One of the things I like best about La Carrera Panamericana is that when you race in it nobody will ever be able to say, "Yeah but it was just a bunch of old foggy CEO types that didn't know what they were doing." The fact of the matter is, many of the finest drivers from around the world have traditionaly ran this event. Anyone that has ever run La Carrera Panamericana can rest assured they are part of some of the proudest racing history ever written and it just keeps on repeating it's self.
If there is one thing I have learned regarding endurance racing it is that you should never assume someone can win just because he's been racing for many years, or because his car cost a lot more than yours, or any of a thousand more reasons. Endurance races like the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, Le Mans, Sebring and La Carrera Panamericana lend themselves to more drama than any Hollywood producer could ever imagine. What makes me such an authority on this? Been there done that. Along with car preparation and lots of it not to mention the best team of endurance drivers ever assembled Team California's Best Racing has racked up more wins than any other team over a number of years.
Any endurance team worth their salt understands the importance of taking NOTHING for granted and then uses all their strengths and abilities to overcome whatever adversities gets thrown in their face. I have seen some teams dominate a race so bad that at times it seemed as if there was no possible way they could ever lose but then "IT" happens. It can be any number of things. IT can be a an engine letting go. IT can be some unexpected thing like a tire blowing out or another car loosing control and the list is IT is indeed endless. I remember one year in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill when my son has just crossed the finish line after 25 hours or hard driving when the whole wheel fell off his car and then again I have seen cars come to a complete halt only yards before taking the checkered flag.
This years La Carrera Panamericana will indeed be an exciting one and from the looks of this years line up it's one none of us will want to miss. One of the teams that is signed up in the Turismo Mayor class is none other than Swedish champion Stig Blomqvist and copiloto Ana Goni from Venezuela. Sure I have my favorites with Doug Mockett and Angelica Fuentes at the top of that list but if I was a betting man (and I am) I would be a bit worried about Blomqvist resume.
Stig Blomqvist (born July 29, 1946) is a Swedish rally driver. Blomqvist won the Swedish Rally several times, and was the 1984 World Rally Champion.
Stig Blomqvist acquired his driving licence at the age of 18, and immediately took 2nd place in a 1964 local rally event near the Swedish town of Karlstad, behind the wheel of a Saab 96. He proceeded to drive with the Saab team, and achieved his first international victory at the 1971 British RAC Rally.
He won the Swedish Rally in 1971 (Saab 96 V4), 1972 (Saab 96V V4), 1973 (Saab 96 V4), 1977 (Saab 99 EMS) and 1979 (Saab 99 Turbo). He won the 1976 Boucles de Spa Rally, in the Saab 99 EMS. His long-time association with Saab ended when the Saab Sport department hung up their spurs, in 1982 but he had enjoyed much success with the team. In 1971 alone, he started 16 rallies and scored 11 wins.
Blomqvist driving a Quattro at the 2007 Race of Champions.He continued with top performances with Lancia and Talbot Sunbeam Lotus and, in the early 1980s, he became one of the first to drive a four-wheel drive rally car, with an Audi Quattro. Competing alongside such other rally greats as Walter Röhrl, Markku Alén, Michèle Mouton and Hannu Mikkola, he achieved five victories in 1984, becoming the World Rally Champion.
His rally career was at its peak during the Group B rally car era of the mid-1980s, when he excelled with the Nissan, Ford and Peugeot teams. In the 1990s he used his experience of two-wheel drive cars and helped the Škoda Motorsport team to develop the Felicia Kit Car. During a guest appearance at the 1996 Rally of Great Britain, the 50-year-old veteran finished 3rd overall with a Skoda Felicia Kit Car 1,6.
In 2001, Stig Blomqvist, together with co-driver Ana Goni, competed in the World Rally Championship with a group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, finishing in 5th place overall in the 2001 FIA group N classification.
WARNING; LONG LIST.
Track record
Saab 99 Turbo used by Stig Blomqvist
1967
Swedish Rally, 9th, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver L Blomqvist
1968
Swedish Rally, 9th, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver B Reinicke
1969
Swedish Rally, 8th, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver B Moreus
1970
Swedish Rally, 2nd, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Bo Reinecke
1971
RAC Rally, 1st, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Arne Hertz
Hankiralli, 1st, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Arne Hertz
Swedish Rally, 1st, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Arne Hertz
1000 Lakes Rally, 1st, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Arne Hertz
Safari Rally, 13th, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Arne Hertz
Double Swedish Rally Champion, class R and class T gr 2.
1972
Swedish Rally, 1st, SAAB V4, co-driver Arne Hertz
RAC Rally, 2nd, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Arne Hertz
1973
Swedish Rally, 1st, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Arne Hertz
Cyprus Rally, 1st, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Arne Hertz
Swedish Rally Champion.
