RAC Rally 1978
The cars that we are building are based on Stig Blomqvist’s Saab 99 Turbo rally car, which made it’s debut at the 1978 Lombard RAC Rally.
The Lombard RAC Rally was what is essentially known today as the Rally of Great Britain. Lombard North Central, a finance company, sponsored the event for 19 years from 1974. Prior to Lombard’s attachment to the event, it was simply known as the RAC Rally (RAC being the Royal Automobile Club). Today, the Rally of Great Britain is a competitive event in the FIA World Rally Championship and the most prestigious event on rallying circuit in Britain.
Scandinavians have tasted plenty of success at the RAC over the years, and Saab was well represented on the winner’s dias through the 1960’s and early 70’s, too.
- 1960 – Erik Carlsson – Saab 96
- 1961 – Erik Carlsson – Saab 96
- 1962 – Erik Carlsson – Saab 96
- 1968 – Simo Lampinen – Saab 96 V4
- 1971 – Stig Blomqvist – Saab 96 V4
As you can see, the Saab 96 was a very successful vehicle at the RAC Rally through its lifetime. Saab tasted success in the Saab 99 at other rallies around the world, however not the ultimate success of winning the RAC. Stig Blomqvist would win the RAC once more, in 1983, but that was behind the wheel of an Audi Quattro.
1978 was once again the year of the Ford Escort RS, a car that had dominated the RAC Rally for a number of years prior. For Saab fans, however, it’s notable for the motorsport debut of the Saab 99Turbo.
The Saab 99 was a familiar machine on the rally circuit by 1978, however spectators were accustomed to seeing the Saab 99EMS. The addition of a red-hot, glowing Turbo to the traditional lightning bolt paint scheme signified something different.
Blomqvist did not complete the 1978 Lombard RAC Rally due to problems with the car, however the Saab 99 Turbo did go on to some rally success at the Midnattssolsrallyt prior to Saab’s competition department being wound up in 1980 due to the escalating and prohibitive costs associated with the sport.
The following videos show a review of the 1978 Lombard RAC Rally.
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