CARL RYDQUIST [SWE/USA]
Residence: California, USA
Birthplace: Goteborg, Sweden
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 180 lbs
Age: 46
Series: Trans Am by Pirelli TA2 National
Car: #93 OPTIMAL STUNT Camaro
Team: Nitro Motorsports
Brands: OptimalStunt, REVS
Causes: Reach Out Worldwide, STOPCANCER, Paul Walker Foundation
Edu: M.Sc. Mech. Engineering (CHALMERS)
Hobbies: Family, running, gocarting, music
Carl's breakthrough came in 2001 when he in a spectacular display of raw driving talent beat 1100 amateur and professional racedrivers in the Eurosport Super Racing Weekend gocart challenge. Rydquist set the lap record in qualifying then proceeded to advance through every elimination heat beating a dozen of European pro racedrivers, lightweight gocart aces and more than 1000 other car enthusiasts and challengers, until he received a big trophy handed to him personally by Peter Dumbreck (DTM, Le Mans). Shortly after, Carl received an invite to test for a pro team and he earned his first championship ride (Apex Porsche). He won the GT class with the team that year. Since then Carl has racked up numerous wins and fastest laps on the way to several championship titles.
Carl's stunt driving career started in 2004 with car commercials in Europe. In 2010 he became a SAG stunt performer (Screen Actors Guild) with renowned Hollywood stunt driving team Performance Two. Since 2021 Rydquist is engaged in Optimal Stunt which consists of top on-camera riders and drivers in the US and EU. Carl was an expert co-host as racedriver on Swedish TV 2002-2004.
GET TO KNOW CARL
Trans Am Laguna Seca interview (video)
NASA Speed News interview (written)
World Challenge COTA interview (written)
Trans Am eSports interview (video)
Formula Drift Long Beach (video)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS [Inquire for full stunt and race driving resume]
Champion Trans Am TA2 West Coast Championship (2021, TNM Ford Mustang)
Champion Trans Am Super GT West Coast Championship (2020, PDG4 FFR GTM)
Champion Trans Am Super GT West Coast Championship (2019, PDG4 FFR GTM)
Champion NASA Western Endurance Championship, ESR (2018, PDG4 FFR GTM)
Champion United States Touring Car Championship, GT (2017, 2019 PDG4 FFR GTM)
Champion SWE Endurance 3h Championship, GT (2004, MV Porsche 993 RSR)
Champion SWE Endurance 8/12h Championship, GT (2001, Apex Porsche 964 RS)
Winner Zandvoort 500 (2005, Levin Porsche 996 GT3 RS)
First Runner-Up NASA Endurance Racing Series, ES (2016, 2017, PDG4 FFR GTM)
First Runner-Up SWE End. 3h Championship, GT ('05, MV Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)
First runner-up 25 Hours of Thunderhill, ES, 3rd overall (2018, PDG4 FFR GTM)
First runner-up 25 Hours of Thunderhill, E0 (2019, DIG Ford Mustang)
First runner-up 24 Hours of Barcelona, 997, 8th overall ('11, Steam 997 GT3 Cup)
Podium Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car (2016, CA SPORT Nissan 370Z Nismo)
Podium 25 Hours of Thunderhill ES/GT (2017, PDG4 FFR GTM)
Podium Swedish Junior Touring Car Cup (2002, MH spec series Volvo S40)
Podium Scandinavian Sports Racing Car Challenge (2003, Radical)
Podium Swedish Endurance Racing Cup (2001, Ravila BMW 320i)
Top 10 Trans Am TA2 National, Sonoma (2022, Showtime Franklin Road Camaro)
Top 10 24H Nurburgring, SP6 (2006, Levin Porsche 996 GT3)
5 x 24 Hours of Nürburgring (2006-2009, '11 Porsche 996/997 GT3 Cup/RS)
Misc
Industry Pool Nurburgring test and development driver (read)
Stunt driver SAG-AFTRA in numerous commercials (2012 reel)
OEM test driver/engineer for multiple brands 2003-
Formula Drift 2009, 2013-2014, podium in Pro2 (2014, RRE Nissan 350Z) Video
Stockholm Motorsport Games 2006 (gocarts)
FIA cert. racing instructor ('02-) for drivers in WTCC, ALMS, World Challenge, VLN
Eurosport Super Racing Weekend Challenge Winner 2001 (gocarts)