News

Former Rally New Zealand winner Ingvar Carlsson has passed away

Ingvar Carlsson 1947-2009

Swedish rally legend Ingvar Carlsson, the winner of the 1989 Rally New Zealand, has died recently after a short illness at the age of 62.

Carlsson began his career in a Volvo PV544 circa 1968 and came to the attention of the BMW Swedish importer where he campaigned a 2002 Ti. He drove a works Datsun 260Z on the 1974 Rally de Portugal and then for Fiat he tackled the RAC that year in an Abarth 124 followed by a fifth place finish on his home event, the 1975 Swedish Rally, where he beat team-mate Markku Alen. The Swede continued to drive for BMW until Mercedes offered him a seat in 1980 for a limited programme with the ill-fated 450SLC. He returned to BMW, after the Mercedes project was canned, where he contested his first 1000 Lakes Rally in 1983.

For 1984 Carlsson signed with Mazda where he would drive and develop the RWD Group B RX-7 along with the Group A 323. When Group A regulations were introduced as the world championship's main category in 1987 Carlsson found himself in a competitive seat with the Mazda 323 4WD.

In 1989 Carlsson also won another world championship event, Rally Sweden, before his WRC career ended in 1991.  

Rally New Zealand extends their sympathies to the Carlsson family.