12Historic Motor Racing News October 2013

This year’s historic Midnattssolsrallyt was run under a new organisation, the same as for the Swedish Rally in the winter. So instead of Västerås, now Karlstad was the hub of

the June 17-20 event. The rally ran with a maximum number of competitors, though many missed the two ex-World Champions, Björn Waldegård and Stig Blomqvist. However, there were earlier winners, such as Kenneth Bäcklund (Escort RS 1800) and Tom Damberg (Volvo 164) and a bunch of Volvo 240s with heavy-footed drivers. Making a come back, now in historic, was Björn Johansson, four times Swedish Champion, now as then in an Opel Kadett GT/E. From Germany came ex-German Champion, Reihard Hainbach in an Opel Commodore.

99% of the rally was run on gravel, 1250kms overall, with 230kms of special stages, many of which were old stages from the Swedish rally. On Thursday the rally struck out northwest of Karlstad, on Friday to the north and on Saturday northeast of the headquarters. The new organisers were lucky with the weather, which was real Swedish summer, and as usual there were lots of spectators.

After the Wednesday evening stage on a rally-cross circuit outside Karlstad and the first Thursday morning stages, Erik Johansson led, as he had last year, in the Audi Quattro, but he soon had to retire (also like last year) with failing fuel pumps. During the day there was a three-way fight involving mere seconds between Mats Karlsson, Jimmy Olsson and Mats Thorszelius, all in Volvo 240s. However, on the last stage of the day, trio leader Mats Karlsson made a jump start and was given a 10sec penalty, leaving the overnight lead to Jimmy Olsson by 2.7secs ahead of Thorszelius, with the penalised Karlsson 5.7secs adrift. In fourth place was Thomas Norqvist also in a Volvo 240, and best non-Volvo was Kenneth Bäcklund in an Escort RS 1800, who came home 14.9secs later. Last year’s winner, Tom Damberg only managed seventh place in his Volvo 164, otherwise it was an all Volvo 240 top 10. In the regularity class, Tom Hotvedt from Norway led in a Porsche 911.

Next day, Thorszelius was fastest on the first stage and took the lead, just to have a core plug go on the next stage, leading to overheating – and retirement. Olsson was back in the lead, but as the day progressed Bäcklund got warmed up, and with some fastest times he was suddenly out front. But Olsson had an answer. On the last stage of the day, he made a real effort and retook the overnight lead by 0.3 of a second. Usually such a small lead could be a disadvantage, but with the dry weather and the dust, it might be an advantage after all. Mats Karlsson was still on third and Norqvist in fourth, while Damberg had advanced to fifth place. In the lead in the regularity class was now Thorbjörn Bye, also from Norway, in a BMW 2002 Tii with experienced Oddvar Moland at the clocks.

Everything was still open for Saturday’s finale. Olsson was able to add some seconds to his lead, but the pace was so high, there was plenty of scope for a mistake. On the stage before the lunch halt at Lindesberg, Bäcklund overshot a tricky crossing and lost seconds. Damberg rolled his 164 and lost much time, so that at Lindesberg there was much activity for spectators to see. A whole street was closed off and used as the service point, and there was welding done on Damberg’s car and a new screen put in. On Olsson’s car, the prop shaft was off and being worked on.

Rally of the Midnight SunPer Hägeman Reports

Per Göransson and Björn Wessel have their hands full of Ford Falcon Photo pressphotos

The moment that cost Bäcklund everything: Kenneth Bäcklund overshoots the turning. He had to do a 360 to get back into the running, and with such a slim margin, lost all hope of victory Photos Linda Romppala

13 Historic Motor Racing News October 2013

Bäcklund took a view for the final stages and settled for second place, and the 2-litre class win, with Jimmy Olsson finally winning by 38secs. Mats Karlsson, returning after a long retirement, did a good job to finish third, while Janne Westlund, in another Volvo 240, finished fourth, with Per Göthberg fifth and class winner in a Porsche 911 Carrera.

After a good run Tom Damberg retired just at the end, and Björn Johansson retired his Kadett GT/E, while in the top 10.

Further class winners were Bo Warmenius, who finished ninth overall in a Ford Escort RS 1600, Thomas Johansson in a BMW 2002, Thomas Johansson (no relation) in a Volvo Amazon, Björn Sjunning in a Ford Lotus Cortina, Per Göransson in a Ford Falcon Futura, Ragnar Glav in a Saab Monte Carlo, Tommy Leindahl, in a Ford Cortina 1300, Kjell Fransson in a VW 1303, Ola Stokka in a Volvo PV 544, with Annie Seel in a Toyota Starlet winning the Ewy Rosqvist Ladies Cup.

In regularity, last year’s victor, Thorbjörn Bye, was the winner with Bertil Trued, (Saab 96 V-4) second, Peter Fixell third, Pentti-Juhani Hintikka, from Finland was fourth, and in fifth was the Chairman of the Swedish Autosport Union, Kåge Schildt with his Austin Healey 3000. Nina von Krusenstierna took the Ladies Cup driving a Mini 850.

All looks good for the future, but the MD of the Swedish Rally just recently made clear that what the promoters of the WRC are now charging for the rights to arrange a WRC rally is more than the Swedish rally probably could achieve. In that case the Midnight Sun Rally probably would need to be under another umbrella.

“The rally has been really hard, one of the toughest that I’ve driven, but we’ve had fun all the time”, said Olsson when it was all over. “I am extremely pleased about

first place, because there is not much that beats a win in Midnattssolsrallyt.”

Damberg’s Volvo just after his rollover: look at the right front wheel. In the stage after, he had repaired his car as much as he could and set an impressive fifth best time

Jimmy Olsson and Conny Sundqvist take their Volvo to victory, finally finishing 38secs ahead of rival Kenneth Bäcklund

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