Eklund 4th at first SC

The Saturday at the Knutstorp circuit began very good for Per Eklund. At this first race for the Swedish Championship he had a first time overall in the first qualification heat.

The second and third head he had a fifth time overall, putting him on a third position in the a-final.


Photo:(c)Mikael Persson



Report A-final by http://www.rallycross.com/:

Stig-Olov Walfridsson, who was on the innerside as pole sitter Eriksson opted for the outerside of the grid, went into the lead when the green(!) light was showen ahead of Eklund and Hedström. Eriksson faced some issues during the start and joined the field in sixth position. Already in the first corner Eklund went off the track as Peter Hedström was too enthousiastic to try to gain second place in the race. Eventually Hedström was blackflagged by the Clerk of the Course for pushing on Eklund. Eklund on the other hand lost a lot of time with this incident but continued racing and joined the track again in last position. By the end of the first lap Walfridsson was leading the field ahead of Tony Croon, Eriksson, who worked his way up to third place after missing the start, Jernberg and Eklund. During the second lap, Walfridsson who was chased by Croon and Eriksson slowed down. Croon was forced to brake and Eriksson hit Croon by accident. Eriksson damaged the turbo and intercooler of the Fiesta and his final was reduced to driving the remaining laps at a very low speed. By the end of that second lap Walfridsson went to the startgrid again. "I noticed a red flag and i supposed the race was stopped. Therefore I went back to the startgrid," Walfridsson declared afterwards. "Yeah, i also saw a red flag," said Croon. "I was forced to brake behind Walfridsson, but then i realised that the race still was going on, so I continued," he said. Racing went on with Croon in the lead while Jernberg climbed to second place. Jernberg went into the joker lap in the penultimate lap while Croon passed through it in the last lap. However, the joker lap didn't change the positions anymore. Croon came in first and won surprisingly his first Division one event of his career. Jernberg, with a puncture (back left), was second while Eriksson and Eklund finished the race on places three and four.

Per Eklund (SAAB 9-3 ASS) in close contact with Peter Hedström (Ford Fiesta ST). The latter got blackflagged for this action on Eklund. (Photo: © Lennart Pettersson)

Results:

1. Tony Croon Ford Focus 30


2. Michael Jernberg Skoda Fabia 27


3. Andréas Eriksson Ford Fiesta ST 25+3


4. Per Eklund SAAB 9-3 ASS 23


5. Stig-Olov Walfridsson Renault Clio RS 22+2


6. Peter Hedström Ford Fiesta ST 21+1


7. George Tracey Peugeot 307 CC 20


8. Jakob Teil Hansen Ford Escort RS 19

George Tracey confirmed for Knutstorp

From http://www.rallycross.com/:


Irish Rallycross driver George Tracey (Peugeot 307cc) participates in the first round of the 2008 Swedish Rallycross Championship that goes underway next Saturday May 17 at Kågeröd (Ring Knutstorp) in the south of Sweden. The news of his participation, already known for some time, was confirmed on Tuesday.

The participation of the Irishman at Kågeröd is a result of the close collaboration between the teams of George Tracey and Swede Per Eklund in 2008. Over winter Eklund Motorsport already prepared the Peugeot 307cc for Rallycross. After the ERC round in France the car left for Arvika in Sweden, hometown of Eklund Motorsport, where it will be prepared for the Swedish season's opener.


George Tracey (Peugeot 307cc) pictured during the 2008 Portuguese ERC round. (Photo: © Jan Kåre Rafoss)

C-final for Eklund at second EC in France

At a sunny and dusty Kerlabo circuit in France, Eklund could make it to the c-final.
"The car was quick and good, there were no defects. The whole weekend was only a littlebit dusty", Eklund reports.
Per had a 10th time overall in the first qualification, a 16th time in the second and a 12th time in the third heat.
"I could not make the difference, in every heat I lost second at the start and in some corners".
With 22 points he had an 4th position in the c-final.

In the c-final the could make up to the third place, just a few laps before the finish, it was Frode Holte who hit his car into Eklund. Instead of chasing to the heat leader, Eklund has to be satisfied with a 4th place in this c-final, a 14th place overall.

After two races, Eklund has a ninth place in the championship.
"All the things we try will result in a better car, but the competition is tough. It is never been so tough as this year!"

