History 1970s

1978 Rallye Sweden (Sweden)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 28th Rallye Sweden

Date: February 10–12, 1978

Host Country: Sweden

Surface: Snow / Ice

Total Distance: ~1,350 km

Total Starters: Approx. 100 crews

Total Finishers: 46 crews

Held in the icy forests of Värmland, the 1978 Rallye Sweden brought deep snow, sub-zero temperatures, and fast-flowing winter stages. Björn Waldegård, paired with co-driver Hans Thorszelius, used his vast snow experience and the balanced power of the Ford Escort RS1800 to carve through the competition—securing a clear win on home soil.

Route

Hagfors & Torsby Stages: Fast and flowing, with deep snow and minimal margin for error between banks.
Lake Crossings: High-speed frozen routes where confidence and grip management were key.
Night Sections: Visibility reduced to narrow beams of light reflecting off the snow, demanding exact pacenote timing.

Centered around Karlstad, the route covered a blend of classic snow-covered forest roads, frozen lakes, and narrow backcountry paths lined with thick snowbanks.

Steady winter conditions allowed for consistent studded tire grip, but low temperatures tested engines, gearboxes, and driver endurance over multiple loops.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Björn Waldegård & Hans Thorszelius · Ford Escort RS1800
2nd Place
Stig Blomqvist & Arne Hertz · Saab 99 EMS
3rd Place
Ari Vatanen & Peter Bryant · Ford Escort RS1800

Waldegård’s smooth yet aggressive approach helped him stay ahead of Sweden’s elite snow drivers—securing a highly respected win in one of the most technical winter rallies of the year.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Studded Tire Strategy: Proper tire prep and preservation were essential across multiple stage conditions.
  • Snowbanks: Crews leaned into banks for cornering—misjudgments could bury the car or damage bodywork.
  • Cold Fatigue: Low temps challenged focus, especially during night stages and long stage transit times.

The 1978 Rallye Sweden was a showcase of snow mastery—Waldegård’s home win added another prestigious victory to his growing legend in winter rallying.

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