Documentary | 07 December 1986

Two drivers were still capable of securing the World Rally Drivers’ Championship as the 1986 series was wound up in the United States of America. Juha Kankkunen (Peugeot) and Markku Alen (Lancia) battled it out through the forests of Washington State with scarcely a thought that the issue would really be decided by an FISA court later in the month. That situation was reached after Peugeot protested against their exclusion from the San Remo event in Italy, which significantly affected the points score. However, as the cameras show to great advantage, the action on the Olympus Rally was fast and furious, with local star John Buffum going really well in a semi-official works Audi Quattro and providing substantial opposition to the big two. But all eyes were on the Flying Finns as they ignored the political wrangles and got on with the driving. Hurtling along the smooth wooded straights and screaming round the curves, the French and Italian manufacturers top men tried all they knew.