Back to History part 2

Last summer, I got some photos from my parents. They took some photos back in August 1974 at the rallycross in Valkenswaard (NL).

The first picture shows Eklund, together with a driver in a green Porsche. I think this is Björn Waldergård..

On the second picture, it's my sister (3 years) and me (4 years old) at the orange Saab 96 V4 from Per Eklund and his teammate Stig Blomqvist.
At that time, 23 years ago, it must be the first time I was fan of the driving style of Per Eklund!


Another picture of this year I found at the Lennart Jarmyr's shared albums.
It's a picture of the EC finale rallycross at Lydden Hill near London.

Swedish championship 2007

The Swedish Xtreme Rallycross calender for 2007:

1. 16-6: Ring Knutstorp


2. 1-7: Höljes (also EC race)


3. 8-7: Momarken (N) (also EC race)


4. 21-7: Kalix


5. 2-8: Strängnäs


6. 8-9: Götene, Final

Model news part 1

Just surfing on the internet I found some new modelcars from Per Eklund.
On the site of Scala43 I found an Audi 80 and an Audi Quattro in scale 1:43.


K123:
Audi 80 Quattro B2000
From Eklund
at the Jänner-Rallye 1984




83-SF-09
Audi Quattro
From Eklund /Spjuth
at the 1000-Lake-Rallye 1983

Jordan 4th, O'Donovan 5th with Eklund Saab's

Results division 1 Superprix 2006 Croft:

1. Kenneth Hansen (S) Citroen C4
2. Christoffer Evans (IRL) Opel.
3. Kevin Proctor (GB) Ford
4. Andrew Jordan (GB) Saab
5. Ollie O’Donovan (IRL) Saab
6. Helmut Holfeld (IRL) Ford
7. John McCluskey (IRL) Citroen Xsara
8. Steve Hill (GB) Mitsubishi

Jordan drives second Saab at Superprix

British rallycross driver Andrew Jordan has concluded a deal to drive the second Per Eklund Saab 9-3 at the 2006 Rallycross Superprix.

Jordan drives with a Ford Focus at the MSA British Rallycross Championship. He currently standing 3th place overall.

Ex European Rallycross Champion, Will Gollop has put together a deal for Andrew Jordan (from Sutton Coldfield) to race Per Eklund’s second Saab 9_3 in the 2006 Shannon Holdings Rallycross Superprix at Croft Circuit on October 28th & 29th. Jordan had been planning to use the Ford Focus in the event, but Gollop is away on holiday visiting his son on the weekend of the Superprix.

Andrew stated:"I would like to thank Will for putting together the deal for me to race the Saab at the Rallycross Superprix. I am looking forward to working with ex European Rallycross Champion, Per Eklund at the event and I certainly won’t be there just to make up the numbers. I want to take home the Superprix winners trophy. My first opportunity to drive the car will be at the Superprix media day at Croft next week, which will allow me to draw on Per's experience with the car."

The Saab will be run under the Canterbury Saab banner at the event, together with sponsors Bill Gwynne, John Guest and Pirtek. Andrew is hoping to continue with Gollop next season, taking in selected rounds of the 2007 European Rallycross Championship.

New calendar 2007, only 10 races

The FIA European Rallycross Championship 2007 calender will be:

1. 04-06 May: Montalegre - Portugal
2. 11-13 May: Essay - France
3. 01-03 June: Nyirád - Hongary
4. 08-10 June: Greinbach - Austria
5. 29 June -01 July: Höljes - Sweden
6. 06-08 July: Momarken - Norway
7. 10-12 August: Maasmechelen - Belgium
8. 17-19 August: Valkenswaard - then Netherlands
9. 14-16 September: Slomczyn - Poland
10. 21-23 September: Sosnová - Czechia

O'Donovan to race Eklunds Saab at the Superprix

It was announced today that London based Limerick Rally driver Ollie O Donovan will drive the Saab 9-3 Aero Sport 4x4 Supercar at the forthcoming Shannon Holdings Rallycross Superprix at Croft on October 28/29. Ollie who is better known for his Rallying in a McKinstry run Subaru WRC has competed in the last few rounds of the British Championship and will sponsor the event through his company Shannon Holdings.