Results 2nd EC France:

1. Jean-Luc Pailler Peugeot 20
2. Ludvig Hunsbedt Volvo 17
3. Kenneth Hansen Citroën 15
4. Michael Jernberg Škoda 13
5. David Meslier Renault 12
6. Guttorm Lindefjell Ford 11
7. Andréas Eriksson Ford 10
8. Sverre Isachsen Ford 9
9. Kjell Arne Smerud Citroën 8
10. Morten Bermingrud Citroën 7
11. Olivier Anne Citroën 6
12. Stig-Olov Walfridsson Renault 5
13. Frode Holte Volvo 4
14. Per Eklund Saab 3
15. Marc Laboulle Citroën 2
16. Ole Kristian Nøttveit Ford 1

Eklund 6th at first EC 2008!

Today, the new season of the European rallycross started, and not so bad!



Eklund managed this week with a lot of work to finalize the new Saab 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan. Just in time he arrived in Portugal for the first race.

In the first heat, Eklund drove to a 12th time, the second heat to a 11th time overall. In the third head, Eklund drove to a good 7th time. This means together a 5th place in the B-final.
Eklund managed to win the B-final! In the A-final he couldn't make any progression, so a 6th place overall!

Results:

1. Ludvig Hunsbedt (N), Volvo S40


2. Kenneth Hansen (S), Citroën C4


3. Ole Kristian Nøttveit (N), Ford Focus ST


4. Sverre Isachsen (N), Ford Focus ST


5. Michael Jernberg (S), Škoda Fabia


6. Per Eklund (S), SAAB 9-3 ASS

Next race in Cohiniac, France next weekend!

Regards,
Mike Jager

Pressconference at Stockholm

The SBF Rallycross commision together with Xtreme Events Scandinavia AB and the leading Rallycross teams organize a pressconference in the city of Stockholm.

Time: 13.00
Date: wednesday 16-04-2008
Place: Kungsträdgården at the large podium
Program:

• The rallycross commission view on the Swedish Championship
• presentation of Xtreme Events Scandinavia AB
• News of the teams, drivers and there cars

from www.sbf.se

Eklund during the Saab Ice Experience

From carsguide.news.com.au

Sliding sideways on a sheet of ice at 120km/h isn't something you do every day in Australia.
Actually, it's something I've never done in our wide, brown land.
Neither is sitting beside a 60- something crazy man; as he flings a Saab 9-3 Turbo X along a snow-covered forest track at close to 200km/h with nothing but a wall of snow between us and a disastrous trip into the trees.
Yet this is all everyday stuff for one-time rally champion Per Eklund and the team from Saab Ice Experience.
Every year, they take small groups of journalists for a deep-frozen dip into the history of Saab, the engineering of its cars, and what makes Sweden different from the rest of the world.

It's all done deep inside the Arctic Circle, in a white wonderland that's as far from Australia as you can possibly imagine.
It's beautiful in a desolate way that contrasts with the hot, dusty plains of the outback, but a huge shock when you land at minus 20 after taking off from Australia at plus 30.
There's a special hook for the Saab Ice Experience this year, as the company is about to bring its first all-wheel-drive cars into showrooms.
If that sounds a little unusual, given the ultra-slippery winter conditions in Sweden — and most of Europe — it has taken Saab a while to gather the money and enthusiasm to upgrade from its traditional front-wheel drive.

