Coming into the 1984 Madeira Rally, just one point separated the European Rally Championship leader Henri Toivonen, driving the Rothmans Porsche 911 and Italian Carlo Capone in a works Lancia 037.
In damp and foggy conditions on day one, the stage was set for a cracking battle between Toivonen and Capone and for other top runners Patrick Snijers (Porsche 911) and Antonella Mandelli (Lancia 037) to challenge for the podium positions.