1974
Arctic Rally, 2nd, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Hans Sylván
RAC Rally, 2nd, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Hans Sylván
1000 Lakes, 4th, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Hans Sylván
Swedish Rally Champion
1975
Swedish Rally, 2nd, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Hans Sylván
Arctic Rally, 2nd, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Hans Sylván
Swedish Rally Champion
1976
Boucles de Spa Rally, 1st, SAAB 99 EMS, co-driver Hans Sylvan
Swedish Rally, 2nd, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Hans Sylván
RAC Rally, 2nd, Saab 99 EMS, co-driver Hans Sylván
Swedish Rally Champion
1977
Swedish Rally, 1st, SAAB 99 EMS, co-driver Hans Sylván
Finnish Hankiralli, 1st, SAAB 96 V4, co-driver Hans Sylván
1978
Swedish Rally, 4th, Lancia Stratos, co-driver Hans Sylván
Canadian Rallye Pistons les Wapitis, 1st, SAAB 99 EMS
Californian La Jornada Trabajosa Rally, 1st, SAAB 99 EMS, co-driver John Buffum
Canadian Baie des Chaleurs, 2nd, SAAB 99 EMS
Swedish Rally Champion
1979
Swedish Rally, 1st, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
South Swedish Rally, 1st, SAAB 99 turbo
British Mintex International Rally, 1st, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Circuit of Ireland, 6th, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
International Welsh Rally, 8th, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
British TV Rally Sprint, 2nd, SAAB 99 turbo
Ulster Rally, 3rd, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
10th place in World Rally Championship
1980
South Swedish Rally, 1st, SAAB 99 turbo
Swedish Rally, 2nd, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Boucles des Spa, 1st, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Costa Smeralda, 2nd, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Polar Bergslags Rally, 1st, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Nord, 1st, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Badarsvängen, 1st, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
British TV Texaco Rallysprint, 3rd, SAAB 99 turbo
Swedish Rally Champion
1981
South Swedish Rally, 2nd, SAAB 99 turbo
RAC Rally, 3rd, Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Swedish Rally, 5th, SAAB 99 turbo, co-driver Björn Cederberg
1000 Lakes, 8th, Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, co-driver Björn Cederberg
1982
Swedish Rally, 1st, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
San Remo Rally, 1st, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
South Swedish Rally, 1st, SAAB 99 turbo
1000 Lakes, 2nd, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
RAC Rally, 8th, Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, co-driver Björn Cederberg
4th place in WRC
Swedish Rally Champion
Swedish HillClimb Champion.
1983
RAC Rally, 1st, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Scottish Rally, 1st, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Ulster Rally, 1st, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Swedish Rally, 2nd, Audi 80 Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Argentina, 2nd, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
1000 Lakes, 2nd, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Monte Carlo, 3rd, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Acropolis, 3rd, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
4th place in WRC
Swedish Rallycross Champion, Audi Quattro
Swedish HillClimb Champion, Audi Quattro
British Rally Champion
1984
Swedish Rally, 1st, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Acropolis, 1st, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
New Zeeland Rally, 1st, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Argentina, 1st, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Ivory Coast, 1st, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Monte Carlo, 2nd, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
1000 Lakes, 4th, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Corsica, 5th, Audi Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
1st place in WRC - World Rally Champion
1985
Swedish Rally, 2nd, Audi Sport Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Acropolis, 2nd, Audi Sport Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
1000 Lakes, 2nd, Audi Sport Quattro S1, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Monte Carlo, 4th, Audi Sport Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Rally Portugal, 4th, Audi Sport Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
New Zealand Rally, 4th, Audi Sport Quattro, co-driver Björn Cederberg
2nd place in WRC
1986
Hong Kong-Beijing Rally, 1st, Audi Quattro
South Swedish Rally, 1st, Ford RS200
Rally Argentine, 3rd, Peugeot 205 T16 E2, co-driver Bruno Berglund
1000 Lakes, 4th, Peugeot 205 T16 E2, co-driver Bruno Berglund
1987
RAC Rally, 2nd, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, co-driver Bruno Berglund
1000 Lakes, 3rd, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, co-driver Bruno Berglund
Swedish Rally, 6th, Ford Sierra XR 4x4, co-driver Bruno Berglund
7th place in WRC
Swedish HillClimb Champion, Ford RS200
1988
Swedish Rally, 2nd, Ford Sierra XR 4x4, co-driver Benny Melander
Rally Mille Miglia, 2nd, Ford Sierra Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
Rally Portugal, 5th, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
1000 Lakes, 5th, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
RAC Rally, 6th, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
San Remo Rally, 7th, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
4th place in WRC
Swedish HillClimb Champion, Ford RS200.