“I am delighted that we have been able to reach an agreement to bring Per’s Division 1 car the to the 2006 Shannon Holdings Rallycross Superprix. It’s something that we have been working on for a while now, but because Per has already started work on his 2007 car it means that he cannot do the event which is a great pity. I am really happy though, that he will be there to help with the car set up and bring his considerable expertise to the weekend. I would not say we are favourites to win now, but with a car like this we must have a great chance and I will be doing my best to come out on top.”

Eklund only just missed out on winning the 2006 Swedish Rallycross Championship with the car, finishing second overall behind the new European Rallycross Champion Lars Larsson and said “ Ollie contacted me some time back about using my second car for the Superprix and it was easy to reach an agreement with him to use the Saab. At that stage I was planning on competing at the event, but Saab Sweden have released next years body shell to me early, so we have already started working on that which sadly means I cannot compete with our second car. I am now looking forward to Croft, to run Ollie instead, which should be easy to do with a driver of his experience. He has done very well this year since coming into the British Rallycross Championship and Croft could be very good to him this year”.

Disappointing result last race of 2006

At the last race of season 2006, Eklund had a disappointing result.
At Buxtehude (Germany), he could not make it to one of the finals.

Result heat 1: 10th
Result heat 2: 17th
Result heat 3: 22th
Overall a 19th place. Only the best 16 are qualified for the finals.

But we congratulate Lars Larsson and his whole team with their first EC-gold.
Larsson and Eklund share the same engine tuner: Trollspeed. Also to them: congratulations!

The 2006 season is over, Eklund reach a 9th position overall at the European championship and a second place overall at the Swedish championship.
Now he can concentrate to build a new 9-3 over the winter period.

Leave your comment about the 2006 season by pressing the "Comments" below!
Thanks!

Eklund 11th at EC Poland

Results:

1. Lars Larsson Škoda Fabia 20
2. Sverre Isachsen Ford Focus 17
3. Michael Jernberg Ford Focus 15
4. Jean-Luc Pailler Peugeot 206 13
5. Tommy Rustad Ford Focus 12
6. Kenneth Hansen Citroën C4 11
7. Harald Sachweh Opel Astra 10
8. Ole Kristian Nøttveit Citroën Xsara 9
9. Jacek Ptaszek Toyota Corolla 8
10. Morten Bermingrud Citroën Xsara 7
11. Per Eklund Saab 9-3 ASS 6
    

Eklund third in Götene, second overall!

Results of the 6th and last race for the Swedish championship in Götene:

1. Michael Jernberg Ford Focus 20
2. Lars Larsson Škoda Fabia 17
3. Per Eklund Saab 9-3 ASS 15
4. Kenneth Hansen Citroën C4 13
5. Karl-Gunnar Lindkvist Volvo S40 12
6. Thomas Rådström Hyundai Accent 11
7. Johan Nyström Volvo 440 10
8. Tony Croon Ford Focus 9
9. Andreas Eriksson Ford Fiesta ST 8
10. Ola Stenvall Saab 9-3 7
11. Marko Jokinen Peugeot 206 6
12. Mats Öhman Ford Focus 5

Final standings:

1. Lars Larsson 75
2. Per Eklund 63
3. Kenneth Hansen 63
   

Per Eklund Momarkenåtta - på tre hjul

En håla blev Per Eklunds fall på Momarken.
Han var på väg mot säsongens första A-final i EM - men på tre hjul var det inte lätt att köra.
- Det känns lite surt, det har varit mycket stolpe ut nu, säger Eklund.

