Hans Thorszelius

Hans Thorszelius is a Swedish rally co-driver best known for his long partnership with Björn Waldegård from the early 1970s. The crew first competed in the European Rally Championship and later in the World Rally Championship, driving cars from manufacturers including Lancia, Ford and Mercedes-Benz.

Their notable results included victory on the 1975 Swedish Rally in a Lancia Stratos HF, the 1977 Safari Rally and the 1979 Rallye du Québec in a Ford Escort RS1800. Thorszelius was Waldegård’s main co-driver during the 1979 season in which the Swede became the first official WRC drivers’ world champion. From the same year they also competed in selected events with the Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC and 500 SLC; in the latter they won the 1980 Bandama Rally in Ivory Coast. Thorszelius’s career became closely linked to the most important international period of Waldegård’s rallying career.