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A second try in WRC by the United States - or by WRC in the United States - fared only marginally better than the Press-on-Regardless in early 1970's. Whereas PoR was organized twice, Olympus Rally managed three editions before it folded.
Initially, Olympus Rally was included in the WRC as a surprise addition for 1986 by overriding decision of FISA Executive Committee - against recommendations of all advisory boards. Whole event is personified by efforts of one man, John Nagel. He arguably made huge effort to get the event up and on WRC calendar but in effort of doing so, burned bridges to too many directions and also managed completely to neglect promotion, hence nulling all the hard work he put it.
Event was based around city of Olympia in state of Washington (Pacific Northwest region of the United States) from which it got it's greek sounding name. However, route moved towards the east in direction of Tacoma and Seattle in it's later years.
The story of Markku Alen meeting civilian car on stage during 1987 edition is legendary. Two course cars were driven by Hollywood actors and both of them crashed on first proper gravel stage, allegedly within 10 meters of each others (one of these actors was John Dean Anderson of MacGyver fame). Their radio antennas were damaged and they couldn't inform organisers of the incident and thus stage finish control chief sets off to find them, driving the stage in opposite direction. It was this civilian pickup truck that Alen met head on shortly after passing by the two stricken zero cars, luckily without further drama.
Disastrous year 1988 where event attracted only 29 starters, well below FISA requirement of 50 entries, was to be the last. For this final year, Olympus Rally had lost it's title sponsor and as it had never attracted attention of either local competitors or spectators, it was no wonder that WRC did not return next year.
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| 1986:
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Alen, Markku
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Lancia Delta S4
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96.74 km/h
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| 1987:
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Kankkunen, Juha
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Lancia Delta HF 4WD
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90.02 km/h
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| 1988:
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Biasion, Massimo
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Lancia Delta Integrale
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92.33 km/h
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Driver wins
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Alen, Markku (1)
Biasion, Massimo (1)
Kankkunen, Juha (1)
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Manufacturer wins
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Lancia (3)
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