Rally champions show how the sport runs in Icelandic families

Baldur Arnar Hlöðversson and Heimir Snær Jónsson have become Icelandic rally champions after winning the Reykjavík Rally, the sport’s biggest event of the summer, mbl.is reported.

Baldur has won eight national titles in total, while Heimir has won 11, across several classes. The pair have won three times together.

Both come from rallying families. Baldur’s father, Hlöðver Baldursson, previously competed with Heimir’s brothers, Hannes Sigurbjörn and Halldór Gunnar. Heimir and Hlöðver are close friends, which led to Heimir teaming up with Baldur, who is nine years younger.

Baldur drives and Heimir is his co-driver. Their families have several other connections to rallying: the father of Heimir’s brothers, Jón Gunnar Þórmundsson, competed in the sport, as did his brother Þórður.

Rallying in his blood

“I have been around rallying since I was little. My father competed himself and I followed him everywhere. When I was 14, I started competing with him and later began driving myself. It feels as though I have always had this in my blood,” Baldur said.

Although he is only 32, Baldur has already had a long career. His life also revolves around cars: he and his father jointly run the Bíljöfur car repair workshop.

The Reykjavík Rally runs for three days, from Friday to Sunday. Competitors travel outside the capital region to the competition venue in the Hekla area, then prepare their cars with their teams for the following day.

“I probably should have taken a day off after the rally because I was like a ghost at work on Monday,” Baldur said with a laugh.

Baldur and Heimir compete in a Subaru Impreza. According to information published online by Bragi Þórðarson, drivers using that model have won for three consecutive years. Subaru Imprezas have also performed strongly in Icelandic rallying in the past.

Family connections

Heimir said family members often follow one another into a sport when one person becomes deeply involved in it.

“Both my brothers had entered the sport before me. I also don’t know anyone who thinks it is boring to drive fast in a car, so most people probably find this enjoyable. It then becomes part of your lifestyle. But it is certainly amusing how many connections there are among many of those who have achieved success in this sport,” he said.

In 2018, Hlöðver asked Heimir to compete with his son because Baldur needed an experienced co-driver.

“In our first rally, we rolled the car, but we have not put a foot wrong since,” Heimir said.