History 1970s

1977 International Swedish Rally (Sweden)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 27th International Swedish Rally

Date: February 11–13, 1977

Host Country: Sweden

Surface: Snow / Ice

Total Distance: ~1,500 km

Total Starters: 103 crews

Total Finishers: 49 crews

The 1977 Swedish Rally showcased the finest snow-driving talents in the world, with Sweden’s frozen forests becoming the arena for a high-speed winter war. Local legend Stig Blomqvist, partnered with Hans Sylvan, exploited every ounce of traction from the front-wheel-drive Saab 96 V4, gliding through the ice-lined stages to claim another unforgettable win for Saab in its home rally.

Route

Hagfors and Torsby Loops: Long, fast sections with heavy snowbanks on either side of the narrow track.
Lake Crossings: Frozen lake stages provided a smooth but slick surface, demanding fine throttle control.
Forest Transits: Night stages and limited lighting increased reliance on precise pacenotes and studded grip.

Centered around Karlstad, the route stretched through Värmland’s snow-packed forests with flowing high-speed stages, narrow farm roads, and long straights between snowbanks.

Stable cold weather kept conditions ideal for snow rallying—firm snowpack, consistent temperatures, and bright skies helped produce a classic Swedish event.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Stig Blomqvist & Hans Sylvan · Saab 96 V4
2nd Place
Per Eklund & Björn Cederberg · Saab 96 V4
3rd Place
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Fiat 131 Abarth

Blomqvist’s smooth, fearless style on snow and Sylvan’s flawless navigation gave Saab a 1–2 finish, thrilling Swedish fans and proving the old 96 still had the snow legs to compete at the highest level.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Studded Tire Strategy: Grip depended on proper stud length, pressure, and rotation during long icy runs.
  • Snowbank Risk: Crews had to ‘lean’ on banks through corners, but overdoing it meant instant retirement or time loss.
  • Night Driving: With minimal lighting and long hours of darkness, co-driver accuracy and high-performance lamps were crucial.

The 1977 Swedish Rally was a celebration of winter rallying—capped by a poetic win for Saab and Blomqvist on the cold roads they knew best.

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