Ingvar Carlsson (rally driver)

Ingvar Carlsson (2 April 1947 in Nyköping – 28 October 2009 in Nyköping) was a Swedish rally driver, who won two World Rally Championship events in 1989.

Ingvar Carlsson
Carlsson pictured in 1995
Personal information
Nationality Swedish
Born(1947-04-02)2 April 1947
Nyköping, Sweden
Died28 October 2009(2009-10-28) (aged 62)
Nyköping
World Rally Championship record
Active years1974 – 1991
Co-driver Per Carlsson
Jan-Olof Bohlin
Claes Billstam
Benny Melander
TeamsDatsun, Fiat, BMW, Mercedes, Mazda
Rallies42
Championships0
Rally wins2
Podiums4
Stage wins56
Total points125
First rally1974 Rally de Portugal
First win1989 Swedish Rally
Last rally1991 Rally Australia
FIA ERX Division 1 Championship
Years active1994–1996
Former teamsChrister Bohlin Motorsport
Starts24
Wins1
Podiums6
Best finish4th in 1996

Career

Carlsson began his rallying career in 1966, competing in national rallies in a Volvo PV544. He won his fourth rally.[1] Carlsson's first World Rally Championship (WRC) event came in 1974, when he drove a works Datsun 260Z on Rally de Portugal.[2] He then drove for Fiat in an Abarth 124 on that year's RAC Rally and the 1975 Swedish Rally, where he finished fifth, ahead of teammate Markku Alen. He then spent many years driving for BMW, although he also drove for Mercedes in 1980, gaining a fifth place in Rally de Portugal as his best finish.[1]

In 1984 he joined Mazda, initially playing a key role in developing the rear-wheel drive Group B RX-7.[3] In 1987 Mazda introduced the Group A 323 4WD. Following the prohibition of Group B, Carlsson found himself with a competitive advantage due to his extensive experience in lesser-powered cars.[1] Carlsson took his first WRC victory on the opening round of the 1989 season in Sweden, and also went on to win Rally New Zealand later in the year. At the end of 1991 Mazda pulled the plug on its rally programme and Carlsson retired from the WRC. He also drove for Toyota in the FIA European Rallycross Championship in 1995 (with teammate Gunde Svan) and 1996. He finished fifth in 1995 and fourth in 1996.

Death

Ingvar Carlsson died on 28 October 2009, aged 62.[4]

WRC victories
 #  Event Season Co-driver Car
1 39th Swedish Rally 1989 Per Carlsson Mazda 323 4WD
2 19th Rally New Zealand 1989 Per Carlsson Mazda 323 4WD

Racing record

Division 1
Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ERX Points
1994 Christer Bohlin Motorsport Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD AUT
 POR
 FRA
 IRE
 GBR
 SWE
 FIN
 BEL
 NED
 NOR
 GER
7		 24th 10
1995 Christer Bohlin Motorsport Toyota Celica GT-Four AUT
4		 POR
2		 FRA
5		 SWE
(7)		 GBR
(11)		 IRE
(NC)		 BEL
2		 NED
5		 NOR
2		 FIN
3		 CZE
6		 GER
(6)		 5th 114
1996 Christer Bohlin Motorsport Toyota Celica GT-Four AUT
6		 POR
5		 FRA
(11)		 SWE
(NC)		 IRE
(7)		 GBR
(11)		 BEL
2		 NED
5		 NOR
4		 CZE
4		 GER
1		 4th 98

References
  1. Kjellström, PeO (1987-01-21). "Ingvar Carlsson: Rallyproffs - efter 20 år!" [Rally pro - twenty years later!]. Teknikens Värld (in Swedish). Stockholm, Sweden: Specialtidningsförlaget AB. 39 (1–2): 28.
  2. http://www.rallybuzz.com/ingvar-carlsson-rip/
  3. http://www.wrc.com/news/ingvar-carlsson-1947-2009/?fid=11472
  4. Andersson, Anna (9 November 2009). "Ingvar Carlsson död". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 July 2017.
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