But it's about to feed more than 200kW to the road with the limited-edition 9-3 Aero X and Turbo X models, which are close to local showrooms.
These are family vehicles, not Lancer Evo-style road rockets, so Saab felt it was essential to upgrade to all-paw grip.
“If it works here, it works anywhere,” Saab engineering chief Anders Tysk says.
“We do it the Saab way, with the latest Haldex drive system. It's always on, always all-wheel drive."
“We want to eventually have it on all our models, because of the safety.”
Saab calls its system cross-wheel drive, written XWD, and there's no doubt it has put a lot of work into the task, from the gearbox hook-up to the electronic brain that controls the active rear differential fitted to the Aero X.
The technical talk is nice, and the Saab people — who now operate as part of the GM Premium Brands team in Australia, where the family includes Hummer and Cadillac — are warm and welcoming. But we want to drive.
Soon enough, we're standing on a frozen Swedish lake alongside a line-up of pristine silver Turbo X automatic wagons.
Per Eklund, a one-time World Rally Championship firebrand who still wins in rallycross with a very special Saab 9-3, introduces us to the event.
The idea is that we will run through some safety demonstrations and exercises before a bit of fun against the clock on a twisting course; that has been carved through the 60cm-deep snow covering the ice.
“We start a little bit slowly, to get a good feeling; later, we maybe have some fun,” Eklund says. “Here, you have a chance to try all the things in these new Saabs, like the cross-wheel drive and the turbo engine.”
Eklund points to the 100 steel studs in each tyre, their to give some grip, but also points to the waiting bulldozer — with a tow rope that gets plenty of action each day — as he gets to the warning about driving technique.
“A lot of people close their eyes when something goes wrong. This is not a good solution,” he says, with typically deadpan Swedish humour.
“You have to drive the cars. Eventually, computers will do it for you, but not today."
“Always do something. Do not stop driving. Otherwise, there will be some problems — and you have the chance to take some nice pictures while the tractor comes to tow you out.”
So we get down to action and quickly learn that a simple braking exercise is much, much tougher on sheet ice than it is on dry bitumen.
Try turning the wheel as well, to steer away from a make-believe moose (a man in a snow suit with antlers on his head), and it's easy to trigger a potential disaster.
When we head to the twisty forest track for some fun, and to see what cross-wheel drive can really do, things hot up. A lot.
It seems impossible that any car can go so quickly with so much control, although it's easy to slide over the limit and into the powdery snow banks. The tractor gets some work, including one tow for us.
We learn about the need to be gentle, smooth and elegant to drive well in these conditions — lessons that should flow back to everyday driving without the white, icy edge.
Then Eklund and another rally champion, Kenneth Backlund, show us how it's really done when they jump into a pair of black Aero X weapons equipped with narrow snow tyres and giant rally studs for extra grip.
Whereas we struggled to get through the icy corners at 60km/h, Eklund and Backlund are sliding sideways at well over 100km/h on the ice lake, before uncorking the Saabs on a mock-up rally stage through deep snow in the forest.
They are silly fast, with the speedo needle twisting around past 190km/h, yet the cars feel safe, secure, comfortable and toasty warm.
So, what is different? Apart from the drivers and the studs, absolutely nothing. These are showroom-stock Saabs, exactly the same as the cars that are coming to Australia. And that is massively impressive.
So, what did we learn? Probably not a huge amount, beyond the quality of the new cross-wheel-drive Saabs and the potential for a significant Saab sales boost in Australia once the Aero X and Turbo X hit our shores.
But the ice-driving experience was a reminder of the need to learn to drive well — really well — to get the best from your car and to avoid the sort of nasty incidents that are so common on Australian roads.
Make a mistake on the ice track, and you get an embarrassing tow out of the white stuff for another go, but there's no second chance on the road in the real world.

- The Sunday Telegraph

New Fancard and an article from the U.K.

From Saab Sweden I received two nice things.

First, the new Fan Card 2008 from Eklund motorsport.



During the Rallycross races, this card will be available at the trailer of Eklund.
Also a larger picture is available at the fansite under pictures/cards.
I made also a wallpaper under pictures/wallpaper.



Second, an article from "Motorsport News" in PDF is available at this link (1.54 MB).
In this article, Eklund gives an interview about his history as rallydriver, his friends in motorsport and ofcource rallycross.

Eklund is Tired of All the Whining

Swedish rally legend Per Eklund, 61 years old, who's now driving the safety car that drives first and examins the state of the tracks (and the state of the spectators) during the Swedish Rally. Eklund, who won the rally in 1976 in a SAAB 96, isn't that impressed by all the whining by the WRC drivers.

"They have both driver's licence and a rally licence. Some are pretty well paid too. Some gravel on the road isn't anything to whine about. They've never driven the Safari Rally. Back then we couldn't just call our mommies when it got difficult. Just back of five or ten percent when it gets tricky and you're ok. What are they expecting when they're running with eight millimeter studs? There's no ice in the world that can cope with that."

from www.nwt.se

Eklund drives the WRC Swedish Rally 2008

Eklund will drive the Uddeholm Swedish Rally 2008, the second round of the world rally championship (WRC).

The Swedish Championship part of Uddeholm Swedish Rally starts on Friday evening February 8 at 08:00 with the Super Special Stage at Färjestadstravet, located just a few kilometres from the city of Karlstad. The 2km stage has a 30m jump in its route.

In terms of road distances, the event will be significantly shorter because the stage held previously in the north of the Varmland region will not be run this year. The other novelty this year will be the use of remote service parks each day, held firstly in Sunne then twice in Hagfors.

Per Eklund will drive the '00' car, one of the three cars who will inspect the tracks ahead of the WRC drivers.