I helgen fortsatte både EM och SM-cirkusen på Momarkens travbana i Norge.
När Per Eklund var där på presskonferens förra tisdagen hade arrangören fullt upp med att få i ordning banan inför helgens tävling.
På fredagskvällen var de klara - men då kom regnet.
- Banan var så fruktansvärt dålig. De hade behövt en vecka till för att den skulle bli riktigt bra, men jag tycker synd om dem med tanke på allt regn som kom, säger Eklund.
Det började dock bra och Eklund satte de två snabbaste testtiderna. Och efter en godkänt genomförd kvaltävling, med svåra startspår, stod Eklund i första led i B-finalen.
- Jag och Andreas Eriksson kom först in i första sväng men då tog Sverre Isachsen alternativspåret som faktiskt gick snabbare och kom ut före oss.

Men det var då en liten grop förstörde Eklunds chanser till succé.
- Om man väl slog i gropen var det omöjligt att inte få punktering. Men jag fortsatte att köra på tre hjul och hoppades på att de andra också skulle få problem.
Men istället gick både K-G Lindqvist och holländaren Jos Kuypers om Eklund som tillsist slutade trea i B-finalen - före både Sverre Isachsen och Andreas Eriksson. Rörigt värre.
- Det känns lite surt, säger Eklund som nu får ladda om inför SM-avslutningen på Kinnekulle Ring nu till lördagen.
Det blev däremot aldrig någon start på Momarken i Norge för SM-ledande Niklas
Hagström. Redan på lördagens träning rasade motorn i hans Honda Civic.

- Tur att det hände den här helgen och inte nästa, konstaterade han i ett pressmeddelande.
Men SM-finalen på Kinnekulle Ring tänker han inte missa.
- Jag har visserligen ingen i reservmotor, men finalen ska jag köra om jag så ska låna en bil, säger han.

JOHAN ERIKSSON

Eklund 8th at EC Norway

Results EC Norway:

1. Michael Jernberg Ford Focus 20
2. Kenneth Hansen Citroen C4 17
3. Tommy Rustad Ford Focus 15
4. Karl-Gunnar Lindkvist Volvo S40 13
5. Lars Larsson Skoda Fabia 12
6. Thomas Rådström Hyundai 11
7. Jos Kuypers Ford Focus 10
8. Per Eklund Saab 9-3 ASS 9
9. Sverre Isachsen Ford Focus 8
10. Harald Sachweh Opel Astra 7

15. Ola Frøshaug Saab 9-3

Eklund and Frøshaug in action (c) www.erc24.com

Ola Frøshaug drives Saab 9-3 this weekend

Not Ola Stenvall but Ola Frøshaug will drive the old Saab 9-3 of Eklund this weekend at the 9th round of the FIA European Championship for Rallycross Drivers at Momarken ,Norway.
The 41 year old Frøshaug, driver of a Supernational Volvo 240, will take the chance to drive in a Division 1 Saab 9-3 at his home country.
Visit his site at http://www.teame18.no/

This race is also the 5th race for the Swedish Championship Rallycross.



Eklund will drive at Norway with a new exhaust system. Let's hope for a A-final!

Per Eklunds drivaxel gick av

From Värmland Folksblad:

Per Eklunds drivaxel gick av: Någon gång ska det väl hända mig också

Per Eklund hade inget lyckosam helg. I EM-deltävlingen i holländska Valkenswaard slutade med en tredjeplats i b-finalen efter att drivaxeln gått av i ett av tidskvalen.
- Det har jag aldrig varit med om tidigare men någon gång ska väl det hända också, säger Eklund.
Inför sista tidskvalet var förutsättningarna att seger skulle innebära A-final då Eklund just då hade sista tid till finalen. Genom att ta starten och hålla konkurrenten Kenneth Hansen bakom sig såg det ut att gå vägen tills första varvningen då drivaxeln gick av och det var färdigkört.
- Det var ju tråkigt när jag verkligen lyckades ta mig förbi Hansen och hålla honom bakom, säger Eklund.
Istället blev det b-final för värmlänningen som slutade med en tredjeplats efter att ha blivit påkörd bakifrån på startrakan.Kenneth Hansen bröt finalen sedan han fått motorproblem, trots det toppar han fortfarande EM-tabellen.

