# Björn Waldegård

Björn Waldegård (12 November 1943 – 29 August 2014) was a Swedish rally driver, and the winner of the World Rally Championship for drivers in 1979. His Swedish nickname was "Walle".

## Career

Waldegård, who came from Rimbo, had a career that spanned four decades; he made his debut in 1962 and, after winning the Swedish Rally Championship in 1967 and '68, continued to compete at the top level until 1992 when a broken arm suffered during a crash in the 1992 Safari Rally forced his retirement. His first international victory, at the wheel of a Porsche 911, came on the 1969 Monte Carlo Rally, while his last came for Toyota on the 1990 Safari. It made him the oldest driver to win a World Rally Championship event, a record he retained until the 2022 Monte Carlo Rally.
In the mid-1970s Waldegård took part in the newborn European Championship for Rallycross Drivers with a privately entered Porsche Carrera RSR. His best overall result was to become the Runner-up to Austrian Franz Wurz, father of Alexander Wurz, of the 1974 Embassy European Rallycross Championship.
The Alitalia-backed Lancia team of the 1970s frequently choose between star drivers Waldegård and Italian frontrunner Sandro Munari. Waldegård and Munari came head to head in the 1976 Rallye Sanremo. Waldegård had a four-second lead over Munari entering the final stage, only to be forced to squander that advantage in keeping with the team's hopes for an 'equal' shootout. Waldegård, however, emerged as victor by four seconds, having disobeyed team orders and overtaken Munari – as a result, Waldegård left Lancia and joined Ford in late 1976.
Driving Ford Escort RS1800 models, Waldegård won three of the world's most punishing rallies in 1977; the East African Safari Rally, the Acropolis Rally, and the RAC Rally.
He was later victor in the inaugural World Rally Championship series in 1979 for Ford and Mercedes-Benz, beating Hannu Mikkola in the final round at the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire in the Ivory Coast, by finishing second behind his rival.
In September 2008, Waldegård took part in the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally, a round of the Scottish Rally Championship centred in Perth in Scotland. He was one of a number of ex-world champions to take part in the event in memory of McRae, who died in 2007. On the event he drove a Porsche 911.
In addition to his rallying career, Waldegård also took part in the 1970 Targa Florio sports car endurance race on the Italian island of Sicily, the oldest motor race in the world at the time. He drove a factory supported, John Wyer-entered Porsche 908/3. The Targa Florio was more or less a rally-type race on a closed circuit made up of public roads, hence the reason for Waldegård's one-off drive with Porsche. Sharing driving duties with Briton Richard Attwood, he finished fifth.
Björn Waldegård died on 29 August 2014 of cancer at the age of 70.

## International victories

Björn Waldegård, International victories :
| 1969 | 38ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo | Porsche 911 S |
| 1970 | 39ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo | Porsche 911 S |
| 1970 | 21st International Swedish Rally | Porsche 911 S |
| 1970 | 41. Österreichische Alpenfahrt | Porsche 911 S |

## WRC victories

    #  Event Season Co-driver Car 1 25th International Swedish Rally 1975 Hans Thorszelius Lancia Stratos HF 2 17º Rallye Sanremo 1975 Hans Thorszelius Lancia Stratos HF 3 18º Rallye Sanremo 1976 Hans Thorszelius Lancia Stratos HF 4 25th Safari Rally 1977 Hans Thorszelius Ford Escort RS1800 5 24th Acropolis Rally 1977 Hans Thorszelius Ford Escort RS1800 6 26th Lombard RAC Rally 1977 Hans Thorszelius Ford Escort RS1800 7 28th International Swedish Rally 1978 Hans Thorszelius Ford Escort RS1800 8 26th Acropolis Rally 1979 Hans Thorszelius Ford Escort RS1800 9 7ème Critérium Molson du Québec 1979 Hans Thorszelius Ford Escort RS1800 10 12ème Rallye Côte d'Ivoire 1980 Hans Thorszelius Mercedes 500 SLC 11 12th Motogard Rally of New Zealand 1982 Hans Thorszelius Toyota Celica 2000GT 12 15ème Rallye Côte d'Ivoire 1983 Hans Thorszelius Toyota Celica TCT 13 32nd Marlboro Safari Rally 1984 Hans Thorszelius Toyota Celica TCT 14 34th Marlboro Safari Rally Kenya 1986 Fred Gallagher Toyota Celica TCT 15 18ème Rallye Côte d'Ivoire 1986 Fred Gallagher Toyota Celica TCT 16 38th Marlboro Safari Rally Kenya 1990 Fred Gallagher Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165

## Racing record
### Complete IMC results

| Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 1970 | Porsche System Engineering | Porsche 911 S | MON 1 | SWE 1 | ITA | KEN | AUT 1 | GRE Ret | GBR Ret | | |
| 1971 | Porsche System Engineering | Porsche 914/6 | MON 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 1971 | Porsche System Engineering | Porsche 911 S | | SWE 4 | ITA | KEN Ret | MAR | AUT | GRE | GBR 2 | |
| 1972 | Porsche System Engineering | Porsche 911 S | MON Ret | SWE 2 | KEN | | GRE | AUT | ITA | USA | GBR |
| 1972 | | Citroën SM Maserati | | | | MAR Ret | | | | | |