The '0' drivers of this year are:

0 Björn Waldegård
00 Per Eklund
000 Björn Johansson

Eklund also drove this event last year. Here are three pictures I found:

After this event, Eklund will drive to the north of Sweden to work as instructor for six weeks at the 'Saab ice experiance 2008' (just as last year, see here)

Eklund vann historisk rallycross

Ett bakhjulslager skar på motorvägen i Holland. I övrigt gick trippen till England som på räls för Per Eklund - som vann helgens historiska rallycrosstävling i centrala London.

"Nåt straff ska en ha!" utropar Per Eklund just som han rullat ombord på färjan i Kiel. För så länge det var tävling gick allt Per Eklunds väg, men sedan var de tvungna att ta landvägen hem.
- Någonstans i Holland började andra bilister blinka åt oss, berättar Per.Han stannade och då gav bakhjulslagret upp till ena hjulet på kärran. Uppe på släpet stod Pers Saab 9-3 Aerosport Sedan som gick som en klocka i London Masters Rallycross. Det tog en stund att fixa släpet innan de kunde ta sig vidare till Kiel, glada över att hinna med onsdagskvällens färja till Göteborg.

I England kom som väntat det hårdaste motståndet från engelsmannen Ollie O'Donovan.
- Men vi vann nästan allt, säger Per glädjestrålande.
- Jag missade honom i ett kvalheat, men det var mitt eget fel för jag var inte riktigt med i starten.Och starten visade sig bli väldigt viktigt.
- Det var regnigt hela tiden och den nygjorda banan blev gropig och lerig. Låg du efter såg du ingenting...

Efter tre omgångar gick de sex bästa i varje klass vidare till en speciell cup som körde i strålkastarsken på lördagskvällen. Per hade förstås en fight med O'Donovan, men det blev svensk seger i denna historiska tävling, utanför mässan London Motorsport Show.På söndagen kördes sedan en fjärde omgången i huvudtävlingen. När det var dags för final räknades samtliga omgångar och det var två favoriter längst fram: Per Eklund och Ollie O'Donovan.
- Jag sa till honom att "vi syns i första sväng", säger Per.

Så blev det. Ingen släppte och det bar iväg in i en snabbsväng utan större gassläpp.
- Vi åkte dörr i dörr, hoppa och flög!Sedan hamnade engelsmannens Peugeot lite för långt ut i bankanten och han drog av, snett in i avbalkningen.
- Sedan var det en lätt resa. Jag kunde åka de sex varven och vinka till publiken, hälsar Per.
Ytterligare en historisk rallycrosseger av Per Eklund - som vann den svenska premiären i grenen 1971. Nu fick han som sagt problem för när de skulle hem med tävlingsbilen på släp.

Artikeln publicerad 2007-12-11 av Annemo Friberg

Eklund won the London Rallycross Masters

Eklund won the London masters today!

After qualifying 2nd despite not having the ideal tyre (Avon cross-ply heavy wet pattern) Per made a fantastic start with London-based Irishman Ollie O`Donovan the pole-sitter also getting off the line with a good start, the two cars alongside eachother into the first left-hand kink.

Both cars were launched skyward and contact was made in mid-air, fortunately Pers Saab 9-3 4x4t landed better than O`Donovan who`s Tony Bardy prepared Peugeot 306 4x4T16 ended up hitting the barriers and sustaining damage to front and rear right-hand suspension and stranded just off the racing line.

The race continued with Tony Proctor (Yorkshire) in his Harry Hockley prepared Ford Puma 4x4t taking up the chase to catch Per Eklund with Dublin Based Irishman Dermot Carnegie Fiesta ST4x4T and Steve Hill Mitsubishi Evo 9 also in hot persuit.

Proctors chase ended a few laps later after spinning-out and stalling, leaving Carnegie to pick up 2nd place and Hill to complete the honours with 3rd.

Jeremy Roberts Photographs @ fotopic.net

After the race Per picked-up hitch-hiker Ollie O`Donovan, who then drove Pers Saab with the 61 year old Eklund standing proud out of the side of the drivers door to enjoy the cheers of the crowd, whilst the other drivers enjoyed a feast of donuts, Carnegie in particular who managed to treat Tommy Grahams Escort to a sand-blasting.

by: John Foley

***Update***
A video from the final:


A video from the finish:

Per Eklund competes in London Masters Rallycross

Pressrelease

RALLY LEGEND PER EKLUND COMPETES IN LONDON MASTERS RALLYCROSS

World rally legend Per Eklund is competing in the inaugural 2007 London Masters Rallycross
competition, held at ExCel on Saturday and Sunday 8/9 December. A World Rally Championship round winner and former European Rallycross Championship titleholder, Per has been competing in motorsport for around 40 years.