A gift for Per Eklund

Yesterday after the race, Per Eklund got a gift from Michael Hoese.
Michael is a designer and lives in Köln, Germany.

For the 60th birthday, Per Eklund got a very nice drawing of all rallycross cars, Per drove in the in the years that Michael is visiting the rallycross races.


Photo: Eklund with the gift.

Michael told me also that it will be possible to order this drawing. Just send him an email at mhoese@hoesedesign.de for details.

Eklund 8th at EC Holland

Race report Valkenswaard 2006

Heat 1 Saturday

At the timed practice, Eklund drove the 7th time. He had to start in the last qualifing heat with Isachsen, Pailler and Bermingrud. It stopped raining and the track was drying up. At the first start, it was Isachsen who took the lead. But in the first corner, got a touch from Bermingrud, lost grip and came into the sand and made a roll.
At the second start Eklund took a very good start and was in head of Pailler who was on the inside. But in the first corner, Pailler took the lead because Eklund was to soon on the breaks. He didn't want to take the risk for a crash to lose a good time. Eklund second and Bermingrud third. Isachsen got a red flag and did not start.
Eklund drove to the finish but could not catch up with Pailler and went second over the finish line . He had a second time overall!

1. J.L Pailler 2.45.098
2. P. Eklund 2.47.430
3. M. Bermingrud 2.49.232
4. T. Rudstad 2.54.153
5. K. Hansen 2.55.183
6. J. Kuijper 2.58.332
   

After this heat the team cleaned the car and replaced a broken turbo.

Sunday:
Sunday starts with a dry track. Eklund was the first to drive the free practice. The car runs fine and at the second run he rubbed in a new set of Kumho rain tires.

Heat 2
The track is still dry. Everybody drives real good times.
Eklund starts with Eriksson, Kuijpers, Rustad en Coox. Eklund took a good start. Rustad pushed Coox and Eklund but Eklund could hold the second place in the first Corner. Eriksson had the lead. Eklund could not overtake Eriksson so went second over the finish. He had a 8th time overall.

1. 1 J.L. Pailler 2:36.740
2. M. Bermingrud 2:38.459
3. O. Anne 2:39.118
4. M. Jernberg 2:39.465
5. L. Larsson 2:39.724
6. A. Eriksson 2:40.016
7. K. Hansen 2:40.018
8. P. Eklund 2:40.881

(Foto: Rustad and Coox fighting)
With this result, Per is now on 3th place overall.

Heat 3
Eklund starts with Pailler, Hansen ,Eriksson.and Wicik. Pailler didn't start, because he had already two nr.1 qualifyings. At the start, it was Eklund who had the fastest start. At his tail it was Hansen, Eriksson and Vicik. But at the third corner,the front drive shaft broke and Eklund had to give up. Nobody could catch up with Hansen, so he won this heat.
With this result, Eklund will start 2nd in the B-final.

B-final
The positions of the B-final: Anne, Eklund, Larsson, Eriksson, Kuijpers and the winner of the c-final: Isachsen. Just before this final, it started to rain heavily.It was Ichachsen who had the best start. Eklund had a very bad start, the Saab 9-3 didn't response good on the throttle. So he went last into the first corner. The next round he could overtake O. Anne. The second lap it was Isachsen who made a mistake, followed by Larsson. Eriksson took the victory, followed by Kuijpers and Eklund third.In the A final, it was J.L. Pailler who took the victory very easy on his Kumho rain tires, followed by Rustad and Eriksson.

