Stig Lennart Blomqvist (born 29 July 1946) is a Swedish retired rally driver. He made his international breakthrough in 1981. Driving an Audi Quattro for the Audi factory team, Blomqvist won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1984 and finished runner-up in 1985. He won his home event, the Swedish Rally, seven times.

Outside the WRC, Blomqvist won the British Rally Championship in 1983 and the Swedish Rally Championship several times. At the Race of Champions, Blomqvist took the title "Champion of Champions" in 1989 and 1990.

Career Blomqvist acquired his driving licence at the age of 18, and immediately took second place in a 1964 local rally event near the Swedish town of Karlstad, behind the wheel of a Saab 96. After his education as a driving instructor, together with later teammate Per Eklund at the Kvinnersta Folkhögskola outside of Örebro, he proceeded to drive with the Saab team, and achieved his first international victories in 1971; first winning the Swedish Rally, then the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland and the RAC Rally in Great Britain. These performances helped Saab gain second place behind Alpine-Renault in the International Championship for Manufacturers, the predecessor to the World Rally Championship.

Blomqvist went on to win the Swedish Rally again in 1972 (Saab 96 V4), 1973 (Saab 96 V4), which marked his first WRC event and win, 1977 (Saab 99 EMS) and 1979 (Saab 99 Turbo). Outside the WRC, he won the 1973 Cyprus Rally, the 1976 Boucles de Spa and the Swedish Rally Championship several times. His long-time association with Saab ended when the Saab Sport department hung up their spurs in 1981. Driving a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus in 1981, Blomqvist finished eighth in the 1000 Lakes and third at the RAC.

For the 1982 season, Audi Sport, Audi's factory team, signed Blomqvist to drive the Quattro in a few events alongside Hannu Mikkola and Michèle Mouton. He won the Swedish Rally, finished second in the 1000 Lakes and then took his first WRC victory outside his home country by winning the Rallye Sanremo. Audi then signed Blomqvist as their third regular driver for the following season. Blomqvist scored seven podiums, including a win in the season-ending RAC Rally, and finished fourth in the drivers' world championship. In the British Rally Championship, he captured the title by winning four of the six events.

In the 1984 season, Blomqvist drove the Quattro A2 and the Sport Quattro evolutions to five victories, and finished second at the Monte Carlo Rally. Beating Mikkola to the title, he became the second Swedish world rally champion after Björn Waldegård. His first place in the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire would remain his career-last victory in the WRC. The 1985 season saw him finish runner-up to Timo Salonen of the new Peugeot Talbot Sport team headed by Jean Todt. His best result was second; at the Swedish Rally, the 1000 Lakes and the Acropolis Rally. In the last Group B season in 1986, Blomqvist competed for Ford in an RS200 and for Peugeot in a 205 Turbo 16 E2, recording his only podium at the Rally Argentina.

During the first two Group A years, Blomqvist continued with Ford and drove a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, finishing on the podium three times. He also drove for Volkswagen Motorsport and finished third in a Golf Mk 2 16V on the 1989 Safari Rally.The 1990 WRC season was the series' first without Blomqvist in action. In 1991 and 1992, he drove a Nissan Sunny GTI-R for Nissan Motorsports Europe, Nissan's factory team. At the 1992 Swedish Rally, Blomqvist took third place, which would remain his last podium spot in the WRC.

Later in the 1990s, Blomqvist used his experience of two-wheel drive cars and helped Škoda Motorsport to develop the Škoda Felicia Kit Car. During a guest appearance at the 1996 RAC Rally, when the event was not on the WRC schedule, the 50-year-old veteran finished third overall with the car. That same year, he finished seventh in the Safari Rally in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. This would remain his last points-finish in the World Rally Championship.

After only three events in four years, Blomqvist returned to the role of a regular WRC competitor. Together with co-driver Ana Goñi, he drove a Group N category David Sutton Cars Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 in twelve events in 2001, finishing fifth overall in the Production World Rally Championship (PWRC). In 2003, he finished third in the PWRC championship in a Subaru Impreza WRX STI. In his last world rally, the 2006 Swedish Rally, Blomqvist drove the Impreza to 24th place overall and was fourth fastest in Group N.

In September 2008, Blomqvist was due to take part in the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally, a round of the Scottish Rally Championship centred in Perth in Scotland, in a Ford Escort Mk2 with Goñi as his co-driver. The rally was held in memory of McRae, who died in 2007.

Blomqvist has lived in the UK for many years, based in Saffron Walden, Essex. His son, Tom Blomqvist, has followed in his motorsports footsteps, becoming the youngest ever Formula Renault UK champion in 2010, at the age of 16. Tom currently competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Meyer Shank Racing and has competed in IndyCar for the team in 2023 and the 2024 seasons.