Swedish-born Per began his driving career in 1968 at the Swedish Rally, which he won in 1976. From 1970 to 1979, he was a Saab works driver, using a Saab 99 Turbo before progressing to a Saab 900 Turbo, which he raced in the British round of the 1997 World Championship. During the 70s and 80s, Per was a regular participant in the RAC Rally, competing in a mix of cars including a Toyota Celica, Saab 96 V4 and 99 EMS, and a Lancia Delta, before driving for British Leyland and Audi.

Per started driving in rallycross by winning the first-ever Swedish rallycross event at Hedemora, on 17 October 1971. He drove a Saab 96 V4, then a Saab 99 in its various sporting evolutions. He was always prominent, and became seventh overall and fourth overall respectively in the first and second European Championship series of 1973 and 1974. His greatest successes have been in more modern times, when he won the FIA European Rallycross Championship in 1999 and he remains one of the fastest competitors, finishing eighth in this year's competition.

Race and show organiser Philip Bunn said: "We are thrilled that Per will be competing at the London Masters. His involvement, along with drivers such as Ollie Donovan and 'Mad' Mark
Watson, confirms that this is a major event for the motorsport calendar and as such is attracting major competitors. The final preparations are being made to the circuit, so that we can ensure
that the surface is perfect for a high-performance motorsport competition."

The circuit is a minimum of 14.5 metres wide, with an approximate length of 650 metres. The lap time for a Division 1 car is expected to be between 30 and 35 seconds, with an average speed of approximately 80mph. The circuit has been constructed with fast-flowing corners, featuring two spectacular yumps. With Division 1, Super National, Procar 1600 and 2000, Revivals, Junior Rallycross and Minicross categories, visitors will be on the edge of their seats watching the exhilarating live action.

The London Masters is just one of the exciting features of the 2007 London Motorsport Show,
which covers all disciplines of motorsport – from karting through to Formula One - and is a must for any motor racing enthusiast. Doors open each day from 10.00 and the show closes at 18.30 on Saturday (with the rallycross event finishing at around 20.00) and 15.30 on Sunday. For information and to book tickets, visit http://www.londonmasters.co.uk.

Eklund's cars at Rallycross Superprix

04-11-2007

The 2007 Jersey Farm Hotel Rallycross Superprix is a rallycross event who took place on November 3rd & 4th at Croft Circuit (near Darlington).
Per Eklund used to participate some years ago with some other Swedish top drivers, but this year he rent his cars to two English drivers: Ollie O'Donnovan who use to drive with his MSA British Rallycross Championship winning Peugeot 306 and Dave Bellerby, who use to drive with a Lotus Exige.

Both drivers made is to the semi finals. Dave Bellerby, who drove the classic Saab 9-3, blew up his engine in his semi final and the team raced against time to fit a new engine, which they did in 35 minutes, only ten minutes too late for him to make the start for the finals.

(c) 2007 by www.erc24.com

For Ollie it went much better. He finished on a nice 4th place in the final. He drove very good with a car he is not used to drive with. Kenneth Hansen won the finals, just in front of
Christopher Evans (Vauxhall Astra) and Kevin Proctor (Ford Puma).

(c) 2007 by www.erc24.com

Superprix Result (6 Laps)

1. Kenneth HANSEN Citroen C4 4:16.18
2. Christopher EVANS Vauxhall Astra 4:18.89
3. Kevin PROCTOR Ford Puma 4:21.49
4. Ollie O'DONOVAN Saab 9-3 4:24.28
5. Mike MANNING Ford Escort 4:30.44
6. Mad Mark WATSON Citroen Xsara 4:35.44
7. David BINKS Mitsubishi Lancer 4:38.83
8. Bob GOODING Ford Escort 4:58.49
9. Tony BARDY Peugeot 306 DNF
10. Pat DORAN Ford Fiesta DNF

After this event normally ends the season for Per Eklund, but Ollie O´Donovan persuaded Eklund to take part in a rallycross event in Central London on 8-9 December, at the Londen Motor Sport Show, the London Masters!. Ollie will drive with his Peugeot and Eklund with his Saab 9-3 SportSedan. Eklund left his Saab 9-3 in Engeland and he will repair the Saab to be top fit for the race in London. After his, he will travel with his bus and the old Saab back to Arvika and return to England in December.

