The Lancia Deltas were expected to win the San Remo Rally, but the question was, which driver? Uncharacteristic weather beset the Italian Riviera and further assisted the four-wheel drive cars, but could Markku Alen win again after the 1986 Peugeot exclusion debacle?

Massimo “Miki” Biasion perhaps was the man most likely to upset the hopes of the Finn, and with the Manufacturers’ title already secured by Lancia, there was no particular team orders in operation, or so it seemed.

With the patriotic crowds firmly behind the Martini-sponsored Lancia’s the stage was set for a great showdown with Jean Ragnotti in the Renault 11 Turbo and Didier Auriol driving an RED Ford Sierra Cosworth.

Britain’s Jimmy McRae used his success in the Tudor Webasto Manx International Rally to land a drive in a second Cosworth, but with five other Lancias in the fray the result was was going to be well-earned by whoever made it to the top step of the podium.