History 1980s

1987 International Swedish Rally (Sweden)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1987 International Swedish Rally (Sweden)

Date: February 13–15, 1987

Start Location: Karlstad, Sweden

Finish Location: Karlstad, Sweden

Total Distance: 549 km of special stages

Surface: Snow and ice

The 1987 Swedish Rally delivered classic winter rallying—snowbanks, studded tires, and flat-out commitment in slippery Scandinavian forests. Hannu Mikkola, a veteran of the ice, put his expertise to good use by guiding the bulky but stable Audi 200 Quattro to a surprising victory. It was a testament to quattro technology and Mikkola’s finesse that the older Audi was able to outlast the newer Group A field in such treacherous conditions.

Route

Hagfors and Torsby: Frozen tracks with technical sections requiring rhythm and commitment.
Lysvik and Fredriksberg: Long, sweeping routes favoring AWD traction and confident late braking into corners.
Night Stages: Limited visibility, deep ruts, and freezing temps pushed drivers into full concentration mode.

Sweden’s snowbound stages offered classic conditions, with narrow, fast-flowing routes lined with snowbanks:

Weather remained cold and consistent throughout the rally, with deep snow allowing drivers to lean on banks—but punishing anyone who pushed too far.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Hannu Mikkola & Arne Hertz · Audi 200 Quattro
2nd Place
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
3rd Place
Kalle Grundel & Peter Diekmann · Ford Sierra XR4x4

Mikkola’s win was a nod to rally experience, steady hands, and Audi’s famed quattro advantage—even as newer, lighter Group A cars were beginning to take over the sport.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Snowbank Strategy: Drivers used them to carry more speed—but contact at the wrong angle could mean disaster.
  • Studded Tire Tactics: Choosing the right compound and managing stud wear was key over repeated stage use.
  • Weight vs. Control: Mikkola proved that even a heavier car could win with the right setup and patience.

The 1987 Swedish Rally was a showcase of skill over raw performance—Hannu Mikkola’s win in an aging Audi was a masterclass in snow rallying.

← Previous Event 1987 Rallye Monte-Carlo (Monaco)
Back to Events Index
1987 Rallye de Portugal (Portugal) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.