Björn Berglof/Mike Jager

Round 8 BC Croft: Eklund first!

21 October 2007

Croft Circuit - Croft on Tees - England


British Rallycross Drivers Association Rallycross Championship 2007- Round 8

Results Supercar:

1. Per Eklund, SAAB 9-3 ASS
2. Dermot Carnegie, Ford Fiesta ST
3. Kevin Procter, Ford Puma
4. Andrew Jordan, Ford Focus
5. Steve Hill, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
6. Pat Doran, Ford Fiesta ST
7. Ollie O'Donovan, Peugeot 306

MSA British Rallycross Championship 2007 - Round 8

Results Superfinal:

1. Dermot Carnegie, Ford Fiesta ST
2. Per Eklund, SAAB 9-3 ASS
3. Andrew Jordan, Ford Focus
4. Ollie O'Donovan, Peugeot 306
5. Steve Hill, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
6. Andy Grant, Ford Escort RS 2000

Round 7 BC Mondello Park: Eklund 8th

Round 7 of the British Rallycross Rallycross Championship Mondello Park, Ireland

Results Supercar:

1. Olivier Anne, Citroën C4
2. Andrew Nesbitt, SAAB 9-3
3. Tommy Graham, Ford Escort RS 2000
4. Ollie O'Donovan, Peugeot 306
5. Andrew Jordan, Ford Focus
6. Dermot Carnegie, Ford Fiesta ST
7. George Tracey, MG Metro 6R4
8. Per Eklund, SAAB 9-3 ASS

Last EC 2007: Eklund again a-final, 6th!

23 September 2007

Results round 10 at Sosnová, Czech Republic

1. Lars Larsson, Škoda Fabia, 20


2. Ludvig Hunsbedt, Volvo S40, 17


3. Andreas Eriksson, Ford Fiesta ST, 15


4. Pavel Koutný, Ford Focus, 13


5. Jos Kuypers, Ford Focus ST, 12


6. Per Eklund, SAAB 9-3 ASS, 11

EC Poland: Eklund 4th!

16 September 2007

Results EC round 9, Słomczyn, Poland.

1. Lars Larsson Škoda Fabia, 20


2. Kenneth Hansen, Citroën C4, 17


3. Andreas Eriksson, Ford Fiesta ST, 15


4. Per Eklund, SAAB 9-3 ASS, 13


5. Ludvig Hunsbedt, Volvo S40, 12


6. Rolf Volland, Škoda Fabia, 11

5th in last SC race at Götene

Today, Saturday 8th September, was the final round of the Swedish championship rallycross division 1 season 2007 at the kinnekulle racetrack at Götene.

Heat 1:

1. K. Hansen
2. M. Jenrberg
3. A. Eriksson
4. T. Croon
5. I. Gunnarsson
6. L. Larsson
7. P. Eklund

Heat 2:

1. P. Eklund
2. L. Larsson
3. T. Croon
4. A. Eriksson
5. S.O. Walfridsson
6. K. Hansen

Heat 3:

1. T. Croon
2. P. Eklund
3. L. Larsson
4. K. Hansen
5. M. Jernberg
6. M. Eriksson

With these results, Ekund has the pole position in de A-final!


A-Final:
With Eklund on pole and T. Croon on second place, it was Hansen and Larson on second row, Erikson and Jernberg on third row.
The start was for Hansen, followed by Larsson and Eriksson. Eklund didn't make a good start and followed the field with some seconds delay. He could not catch up with the rest of the field.
Eriksson went of the track in the last lap and Eklund finished on 5th position. Because radstrom had a bad weekend, Eklund finished on 3th position overall in the championship!
Lars Larsson (98 points) wins the 2007 championship while Andreas Eriksson (84 points) finishes the Swedish series as second and Eklund (59 points) as third.
So our congratulations to Larsson and his team!!

