Miki Biasion
Italian Rally Driver Won Two WRC Titles with Lancia
In the late eighties Massimo “Miki” Biasion was the world’s best paid and most successful rally driver, winning back-to-back titles with Lancia. After joining Ford the Italian’s career wound down until his final appearance on the world stage in 1995.
Biaison was born in Bassano del Grappa, to the north west of Venice, on January 7th, 1958. He made his World Rally Championship (WRC) debut in 1980, driving an Opel in the San Remo event with co-driver Tiziano Siviero. Only once in his career would Biasion win a WRC event with a different co-driver, Carlo Cassina replacing an unwell Siviero on the 1988 Portuguese Rally.
Italian and European Rally Champion
1983 was a significant year for Biasion, as he drove a Lancia 037 to victory in both the Italian and European rally championships. He became a works Lancia driver, winning his maiden WRC event in Argentina in 1986. Despite this it was a bad year for the team. Their star driver Henri Toivonen was killed on the Tour de Corse, along with his co-driver Sergio Cresta. The accident hastened the demise of the spectacular Group B machines.
Two WRC Titles with Lancia Rally Team
Biasion quickly mastered the new Group A cars and recorded five victories during 1988 to claim his first world title, including a win in the gruelling Safari Rally. He also won five times in 1989, securing his second title. Over the course of his two championship seasons Biasion dominated his rivals, with no one else able to get near his tally of victories.
Biasion Finishes WRC Career with Ford
With only two wins in 1990 and none at all the following year Biasion departed Lancia, signing to drive with Ford. Their 1992 Sierra Cosworth was not to his liking, with Biasion recording a best finish of second in Portugal. Ford had a new Escort Cosworth for 1993 and Biasion used it to win the Acropolis Rally in Greece. It would be the final WRC victory of his illustrious career.
Although Biasion stayed with Ford in 1994 the results were not forthcoming. At the 1995 Acropolis Rally he appeared in a Lancia once again. His final WRC appearance came in the San Remo event, where his world championship career had started 15 years previously. Biasion drove a Subaru to fourth place in the two-litre championship.
Biasion continue to race after his WRC career finished. In the late nineties he became a double truck racing champion. Recently, he has competed in the Paris-Dakar event, driving a diesel powered Fiat Panda.
Miki Biasion Lancia Delta S4
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