results Round Rally name Stages Podium finishers Rank Driver Co-driver Team Car Time 1 Rallye Monte Carlo(21–27 January) 30 stages722 kmTarmac1 Walter Röhrl Christian Geistdörfer Audi SportAudi Quattro A28:52:292 Stig Blomqvist Björn Cederberg Audi SportAudi Quattro A28:53:423 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Audi SportAudi Quattro A29:05:09 2 Swedish RallyEvent not included in the Manufacturers' Championship(10–12 February) 27 stages450 kmSnow/Ice1 Stig Blomqvist Björn Cederberg Audi SportAudi Quattro A24:16:452 Michèle Mouton Fabrizia Pons Audi SportAudi Quattro A24:24:123 Per Eklund Dave Whittock Audi SportAudi Quattro A24:33:27 3 Rallye de Portugal(6–11 March) 45 stages684 kmGravel/Tarmac1 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Audi SportAudi Quattro A27:35:322 Markku Alén Ilkka Kivimäki Martini RacingLancia Rally 037 evo7:35:593 Attilio Bettega Maurizio Perissinot Martini RacingLancia Rally 037 evo7:58:21 4 Safari Rally(19–23 April) 105 controls5254 kmGravel1 Björn Waldegård Hans Thorszelius Toyota Team EuropeToyota Celica TCT+2:02 pen2 Rauno Aaltonen Lofty Drews Opel Euro TeamOpel Manta 400+2:13 pen3 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Audi SportAudi Quattro A2+2:25 pen 5 Tour de Corse(3–5 May) 30 stages1119 kmTarmac1 Markku Alén Ilkka Kivimäki Martini RacingLancia Rally 037 evo13:24:562 Miki Biasion Tiziano Siviero Jolly ClubLancia Rally 037 evo13:29:113 Jean Ragnotti Pierre Thimonier Renault ElfRenault 5 Turbo13:33:16 6 Acropolis Rally(28–31 May) 47 stages830 kmGravel1 Stig Blomqvist Björn Cederberg Audi SportAudi Quattro A210:41:512 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Audi SportAudi Quattro A210:44:583 Markku Alén Ilkka Kivimäki Martini RacingLancia Rally 037 evo10:56:01 7 Rally New Zealand(23–26 June) 45 stages1044 kmGravel1 Stig Blomqvist Björn Cederberg Audi SportAudi Quattro A210:40:412 Markku Alén Ilkka Kivimäki Martini RacingLancia Rally 037 evo10:45:283 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Audi SportAudi Quattro A210:48:10 8 Rally Argentina(27 July – 1 August) 23 stages948 kmGravel1 Stig Blomqvist Björn Cederberg Audi SportAudi Quattro A210:33:382 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Audi SportAudi Quattro A210:36:543 Jorge Recalde Jorge del Bouno Audi SportAudi Quattro A210:38:48 9 1000 Lakes Rally(24–26 August) 50 stages457 kmGravel1 Ari Vatanen Terry Harryman Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 Turbo 164:07:272 Markku Alén Ilkka Kivimäki Martini RacingLancia Rally 037 evo4:08:263 Henri Toivonen Juha Piironen Martini RacingLancia Rally 037 evo4:10:19 10 Rallye Sanremo(30 September – 5 October) 46 stages777 kmGravel/Tarmac1 Ari Vatanen Terry Harryman Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 Turbo 168:44:342 Attilio Bettega Maurizio Perissinot Martini RacingLancia Rally 037 evo8:50:013 Miki Biasion Tiziano Siviero Jolly ClubLancia Rally 037 evo8:53:58 11 Rallye Côte d'Ivoire(31 October – 5 November) 46 controls4012 kmGravel1 Stig Blomqvist Björn Cederberg Audi SportAudi Sport Quattro+5:24 pen2 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Audi SportAudi Quattro A2+5:46 pen3 Shekhar Mehta Yvonne Mehta Team Nissan EuropeNissan 240RS+6:28 pen 12 RAC Rally(November 25–29) 56 stages863 kmGravel/Tarmac1 Ari Vatanen Terry Harryman Peugeot Talbot SportPeugeot 205 Turbo 169:19:482 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Audi SportAudi Quattro A29:20:293 Per Eklund Dave Whittock Toyota Team EuropeToyota Celica TCT9:37:07