1. K. Hansen, 20+3
2. M. Jernberg, 17+2
3. L. Larsson, 15
4. T. Croon, 13
5. P Eklund, 12
6. A. Eriksson, 11+1

EC Valkenswaard: Eklund 14th again

Time practice:
1. Michael Jernberg, Ford, 00:38:19
2. Kenneth Hansen, Citroën, 00:38:81
3. Ludvig Hunsbedt, Volvo, 00:38:85
4. Morten Bermingrud, Citroën, 00:39:09
5. Lars Larsson, Skoda, 00:39:26
6. Guttorm Lindefjell, Ford, 00:39:28
7. Sverre Isachsen, Ford, 00:39:65
8. Jos Kuypers, Ford, 00:39:72
9. Christopher Evans, Opel, 00:39:80
10. Per Eklund, Saab, 00:39:83
22. Andrew Nesbitt, Saab, 00:40:96

Heat 1:
1. Kenneth Hansen, Citroën, 02:37:07
2. Sverre Isachsen, Ford, 02:38:80
3. Michael Jernberg, Ford, 02:39:16
4. Andreas Eriksson, Ford, 02:39:44
5. Guttorm Lindefjell, Ford, 02:39:48
6. Ludvig Hunsbedt, Volvo, 02:39:92
12. Per Eklund, Saab, 02:43:23 2
7. Andrew Nesbitt, Saab, 02:51:20

Heat 2:
Eklund starts with Nottveit, Pauwels Carnegie and Wicik (no start).It is Nottweit who has the best start and goes first into the first corner. Eklund and Pauwels are next to each other, but in the second corner it is Pauwels who takes the second place, followed by Eklund and Carnigie.
All drivers are very close to each other and driving there laps.
But in the last lap, Nottveit goes wide and Pauwels and Eklund can overtake him.Pauwels is first over the finish line, followed by Eklund, Nottveit and Carnegie.

Ekund drives a 13th time overall.

1. Kenneth Hansen, Citroën, 02:39:75
2. Michael Jernberg, Ford, 02:41:45
3. Sverre Isachsen, Ford, 02:41:53
4. Guttorm Lindefjell, Ford, 02:41:97
5. Christopher Evans, Opel, 02:44:41
6. Stig-Olov Walfridsson, Renault, 02:44:51
13. Per Eklund, Saab, 02:46:98
18. Andrew Nesbitt, Saab, 02:49:72

Heat 3:
Eklund starts with Nottveit, Pauwels, Doran and Walfridsson.
All drives take a good start and 5 cars drive next to each other to the first corner. It is Nottveit, Doran and Walfridsson onthe outside hitting eachother. Doran drives next to the track and lands on his top in the sandbank. Walfridsson brakes his rear wheel.
Eklund is in front of Pauwels and drives first into the corner, followed by Pauwels. But the officials give a red flag.
At the second start it is Pauwels who went first into the first corner followed by Ekluns and Notweit.Eklund follows Pauwels in short distance. In the second lap, Pauwels is driving wide into the "Per Eklund" corner and Eklund canput his Saab 9-3 on the inside and overtakes Pauwels.
Eklund wins this heat, Pauwels 2nd and Nottveit 3rd.
With this time, he has a 8th time overall.

1. Michael Jernberg, Ford, 02:37:65
2. Lars Larsson, Skoda, 02:38:68
3. Pavel Koutný, Ford, 02:39:27
4. Morten Bermingrud, Citroën, 02:39:96
5. Ludvig Hunsbedt, Volvo, 02:40:86
6. Morten Jespersen, Peugeot, 02:41:76
7. Jos Kuypers, Ford, 02:41:83
8. Per Eklund, Saab, 02:42:63
18. Andrew Nesbitt, Saab, 02:46:63


With a 12th, 13th, and a 8th time, Per Eklund starts on a 4th place in the c-final, a 14th time overall.

C-final:
It is Kuypers on pole, followed by Anne, Walfridsson, Eklund, Pauwels and Jespersen.
It takes 3 starts before the C-final is really underway.
The first jumpstart is for Kuypers, the second for Pauwels.The third start is good and it is Kuypers who is first into the "Eklund corner", followed by Eklund, Anne, Walfridsson, Pauwels and Jespersen. But after the first corner, Anne is bumping very hard into Eklund's Saab. Eklund is pushed to the ouside and loses 2 places.
Pauwels is out in the first round. Kuypers can hold his first place to the finish line and the rest is just following.

1. Kenneth Hansen, Citroën, 20
2. Sverre Isachsen, Ford, 17
3. Lars Larsson, Skoda,15
4. Michael Jernberg, Ford, 13
5. Ludvig Hunsbedt, Volvo, 12
6. Guttorm Lindefjell, Ford, 11
14. Per Eklund, Saab, 3
23. Andrew Nesbitt, Saab, -

After the race, Eklund says: "It's very hard to get a good result. There is so much competition, a lot of good drivers with good cars. We are going back to Sweden and prepair ourselves and the car for the next race at Kinnekulle".
Also Andrew Nebitt said: "I hope to race also in Poland and Czechia with a Saab, I liked it so far, great fun!".