### Complete WRC results

| Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | WDC | Points |
| 1973 | Björn Waldegård | Fiat 124 Abarth Spider | MON Ret | | POR Ret | | MOR 6 | | | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1973 | Björn Waldegård | Volkswagen 1303S | | SWE 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1973 | Björn Waldegård | Porsche 911 | | | | KEN Ret | | | | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1973 | BMW Motorsport | BMW 2002tii | | | | | | GRE Ret | POL | FIN | AUT 4 | ITA 51 | USA | GBR 7 | FRA | | N/A | N/A |
| 1974 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica GT | MON C | SWE C | POR Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1974 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Corolla 1600 | | | | | | | | | | GBR 4 | FRA | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1974 | Björn Waldegård | Porsche 911 | | | | KEN 2 | GRE C | | | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1974 | Björn Waldegård | Opel Ascona | | | | | | FIN 10 | ITA | CAN | USA | | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1975 | Lancia Alitalia | Lancia Stratos HF | MON | SWE 1 | KEN 3 | GRE Ret | | | | ITA 1 | FRA | GBR DSQ | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1975 | Björn Waldegård | Fiat 124 Abarth Spider | | | | | MOR Ret | | | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1975 | Björn Waldegård | Toyota Corolla 1600 | | | | | | POR Ret | FIN | | | | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1976 | Lancia Alitalia | Lancia Stratos HF | MON 2 | SWE Ret | POR | KEN Ret | GRE Ret | MOR | FIN | ITA 1 | FRA | | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1976 | Ford Motor Company Ltd | Ford Escort RS1800 | | | | | | | | | | GBR 3 | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| 1977 | Ford Motor Company Ltd | Ford Escort RS1800 | MON | SWE | POR 2 | KEN 1 | NZL | GRE 1 | FIN 3 | CAN | ITA 5 | FRA | GBR 1 | | | | 2nd | 30 |
| 1978 | Ford Motor Company Ltd | Ford Escort RS1800 | MON | SWE 1 | | POR Ret | GRE | FIN | CAN | ITA | CIV | FRA | | | | | 14th | 18 |
| 1978 | Björn Waldegård | Porsche 911 | | | KEN 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | 14th | 18 |
| 1978 | Eaton Yale | Ford Escort RS1800 | | | | | | | | | | | GBR 2 | | | | 14th | 18 |
| 1979 | Ford Motor Company Ltd | Ford Escort RS1800 | MON 2 | SWE 2 | POR 2 | | | | FIN 3 | CAN 1 | ITA | FRA | GBR 9 | | | | 1st | 120 |
| 1979 | D.T. Dobie / Daimler-Benz | Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC | | | | KEN 6 | | | | | | | | CIV 2 | | | 1st | 120 |
| 1979 | Rothmans Rally Team | Ford Escort RS1800 | | | | | GRE 1 | NZL | | | | | | | | | 1st | 120 |
| 1980 | Fiat Italia | Fiat 131 Abarth | MON 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 63 |
| 1980 | Fiat Sweden | Fiat 131 Abarth | | SWE 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 63 |
| 1980 | C. Santos - Mercedes | Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC | | | POR 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 63 |
| 1980 | D.T. Dobie / Daimler-Benz | Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC | | | | KEN 10 | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 63 |
| 1980 | Daimler-Benz | Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC | | | | | GRE Ret | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 63 |
| 1980 | Daimler-Benz | Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC | | | | | | ARG Ret | FIN | | | | | | | | 3rd | 63 |
| 1980 | Cable-Price Corp. | Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC | | | | | | | | NZL 5 | ITA | FRA | | | | | 3rd | 63 |
| 1980 | SEACI | Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC | | | | | | | | | | | | CIV 1 | | | 3rd | 63 |
| 1980 | Toyota Team Great Britain | Toyota Celica 2000 GT | | | | | | | | | | | GBR Ret | | | | 3rd | 63 |
| 1981 | Publimmo Racing | Ford Escort RS1800 | MON 8 | SWE | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 17 |
| 1981 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica 2000 GT | | | POR 3 | KEN | FRA Ret | GRE Ret | ARG | BRA | FIN 9 | ITA | | | | | 18th | 17 |
| 1981 | Premoto Toyota | Toyota Celica 2000 GT | | | | | | | | | | | CIV Ret | | | | 18th | 17 |
| 1981 | Toyota Team Great Britain | Toyota Celica 2000 GT | | | | | | | | | | | | GBR Ret | | | 18th | 17 |
| 1982 | Porsche Alméras | Porsche 911 SC | MON 92 | SWE | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6th | 36 |