Standings

Drivers' championship Rank Driver Event Totalpoints MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN ITA CIV GBR 1 Stig Blomqvist 15 20 0 0 (8) 20 20 20 10 0 20 0 125 2 Hannu Mikkola 12 – 20 12 – 15 (12) 15 0 – 15 15 104 3 Markku Alén 3 – 15 10 20 12 15 – 15 0 – – 90 4 Ari Vatanen – – – – 0 0 – – 20 20 – 20 60 5 Attilio Bettega 8 – 12 – 4 10 – – – 15 – – 49 6 Miki Biasion 6 – 10 – 15 0 – – – 12 – – 43 7 Per Eklund – 12 – 0 – – – – 6 – – 12 30 8 Björn Waldegård – – 0 20 – – 8 – 0 – – 0 28 9 Shekhar Mehta 0 – – 8 – 4 – – – – 12 3 27 10 Timo Salonen 1 – – 4 – 6 10 – – – – 6 27 11 Walter Röhrl 20 – 6 – 0 0 0 – – 0 – – 26 12 Michèle Mouton – 15 – 0 – 0 – – 0 – – 10 25 13 Jean Ragnotti – – 8 – 12 – – – – – – – 20 14 Jean-Pierre Nicolas – – – – 10 0 – – – 8 – – 18 15 Rauno Aaltonen – – – 15 – – – – – – – – 15 16 Jorge Recalde – – – – – – - 12 – – – – 12 Henri Toivonen – – 0 – – 0 – – 12 – – – 18 Kalle Grundel 2 0 4 – – – – – 0 6 – 0 12 19 Jean-Luc Thérier 10 – – – – – – – – – – – 10 Mats Jonsson – 10 – – – – – – – – – 0 Mario Stillo – – – – – – – 10 – – – – Fabrizio Tabaton – – – – – – – – – 10 – – Alain Ambrosino – – – – – – – – – – 10 – 24 Lars-Erik Torph – 8 – – – – – – – – – 0 8 John Buffum – – – – 8 – – – – – – 0 Yasuhiro Iwase – – – – – – 8 – – – – – Juha Kankkunen – – 0 – – – 0 – 8 – – 0 David Horsey – – – – – – – – – – 8 – Russell Brookes – – – – – – – – – – – 8 30 Björn Johansson – 6 – – – – – – – – – – 6 Vic Preston, Jr. – – – 6 – – – – – – – – Jean-Claude Andruet 0 – – – 6 – – – – – – – Reg Cook – – – – – – 6 – – – – – Miguel Torrás – – – – – – – 6 – – – – Patrick Tauziac – – – – – – – – – – 6 – 36 Bernard Darniche 4 – – – 0 – – – – – – – 4 Kenneth Eriksson – 4 – – – – – – – – – 0 Malcolm Stewart – – – – – – 4 – – – – – Carlos Bassi – – – – – – – 4 – – – – Erkki Pitkänen – – 0 – – – – – 4 – – – Massimo Ercolani – – – – – – – – – 4 – – Jimmy McRae – – – – – – – – – – – 4 43 Stig Andervang – 3 – – – – – – – – – 0 3 Jorge Ortigão – – 3 – – – – – – – – – Franz Wittmann – – – 3 – – 0 – – – – – François Chatriot 0 – – – 3 – – – – – – – Iórgos Moschous – – – – – 3 – – – – – – 'Possum' Bourne – – – – – – 3 – – – – – Hugo Hernández – – – – – – – 3 – – – – Bruno Saby 0 – – – 0 – – – 3 – – 0 Gerhard Kalnay – – – – – – – – – 3 – – 52 Yoshio Iwashita – – – 2 – 1 – – – – – – 3 53 Gunnar Pettersson – 2 – – – – – – – – – – 2 Christian Dorche 0 – 2 – – – – – – – – – Guy Fréquelin – – – 0 2 – – – – – – – Achim Warmbold 0 – – – – 2 – – – – – – Tony Teesdale – – – – – – 2 – – – – – Monnenmacher Pérez – – – – – – – 2 – – – – Jouko Pöysti – – – – – – – – 2 – – 0 Michele Rayneri – – – – – – – – – 2 – – Bertie Fisher – – – – – – – – – – – 262 Jerry Åhlin – 1 – – – – – – – – – 0 1 Russell Gooding – – 1 – – – – – – – – 0 Basil Criticos – – – 1 – – – – – – – – Yves Loubet 0 – – – 1 – – – – – – – Blair Robson – – – – – – 1 – – – – – Walter d'Agostini – – – – – – – 1 – – – – Kalevi Aho – – – – – – – – 1 – – – Werner Grissmann – – 0 – – – – – – 1 – – Mikael Ericsson – 0 – – – – – – 0 – – 1

Manufacturers' championship