(C) 2007 by Mike Jager

EC Belgium: Eklund 4th in C-final

The weekend didn't start well, Eklunds mobile home bus broke down near Hamburg. "A hydrolic problem", he said. But they made it right on time with an emergency reparation.

Time practice:
01. M. Jernberg, Ford Focus, 0.39.71
02. L. Larsson, Skoda Fabia, 0.39.95
03. S. Isachsen, Ford Focus, 0.40.05
04. A. Eriksson, Ford Fiësta, 0.40.25
05. L. Hunsbedt, Volvo S40, 0.40.37
06. P. Koutný, Ford Focus, 0.40.40
12. Per Eklund, Saab 9-3, 0.40.87
27. A. Nesbitt, Saab 9-3, 0.42.75


2 Saabs on a row for Eklund Motorsport

Heat 1:
After the division 1A, the organiser watered the track. The drivers of Division 1 wait 20 minutes for the track to be dry again. The track didn't dry up totally, so Nesbitt cold not set a perfect time, also for Eklund.

01. M. Jernberg, Ford Focus, 2.46.29
02. L. Larsson, Skoda Fabia, 2.47.04
03. S. Isachsen, Ford Focus, 2.47.31
04. A. Eriksson, Ford Fiësta, 2.47.75
05. P. Koutný, Ford Focus, 2.48.83
06. K. Hansen, Citroën C4, 2.49.41
12. Per Eklund, Saab 9-3, 2.53.23
27. A. Nesbitt, Saab 9-3, 3.02.03


Eklund at the start of heat 2.

Heat 2:
At the warm-up, the car of nesbitt didn't start at ones. The mechanics had to change the ignition system. Eklunds car runs very well, no changes to the car, just some set-up changes.

Eklund had to start with Kuypers, v. Mechelen, Bermingrud and Lindefjell.
The start was good, on the outside in 3th position, after the first corner, Eklund moves to second.
But in the last lap, Eklund got a puncture left front and was forced to drive more carefull. He had to let pass v. Mechelen and Kuypers, but could made it over the finish in 4th position. He had a 14th time overall.

01. A. Eriksson, Ford Fiësta, 2.44.40
02. M. Jernberg, Ford Focus, 2.45.45
03. G. Lindefjell, Ford Focus, 2.46.83
04. S. Isachsen, Ford Focus, 2.46.97
05. K. Hansen, Citroën C4, 2.47.57
06. P. Koutný, Ford Focus, 2.47.62
14. Per Eklund, Saab 9-3, 2.52.69
23. A. Nesbitt, Saab 9-3, 2.57.17


Andrew Nesbitt behind the steering wheel

Heat 3:
Eklund had to start with Kuypers, Bermingrud Nottvet and Doran.
Eklund had a very good start and came second behind Kuypers.
But then Doran was pushed and got sideways and cause a red flag situation.

At the second start, it was Kuypers and bermingrud who took the lead in front of Eklund.
It was a very close race to the finish line, Nottvet and Doran went out.

With these results, Eklund has a 15th place overall, the 5th start position in the c-final.
Andrew Nesbitt has a 27th, 23th and 20th time, a 25th place overall. He is going faster every heat. Perhaps he is also coming to Valkenswaard.

01. M. Jernberg, Ford Focus, 2.44.49
02. L. Larsson, Skoda Fabia, 2.45.98
03. K. Hansen, Citroën C4, 2.46.29
04. P. Koutný, Ford Focus, 2.46.36
05. S. Isachsen, Ford Focus, 2.47.05
06. L. Husbedt, Volv S40, 2.47.56
16. Per Eklund, Saab 9-3, 2.50.95
20. A. Nesbitt, Saab 9-3, 2.53.89


Eklund at the Duivelsberg

Results:
01. M. Jernberg, Ford Focus, 20
02. S. Isachsen, Ford Focus, 17
03. G. Lindefjell, Ford Focus, 15
04. K. Hansen, Citroën C4, 13
05. L. Larsson Škoda Fabia, 12
06. A. Eriksson, Ford Fiesta, 11
14. Per Eklund, SAAB 9-3, 3
25. A. Nesbitt, SAAB 9-3, -