| 1982 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica 2000 GT | | | POR Ret | KEN | FRA | GRE | | | | | | | | | 6th | 36 |
| 1982 | Toyota New Zealand | Toyota Celica 2000 GT | | | | | | | NZL 1 | BRA | FIN | ITA | | | | | 6th | 36 |
| 1982 | Premoto Toyota | Toyota Celica 2000 GT | | | | | | | | | | | CIV 3 | | | | 6th | 36 |
| 1982 | Toyota Team Great Britain | Toyota Celica 2000 GT | | | | | | | | | | | | GBR 7 | | | 6th | 36 |
| 1983 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | FRA | GRE | NZL | ARG | FIN 12 | | | | | | 11th | 20 |
| 1983 | Premoto Toyota | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | | | | | | | | | | | CIV 1 | | | | 11th | 20 |
| 1983 | Toyota Team Great Britain | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | | | | | | | | | | | | GBR Ret | | | 11th | 20 |
| 1983 | Pro Motor Sport | Ferrari 308 GTB | | | | | | | | | | ITA Ret | | | | | 11th | 20 |
| 1984 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | MON | SWE | POR Ret | | | | | | FIN Ret | ITA | CIV | | | | 8th | 28 |
| 1984 | Westlands Motors | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | | | | KEN 1 | FRA | GRE | | | | | | | | | 8th | 28 |
| 1984 | Toyota New Zealand | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | | | | | | | NZL 5 | ARG | | | | | | | 8th | 28 |
| 1984 | Toyota Team Great Britain | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | | | | | | | | | | | | GBR Ret | | | 8th | 28 |
| 1985 | Westlands Motors | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | MON | SWE | POR | KEN 2 | FRA | GRE | | | | | | | | | 8th | 34 |
| 1985 | Toyota New Zealand | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | | | | | | | NZL Ret | ARG | | | | | | | 8th | 34 |
| 1985 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | | | | | | | | | FIN 7 | ITA | | GBR Ret | | | 8th | 34 |
| 1985 | Premoto Toyota | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | | | | | | | | | | | CIV 2 | | | | 8th | 34 |
| 1986 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo | MON | SWE | POR | KEN 1 | FRA | GRE | NZL | ARG | FIN | CIV 1 | ITA | GBR | USA 5 | | 4th | 48 |
| 1987 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Supra 3.0i | MON | SWE | POR | KEN Ret | FRA | GRE | USA 6 | NZL | ARG | FIN | | | | | 36th | 6 |
| 1987 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Supra Turbo | | | | | | | | | | | CIV Ret | ITA | GBR | | 36th | 6 |
| 1988 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Supra Turbo | MON | SWE | POR | KEN 7 | FRA | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 16 |
| 1988 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 | | | | | | GRE Ret | USA | NZL | ARG | FIN | CIV | ITA | | | 17th | 16 |
| 1988 | Toyota Team Great Britain | Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 | | | | | | | | | | | | | GBR 3 | | 17th | 16 |
| 1989 | Toyota Team Europe | Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 | SWE | MON Ret | POR Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | 29th | 10 |
| 1989 | Toyota Team Kenya | Toyota Supra Turbo | | | | KEN 4 | FRA | GRE | NZL | ARG | FIN | AUS | ITA | CIV | GBR | | 29th | 10 |
| 1990 | Toyota Team Kenya | Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 | MON | POR | KEN 1 | FRA | GRE | NZL | ARG | FIN | AUS | ITA | CIV | GBR | | | 12th | 20 |
| 1991 | Toyota Kenya | Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 | MON | SWE | POR | KEN 4 | FRA | GRE | NZL | ARG | FIN | AUS | ITA | CIV | ESP | GBR | 26th | 10 |
| 1992 | Martini Racing | Lancia Delta HF Integrale | MON | SWE | POR | KEN Ret | FRA | GRE | NZL | ARG | FIN | AUS | ITA | CIV | ESP | GBR | NC | 0 |

### Complete FIA European Rallycross Cup results

| Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | ERC | Points |
| 1976 | Björn Waldegård | Porsche Carrera RSR | AUT1 | GER1 | FIN | SWE 1 | BEL | AUT2 | NED | GBR1 | GER2 | GBR2 | | 13th | 20 |
| 1977 | Björn Waldegård | Porsche Carrera RSR | AUT1 | NED1 | ITA | SWE1 3 | FIN | BEL1 | SWE2 | NED2 | BEL2 | GER | AUT2 | 18th | 12 |
| 1978 | Björn Waldegård | Ford Escort RS 1800 | AUT | ITA | SWE 5 | FIN | BEL | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | | | 39th | 8 |

### 24 Hours of Le Mans results

| Year | Team | Co-Driver | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1971 | Écurie Jean Sage | Bernard Chenevière | Porsche 911S | GT +2.0 | 263 | NC | NC |

## Publications

Björn Waldegård – Rally blev mitt liv, by Waldegård, Björn & Karlsson, Gerhard, Årets Bilsport 1994, 212 pages, Swedish language, ISBN 9188540464