The eighties arrived at a time when the Rally Vinho Madeira was rising, at a rampant rate, in the context of the European Championship, since, in just four years, the race, organized by Club Sports of Madeira, reached the top coefficient of four. In the decade’s first year, Vudafieri took revenge and even rose, along with his Fiat 131 Abarth, to the top position of the podium, but, the following year, the Luxembourg champion Ali Kridel surprised everyone by winning despite racing against higher ranked competition. Behind, he left Antonella Mandelli, the Italian pilot racing on a Fiat 131 Abarth, who became a popular idol on the island as well as a heartbreaker for many pubescent fans.

Tony Fassina returned in 1982 and won with an Opel Ascona 400 from Conrero. A year later, a young racer, this time an Italian, would gain international acknowledgement by winning at the wheel of the brand new and fast Lancia 037. That year’s European Champion, Massimo Biasion would from then, and for various times, see his name be featured in the World’s Championship list of triumphs. Another widely acknowledged name was that of Henri Toivonen, who took his wonderful Porsche 911 SC from Rothmans to triumph in 1984. In 1985, Salvador Serviá was number one in a podium monopolized by Lancia 037 cars.

The second half of the decade was practically always singled out by Lancia, even if with its Delta model. Fabrizio Tabaton obtained his first victory at the Rally in 1986 with his deeply potent Lancia Delta S4 at the final calls of the longed for Group B, and, the rising Dario Cerrato triumphed in the 1987 edition, then riding a car that was one of the most successful models amongst us, the all-wheel drive Lancia Delta. Yves Loubet would win in 1989, exactly twelve months after Patrick Snijers, after many trials, managed to win with his BMW M3.

Boys and girls, aligned with the cultural influence of bands such as The Smiths, Talk Talk or even, for the most extroverted ones, to the tune of Michael Jackson, from all of whom they would draw influence for their characteristic crest hairstyles, would now have to watch the Tour from safer roadsides. In 1986 a violent accident at the Rally of Portugal made FIA end Group B competitions and implement harder security measures. Nonetheless, before that, Rally Vinho Madeira had already established the precedent that would help define these international security norms and procedures.