Results:

1. Jean-Luc Pailler Peugeot 206 20
2. Tommy Rustad Ford Focus 17
3. Andreas Eriksson Ford Fiesta ST
4. Michael Jernberg Ford Focus 13
5. Morten Bermingrud Citroën Xsara 12
6. Kenneth Hansen Citroën C4 11
7. Jos Kuypers Ford Focus 10
8. Per Eklund Saab 9-3 ASS 9

Otur för Eklund i Belgien

Otur för Eklund i Belgien - slutade tvåa i B-finalen

FOTO: HÅKAN STRANDMAN/ARKIV

Slutade sjua. Per Eklund hade inte turen på sin sida i Belgien heller.
Per Eklund slutade på en sjunde plats vid EM-deltävlingen i Rallycross i Maasmechelen, Belgien på söndagen. Han missade A-finalen med en placering.

- Jag hade jädra otur, säger Eklund.
I C-finalen startade värmlänningen som tvåa. Han var snabbt ut i starten och tog kommandot. Det blev seger, vilket innebar att han avancerade till B-final. Men längre än så kom inte Eklund den här helgen. I B-finalen fick han starta sist igen, men han lyckades köra upp sig och slutade på en andraplats.
- Jag var ikapp, men kom inte riktigt om, berättar Eklund som därmed missade tävlingens A-final.
- Man får vara nöjd ändå. Det var riktigt hög klass på tävlingen och B-finalen var i princip en A-final. Det har också varit bra drag på publiken här i Belgien, så det har varit en riktigt fin tävling.
Eklund har klarat sig i från tekniska missöden under helgen, men eftersom han har fått starta långt bak i fältet i alla heaten, har det varit svårt att ta placeringar.
- Bilen funkar bra, så det har inte varit något tekniskt fel, men det är riktigt svårt att köra om på den här banan. Nästan omöjligt.
LARS LARSSON vann tävlingen och knappade därmed in på Kenneth Hansen i toppen av det totala mästerskapet. Hansen leder på 100 poäng, med Larsson skuggandes på 97.
Tävlingen i Maasmechelen var en av elva deltävlingar i rallycross-EM och nu väntar ett stopp i Holland.
- Det är ju inte speciellt långt så det blir inga problem med transport. Däremot kommer det att bli en hel del jobb under veckan, säger Eklund som siktar på att upprepa sin sjätteplats i slutställningen från ifjol. Eklund ligger just nu nia totalt med 24 poäng upp till den där sjätteplatsen.
- Det blir nog svårt. Jag ligger inte så bra till, även om jag körde ikapp en del nu. Det gick lite för dåligt i början av säsongen.

DANIEL SAMUELSSON

Eklund 7th at EC Belgium

Results:

1. Lars Larsson Škoda Fabia 20
2. Jean-Luc Pailler Peugeot 206 17
3. Morten Bermingrud Citroën Xsara 15
4. Kenneth Hansen Citroën C4 13
5. Olivier Anne Citroën C4 12
6. Jos Kuypers Ford Focus 11
7. Per Eklund Saab 9-3 ASS 10
8. Patrick Van Mechelen Subaru Impreza 9
9. Sverre Isachsen Ford Focus 8
10. Tommy Rustad Ford Focus 7

(c) 2006 www.rallycross.info

Update 60th birthday

From Björn Berglöf (Manager Saab Motor Sport) I received a picture from Pers 60th birthday with the gift he got from Saab at his garage in Arvika. He got a model of the first Saab 92 prototype (UrSaab).
He was there together with Ralph Grill from Clarion.

Eklund 4th at SC Strägnäs

Results:

1. Lars Larsson Škoda Fabia 20+3
2. Ola Stenvall Saab 9-3 17
3. Michael Jernberg Ford Focus 15+2
4. Per Eklund Saab 9-3 ASS 13+1
5. Karl-Gunnar Lindkvist Volvo S40 12
6. Thomas Rådström Hyundai Accent 11
7. Andreas Eriksson Ford Fiesta ST 10
8. Marko Jokinen Peugeot 206 9
9. Ingemar Bjöörn Hyundai Accent 8
10. Mats Öhman Ford Focus 7
11. Tony Croon Ford Focus 6