With the family car to the European title

When Lille-Bror Nasenius signed with Opel in January 1966, few could have guessed how successful the collaboration would be. The Swede had begun his motorsport career on two wheels and then made a name for himself in regional rallies. Now he had the opportunity to fight for the European Championship in an Opel Rekord B.

The competition car was about as unspectacular as it gets. Under the hood sat a 1.9-liter four-cylinder with 90 PS, and the kerb weight was just 990 kilograms. The then-new CIH engine delivered decent performance, while the Rekord's robust construction proved advantageous on long rallies.

Major modifications were not permitted anyway. Apart from different tyres and shock absorbers, the Rekord 1900 S largely corresponded to the production model. Nasenius even used the two-door sedan privately as a family car.

European champion and Swedish champion

The combination proved extremely successful. Later that same year Nasenius won the Group 1 European Rally Championship for production touring cars with the Opel Rekord B and also secured the Swedish rally title in that category.

There was no World Rally Championship at that time. The first WRC season was not held until 1973. Accordingly, the European Championship carried high sporting prestige and in the 1960s was one of the most important international rally competitions.

Nasenius remained loyal to Opel and switched 1967 to the new Rekord C. It weighed, despite the larger body, only 1.025 kilograms and featured an improved rear axle. In addition, the Swede occasionally used the six‑cylinder Opel Commodore A. At the end of the season he became vice‑European champion.

In 1968 he moved to the lighter Rallye Kadett 1900 S. Nasenius notched up four overall victories with the more compact car. From 1969 he formed a successful partnership with co-driver Björn Cederberg, which won three consecutive Swedish championships through 1971. In total Nasenius claimed five national rally titles with Opel.

Röhrl was also among the rivals

In his last two contract years, 1972 and 1973, Nasenius campaigned the Opel Ascona. Among his contemporaries was the young Walter Röhrl, who later described the Swede as “extremely helpful.” Despite the sporting rivalry, the two maintained a collegial, almost friendly relationship.

In 1977 Nasenius returned to rallying and contested seven championship rounds with an Opel Kadett C 1200 S. He won his class twice. His career record comprises eleven overall and 35 class wins. Nine overall victories and 31 class wins were achieved with Opel.

For the Rüsselsheim manufacturer the 1966 European title marked the beginning of a successful period in international rallying. Opel's greatest success came in 1982 when Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer won the World Rally Championship in the Ascona 400.