The co-drivers

Fred Gallagher

Opel · Toyota · co-driver to Kankkunen and Waldegård

Photo: Rutger van der Maar via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

The Belfast-born co-driver sat with three very different drivers in the Group B years, and won the Safari and the Ivory Coast twice each with Toyota.

Grouve Sport documentary

Episode 8 — The Architects: Fiorio, Todt, Gumpert, Turner & the People Behind Group B

The people behind Group B, including the co-drivers.

Career

Fred Gallagher, born in Belfast on 16 April 1952, partnered:

• Henri Toivonen at Opel in 1982 and 1983 – third on the Acropolis and the RAC Rally in 1982.
• John Buffum – fifth on the 1984 Acropolis in an Audi quattro.
• Juha Kankkunen at Toyota – wins on the 1985 Safari and the 1985 Ivory Coast.
• Björn Waldegård – wins on the 1986 Safari and the 1986 Ivory Coast.

Four African wins with Toyota, and Toivonen’s co-driver at Opel.

European and national championships

Gallagher and Henri Toivonen won the 1983 Manx International Rally. See the British championship.

Career in the Group B years

World Rally Championship podiums of the co-driver, year by year (1982–1986). win 2nd 3rd

1982

0wins

2 podiums

1983

0wins

0 podiums

1984

0wins

0 podiums

1985

2wins

2 podiums

• Safari Rally (Kenya)
• Ivory Coast Rally

1986

2wins

2 podiums

• Safari Rally (Kenya)
• Ivory Coast Rally

4 WRC wins · 6 podium finishes, 1982–1986

More from Co-drivers

Ilkka KivimäkiAlén's co-driver for twenty years: 19 Group B-era podiums in Lancias.Read more →Sergio CrestoEuropean champion in 1984, Monte Carlo winner in 1986, killed with Toivonen in Corsica.Read more →Tiziano SivieroBiasion's co-driver: European champion in 1983, first world win in Argentina 1986.Read more →Juha PiironenToivonen's co-driver at Lancia, then Kankkunen's for the 1986 title.Read more →Seppo HarjanneSalonen's co-driver: seven wins and the 1985 world title.Read more →Terry HarrymanVatanen's co-driver for six wins, and German champion with Mouton.Read more →

Sources

1. Wikipedia (EN), Fred Gallagher (co-driver) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Gallagher_(co-driver)
2. Jonkka's World Rally Archive (juwra.com), results and entry lists 1982–1986 — https://www.juwra.com/

All text is original writing for Grouve Sports Management Group, based on the sources above. Facts checked on 21 October 2026.

Thumbnail photos on this page: Rob Croes for Anefo (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0); Mr.choppers (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0); Carlom1961 (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0); Unknown authorUnknown author (Wikimedia Commons, Public domain); Unknown authorUnknown author (Wikimedia Commons, Public domain); Thesupermat (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).