WRC victories {|class="wikitable" !  #  ! Event ! Season ! Co-driver ! Car |- | 1 | Swedish Rally | 1973 | Arne Hertz | Saab 96 V4 |- | 2 | Swedish Rally | 1977 | Hans Sylvan | Saab 99 EMS |- | 3 | Swedish Rally | 1979 | Björn Cederberg | Saab 99 Turbo |- | 4 | Swedish Rally | 1982 | Björn Cederberg | Audi Quattro |- | 5 | Rallye Sanremo | 1982 | Björn Cederberg | Audi Quattro |- | 6 | RAC Rally | 1983 | Björn Cederberg | Audi Quattro A2 |- | 7 | Swedish Rally | 1984 | Björn Cederberg | Audi Quattro A2 |- | 8 | Acropolis Rally | 1984 | Björn Cederberg | Audi Quattro A2 |- | 9 | Rally of New Zealand | 1984 | Björn Cederberg | Audi Quattro A2 |- | 10 | Rally Argentina | 1984 | Björn Cederberg | Audi Quattro A2 |- | 11 | Rallye Côte d'Ivoire | 1984 | Björn Cederberg | Audi Sport Quattro

Racing record

Complete IMC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1970 Saab Scania Saab 96 V4 MON SWE2 ITA KEN AUT GRE GBRRet 1971 Saab Scania Saab 96 V4 MON SWE1 ITA KEN13 MAR AUT GRE FRA GBR1 1972 Saab Scania Saab 96 V4 MON SWE1 KEN MAR GRERet AUTRet ITA USA GBR2

Complete WRC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts 1973 Saab Saab 96 V4 MON SWE1 POR KEN MOR GRE POL FINRet AUTRet ITA USA GBRRet FRA N/A N/A 1974 Saab Scania Saab 96 V4 POR KENFIN4 ITA CAN USA GBR2 FRA N/A N/A 1975 Saab Scania Saab 96 V4 MON SWE2 KEN GRE MOR POR FINEX ITA FRA GBRRet N/A N/A 1976 Saab Scania Saab 96 V4 MONSWE2 POR KEN GRE MOR N/A N/A Saab 99 EMS FINRet ITA FRA GBR2 1977 Saab Scania Saab 99 EMS MON SWE1 POR KEN NZL GRE FINRet CAN ITA FRA GBRRet N/A N/A 1978 Lancia Pirelli Lancia Stratos HF MON SWE4 KEN POR GRE FIN N/A N/A Saab Scania Saab 99 EMS CANRet ITA CIV FRA Saab 99 Turbo GBRRet 1979 Saab Scania Saab 99 Turbo MON SWE1 POR KEN GRE NZL FIN CAN ITA FRA GBRRet CIV 10th 20 1980 Saab Scania Saab 99 Turbo MON SWE2 POR KEN GRC ARG FIN NZL ITA FRA GBRRet CIV 17th 15 1981 Saab Sport & Rally Saab 99 Turbo MON SWE5 POR KEN FRA GRC ARG BRA 13th 23 Team Talbot Sweden Talbot Sunbeam Lotus FIN8 ITA CIV Talbot Sport GBR3 1982 Audi Sport Sweden Audi Quattro MON SWE1 POR KEN FRA GRC NZL BRA FIN2 ITA1 CIV 4th 58 Peugeot Talbot Sport Talbot Sunbeam Lotus GBR8 1983 Audi Sport Audi Quattro A1 MON3 PORRet KEN FRA 4th 89 Audi 80 Quattro SWE2 Audi Quattro A2 GRC3 NZLEX ARG2 FIN2 ITARet CIV GBR1 1984 HB Audi Team Audi Quattro A2 MON2 SWE1 PORRet KENRet FRA5 GRE1 NZL1 ARG1 FIN4 1st 125 Audi Quattro Sport ITARet CIV1 GBR 1985 HB Audi Team Audi Quattro Sport MON4 SWE2 POR4 KENRet FRA GRC2 NZL4 2nd 75 Audi Quattro Sport E2 ARGRet FIN2 ITA CIV GBR 1986 Ford Motor Co Ltd. Ford RS200 MON SWERet PORRet KEN FRA GRERet NZL GBRRet USA 11th 22 Shell Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 205 T16 E2 ARG3 FIN4 CIV ITA 1987 Ford Motor Co Ltd. Ford Sierra XR 4x4 MONEX SWE6 POR NZLRet ARG 7th 33 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth KENRet FRARet GRE USA FIN3 CIV ITA GBR2 1988 Rally Sport Sweden Ford Sierra XR 4x4 MON SWE2 4th 41 Stig Blomqvist Ford Sierra RS Cosworth POR5 KEN FRA GRC USA NZL ARG Ford Motor Co Ltd. FIN5 CIV ITA7 GBR6 1989 Team VAG Sweden Audi 200 Sport Quattro SWE5 MON POR 16th 20 Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTi 16VKEN3 FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN AUS ITA CIV GBR 1991 Nissan Motorsports Europe Nissan Sunny GTI-R MON SWE POR KEN5 FRA GRERet NZL ARG FIN8 AUS ITA CIV ESP GBRRet 24th 11 Nissan Motorsports Europe Nissan Sunny GTI-R MON SWE3 POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARGFINRet AUS ITA CIV ESP GBRRet 21st 12 1993 Opel Team Sweden Opel Calibra Turbo 4x4 MON SWERet POR KEN FRA GRC ARG NZL FIN AUS ITA ESP NC 0 Ford Motor Co Ltd. Ford Escort RS Cosworth MON POR KEN FRA GRC ARG NZL FIN ITA GBR4 17th 10 R.A.S. Ford Ford Escort RS Cosworth MON SWE7 POR FRA NZL AUS ESP 15st 4 Trigard Team Škoda Škoda Felicia Kit Car GBR21 Ford Motor Co Ltd. Ford Escort RS Cosworth SWE8 KEN7 IDN GRC ARG FIN 18th 7 Trigard Team Škoda Škoda Felicia Kit Car AUSRet ITA ESP Ford Motor Co Ford Escort WRC MON SWE10 KEN POR ESP FRA ARG GRC NZL FIN IDN ITA AUS GBR NC 0 Ford Motor Co Ltd. Ford Puma Kit Car MON SWERet KEN POR ESP FRA ARG GRC NZL FIN CHN ITA AUS GBR NC 0 Stig Blomqvist Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI MON SWE KEN POR ESP ARG GRC NZL FIN CYP FRA ITA AUS GBRRet NC 0 David Sutton Cars Ltd Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI MON SWE18 PORRet ESP21 ARGRet CYPRet GRCRet KENRet NZL21 ITA30 FRA AUS23 GBR16 NC 0 Škoda Motorsport Škoda Octavia WRC Evo2 FIN22 Shell Škoda Motorsport Škoda Octavia WRC Evo2 MON SWE15 FRA ESPRet CYP ARG GRC17 KEN FIN GER ITA NC 0 Stig Blomqvist Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII NZL19 AUS22 GBRRet David Sutton Cars Ltd Subaru Impreza STi N8 MON SWE26 TUR NC 0Subaru Impreza WRX STi NZL24 ARG GRC CYP11 GER29 FIN AUS19 ITA FRA20 ESP GBR David Sutton Cars Ltd Subaru Impreza WRX STi MON SWE21 MEX NZL CYP GRC14 TUR ARG FIN GER JPN GBR ITA FRA ESP AUS NC 0 Stig Blomqvist Subaru Impreza WRX STi MON SWE20 MEX NZL ITA CYP TUR GRC ARG FIN GER GBR JPN FRA ESP AUS NC 0 2006 Stig Blomqvist Subaru Impreza WRX STi MON SWE24 MEX ESP FRA ARG ITA GRE GER FIN JPN CYP TUR AUS NZL GBR NC 0

