Rally legend Miki Biasion (above, Jim Houlgrave photo) will be back behind the wheel at Race Retro, powered by Motor Sport, when it comes to Stoneleigh Park from February 23-25, marking the 30-year anniversary of his first World Rally Championship in 1988.
Rally fans will get a thrill watching the two-time champion, best known for his career with Lancia, in action on the Live Rally Stage with the crews from Rallying with Group B on the Saturday and Sunday.
Biasion came to prominence in the early 1980s, winning both the Italian and European Rally Championships in 1983 driving a Lancia 037. He began competing in 1979 in an Opel Kadett GT/E, and was later drafted in to play a key role for the works Lancia World Rally Championship team in the mid-1980s as the squad sought to regroup after previous star driver Henri Toivonen’s fatal crash. Miki went on to dominate early Group A rallying, taking the World Championship in both 1988 and 1989.
At his peak, Biasion was notching victories in almost three quarters of all events he entered. He also was only the second driver to repeat as champion (after Juha Kankkunen), and the third to win two titles (after Kankkunen and Walter Röhrl).
A move to Ford in 1992 made Biasion the highest-paid driver of his day, but he didn’t achieve the same level of success as with Lancia. He did, however, win the World Truck Championship in 1998 and 1999 driving an Iveco.
“We are thrilled to have Miki Biasion with us for this year’s show,” said Race Retro Show Director Lee Masters, “especially on our Live Rally Stage. It’s an amazing opportunity for fans to see one of the greats in action once again.”
Full details of Vintage Racecar’s display will be announced at the end of this month. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.raceretro.com
