The Rallye International de Madagascar is an international rallying event organised by the Federation du Sport Auto-Moto de Madagascar. The rally, Madagascar's biggest annual motorsport event is based in the Madagascan capital of Antananarivo. The event is a round of the African Rally Championship and the Madagascan National Rally Championship.
The rally, the oldest event still running in African, began in 1951 as the Rally du Sud. It was renamed the Rallye Shell de Madagascar in 1953, then the Grand rallye International de Madagascar in 1970. Political instability which in turn led to the collapse of the Madagascan economy saw the rally suspended after the 1972 event. The Grand Rallye de Madagascar returned briefly from 1986 to 1990 before the collapse of the military government saw another period of suspension.
1997 saw the Rallye International de Madagascar return again only briefly until 2001. 1997 was the first and only time the rally was won by a female driver and a female co-driver, "Mimi" and "Yoyo" in a Peugeot 106 Kit Car. Another rally was held in 2003 before it returned in 2010 as a candidate rally for the African Rally Championship. Its success saw the event graduate to ARC status for 2010.
The French influence over the event is strong. French colonial rule of Madagascar ended in 1960 but the first local driver to win the event was not until 1966. French cars likewise have dominated the event with Citroën, Peugeots and Renaults dominating the results, still providing winning cars right up until 1999 despite the influence of the Japanese manufacturers on the sport globally. One of the odd traditions of Madagascar rallying is competitors are commonly referred to by nicknames and pseudonyms rather than their actual names. "Joda", otherwise known as Jean-Yves Ranarivelo is the most successful driver in the rallies history with five victories spread between 1990 and the first African championship event in 2011.
List of winners Sourced in part from: YearWinnerCar Rallye du Sud 1951 Chantrel Peugeot 203 1952 Chantrel Peugeot 203 Rallye Shell de Madagascar 1953 Bigeon Land Rover 1954 de Villeneuve Jeep 1955 Castere Citroën 2CV 1956 Chantrel Peugeot 403 1957 Not held 1958 Patry Citroën ID19 1959 Chantrel Peugeot 403 1960 de Lagiroday Porsche 1961 Not held 1962 Duclos Renault Dauphine 1963 Duclos Citroën DS19 1964 Obeniche Saab 96 1965 Duclos Austin Cooper S 1966 Ramaroson Austin Cooper S 1967 Mahaison Peugeot 404 1968 Andriantsoa Renault 16 TS 1969 Noudeu Fiat 125S Grand Rallye International de Madagascar 1970 Nivelle Citroën DS21 1971 Ramanantsoa Peugeot 504 1972-1985 Not held Grand Rallye de Madagascar 1986 "Rafala" Peugeot 504 1987 "Dofa" Renault 18 TS 1988 "Bebe" Peugeot 504 1989 Frères Rakotondrabesa Peugeot 504 1990 Jean-Yves "Joda" Ranarivelo Opel Ascona 1991-1996 Not held Rallye International de Madagascar 1997 "Mimi" Peugeot 106 Kit Car 1998 Faly "Roses" Andrianafetra Peugeot 106 Kit Car 1999 Jean-Yves "Joda" Ranarivelo Renault Clio 2000 "Razakaboana" Nissan Pulsar GTI-R 2001 Jean-Yves "Joda" Ranarivelo Subaru Impreza WRX 2002 Not held 2003 Mamy Hubert "Mamy Kely" Rajoelison Toyota Celica GT-Four 2004-2009 Not held 2010 Jean-Yves "Joda" Ranarivelo Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2011 Jean-Yves "Joda" Ranarivelo Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2012 Mamy Patrick "Boom" Solofonirina Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2013 Olivier Ramiandrisoa Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2014 Mamy Patrick "Boom" Solofonirina Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2015 Mamy Patrick "Boom" Solofonirina Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2016 Tahina Razafinjoelina Subaru Impreza STi N10 2017 Lahatra Aina "Sefo Kely" Rajaonalisoa Subaru Impreza 2018 Tahina Razafinjoelina Subaru Impreza STi R4 2019 Rivo Aina Randrianarivony Subaru Impreza STi R4 2020 Rivo Aina Randrianarivony Subaru Impreza STi R4 2021 Frederic Rabekoto Subaru Impreza STi R42022 Frederic RabekotoSubaru Impreza STi R4Grand Rallye de Madagascar2023 Faniry RasoamaromakaPeugeot 208 T16 Note: Nicknames, instead of full names, are used in official results in Malagasy rallying. For rallies from 2001 to today, nicknames are not listed in this table if they are the same as the driver's first name.
References
External links Official website Federation du Sport Auto-Moto de Madagascar African Rally Championship