Complete FIA European Rallycross Cup results

Overall Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ERC Points 1976 Saab Saab 96 V4 Turbo AUT1 GER1 FIN SWE10 BEL AUT2 NED GBR1 GER2GBR237th1 1978 Saab Saab 99 Turbo AUT ITA SWE4 FIN BEL NED FRA GBR GER 36th 10

Complete FIA European Rallycross Championship results

Touringcar Division Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ERX Points 1979 Saab Saab 99 Turbo AUT ITA FIN SWE FRA BEL NED6 GBR GER18th6 1981 Saab Saab 99 Turbo AUT SWE9 FIN DEN BEL NED FRA NOR GBR GER32nd2

Division 2 Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ERX Points 1989 Stig Blomqvist Ford RS200 E2 SPA AUTSWE7FIN3 IRE FRABEL3 NED3 NOR GBR GER11th55 1994 Stig Blomqvist Ford Escort RS Cosworth AUT POR FRA IRE GBR SWE FIN BEL NEDNOR5 GER21st12

Complete World Touring Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Pts 1987 Söderqvist Racing Sport Volvo 240T MNZ JAR DIJ NÜR SPA BNO SIL BAT CLD WELovr:13cls:8† FJI NC 0 † Not eligible for points.

Complete British Touring Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position in class) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap in class)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 OverallPos Pts ClassPos 1990 Trakstar Motorsport Ford Sierra RS500 OUL DONovr:2‡cls:2‡ THR SIL OUL SIL BRH SNE BRH BIR DON THR SIL NC‡ 0 NC‡

‡ Endurance driver – not eligible for points

References

External links

Blomqvist at World Rally Archive