1989
Race of Champions, Nürburgring, 1st
Safari Rally, 3rd, VW Golf GTi 16V, co-driver Björn Cederberg
Swedish Rally, 5th, Audi 200 Quattro, co-driver Benny Melander
Swedish HillClimb Champion, Ford RS200
1990
Race of Champions, Barcelona, 1st
British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), Donington Race, 2nd, Ford Sierra RS500
Swedish Touring Car Champion, Ford Sierra RS500
1991
Safari Rally, 5th, Nissan Sunny GTI-R 4WD, co-driver Benny Melander
1000 Lakes, 8th, Nissan Sunny GTI-R 4WD, co-driver Benny Melander
Swedish Touring Car Championship, 1st Anderstorp, Ford Sierra RS500
1992
Swedish Rally, 1st Nissan Sunny GTI-R 4WD, co-driver Benny Melander
Charrington's Historic RAC Rally, 8th, Mini-Cooper S
1993
Historic RAC Rally, 7th, Porsche 911
Swedish HillClimb Champion
1994
South Swedish Rally, 2nd, Ford Escort RS Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
Race of Champions, Gran Canaria, 2nd
Swedish Rally, 3rd, Ford Escort RS Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
RAC Rally, 4th, Ford Escort RS Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
Swedish Rally Champion, Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1995
South Swedish Rally, 3rd, Ford Escort Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
Swedish Rally, 7th, Ford Escort Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
RAC Rally, 21st, Skoda Felicia Kit Car, co-driver Benny Melander
1996
RAC Rally, 3rd, 1st in F2, Skoda Felicia Kit Car 1.6, co-driver Benny Melander
Safari Rally, 7th, Ford Escort RS Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
Swedish Rally, 8th, Ford Escort Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
1997
Race of Champions Classic, Gran Canaria, 2nd
Pirelli International Rally, 3rd, 1st in class, Skoda Felicia, co-driver Benny Melander
Manx International Rally, 8th, Skoda Felicia Kit Car 1.6, co-driver B Melander
South Swedish Rally, 9th, Mitsubishi Lancer RS Evo III, co-driver Lindberg
Swedish Rally, 10th, Ford Escort Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
Swedish Touring Car Championship, 5th, Ford Mondeo
1998
Swedish Touring Car Championship (STCC), 13th, Ford Mondeo WSR
1999
Rallye dos Acores, 10th, Ford Escort RS Cosworth, co-driver Benny Melander
Group N Rally Masters Argentina, 1st
Maine Forest Rally, USA, 1st, Ford Escort RS Cosworth, co-driver Lance Smith
2000
London-Sydney Marathon, 1st, Ford Capri Perana V8, co-driver Ben Rainsford
Irish Rally Summit 2000, 4th, Subaru Impreza, co-driver Mark Crowe
2001
RAC Rally, 16th, 4th grN, Mitsubishi Carisma GT-N, co-driver Ana Goni
Swedish Rally, 18th, 3rd grN, Mitsubishi Carisma GT-N, co-driver Ana Goni
Rally Catalunya, 21st, 3rd grN, Mitsubishi Carisma GT-N, co-driver Ana Goni
New Zealand, 21st, 4th grN, Mitsubishi Carisma GT-N, co-driver Ana Goni
1000 Lakes, 22nd, Skoda Octavia WRC E2, co-driver Ana Goni
Rally Australia, 23rd, 7th grN, Mitsubishi Carisma GT-N, co-driver Ana Goni
San Remo Rally, 30th, 4th grN, Mitsubishi Carisma GT-N, co-driver Ana Goni
Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, Co, USA, 2nd unlimited, Ford RS200
2002
Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, Co, USA, 4th overall, 2nd unlimited, Ford RS200
Rally Acropolis, 17th, Skoda Octavia WRC Evo 2, co-driver Ana Goni
2004
Roger Albert Clark Rally, UK. This rally inaugurated in 2004 is intended to be a recreation of the R.A.C. Rally of old - 4 days of rallying over some of the most famous stages in northern England and Scotland. Stig Blomqvist with co-driver Ana Goni won this event in their Ford Escort Mk II RS
Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, Co, USA, 1st unlimited (unofficial results)
2005
Oregon Trail Rally, 1st, 2003 Subaru STi WRX, co-driver Ana Goni
Susquehannock Trail ProRally, 3rd, 1st grN, 2003 Subaru Impreza, co-driver Pauline Gullick
Roger Albert Clark Rally, 2nd, Escort Mk II RS
2007
East African Safari Classic Rally. Blomqvist has been entered in a Ford Escort Mark 1, with co-driver Ana Goni.
1 comment:
wow!
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