History 1970s

1973 International Swedish Rally (Sweden)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 24th International Swedish Rally

Date: February 15–18, 1973

Host Country: Sweden

Surface: Snow / Ice

Total Distance: 802.0 km (competitive)

Total Starters: 78 crews

Total Finishers: 38 crews

The 1973 Swedish Rally was a snow-covered spectacle of speed and skill, drawing the world’s top drivers to the forests around Karlstad for a true winter test. With its icy stages and high average speeds, it demanded complete mastery of car control. Local favorites Blomqvist and Hertz executed a flawless campaign to claim their first WRC victory together.

Route

Karlstad Region: Fast-flowing forest roads with snow-packed surfaces ideal for studded tires and high-speed drifts.
Lake Crossings: Flat and icy, requiring absolute throttle discipline and perfect steering correction.
Night Stages: Cold darkness and long shadows increased the difficulty of already treacherous navigation.

The route twisted through Värmland’s frozen forests and lakes, offering flat-out straights and rhythm-heavy corners lined by towering snowbanks.

Temperatures well below freezing ensured consistent snow and ice coverage—perfect conditions for Scandinavian specialists to shine.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Stig Blomqvist & Arne Hertz · Saab 96 V4
2nd Place
Per Eklund & Björn Cederberg · Saab 96 V4
3rd Place
Timo Mäkinen & Henry Liddon · Ford Escort RS1600

Blomqvist’s perfect car control and Hertz’s trusted guidance delivered a commanding win in front of their home crowd, while Saab dominated the podium with a 1–2 finish.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Snowbank Strategy: Drivers leaned into snowbanks for support but risked becoming stranded with minor miscalculations.
  • High-Speed Drifting: Maintaining stability during long slides at over 160 km/h required elite reflexes and trust in pace notes.
  • Cold Reliability: Engines, tires, and electrics were all vulnerable to -20°C temperatures and overnight service constraints.

The 1973 Swedish Rally confirmed Blomqvist’s snow mastery and gave Saab another victory in their native terrain—combining speed, strategy, and icy precision into one of the most iconic winter wins in WRC history.

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