The 1981 World Rally Championship for Drivers was won by Ari Vatanen driving a Rothmans Rally Team Ford Escort RS1800, the only time a privateer team has won the Drivers' Championship until 2017.
In the 1981 World Rally Championship for Drivers, Finnish driver Ari Vatanen secured victory with his Rothmans Rally Team Ford Escort RS1800, setting a precedent that would stand until 2017 when another non-official team claimed the top spot in the championship.