Per Eklund
Encyclopedia
Per Eklund, born on June 26, 1946 in Skönnerud (Koppom
), Eda Municipality
of Värmland
in Sweden
, is a Rally
and Rallycross
driver who lives in Arvika
. His nickname is "Pekka". In rallying he never made it to the very top but he has been very successful in his later rallycross career.
factory driver from 1970 to 1979. In 1982, however, the year after Saab discontinued its official rallying involvement, he achieved the brand's last top position in a World Championship event, finishing fourth in the Swedish Rally driving a privately entered, Clarion-sponsored Saab 99
Turbo. He was always proud of that result, since the competition consisted mostly of four-wheel-drive cars, and the event was run in snow. This signified the end of the rally era at Saab, even though Eklund went on to drive an officially-entered Saab 900 Turbo in the British round of the 1997 World Rally Championship. He was Swedish Champion in 1978, beating his team mate Stig Blomqvist
. In 1982 Eklund finished 5th overall of the FIA
World Rally Championship
for Drivers.
, on 17 October 1971. He first drove a Saab 96 V4, then a Saab 99 in its various sporting evolutions. He was always prominent, became 7th overall respectively 4th overall in the first and second European Championship series of 1973 and 1974, but his greatest successes have been in more modern times. Nowadays he is one of the fastest competitors of the FIA European Championship for Rallycross Drivers.
Koppom
Koppom is a locality situated in Eda Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden with 633 inhabitants in 2005....
), Eda Municipality
Eda Municipality
Eda Municipality is a municipality in Värmland County in west central Sweden, on the Norwegian border. Its seat is located in the town of Charlottenberg....
of Värmland
Värmland
' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, is a Rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
and Rallycross
Rallycross
Rallycross is a form of sprint style automobile racing, held on a closed mixed-surface racing circuit, with modified production or specially built road cars, similar to the World Rally Cars, although usually with about stronger engines, due to e.g. their 45 mm turbo restrictor plates. It is...
driver who lives in Arvika
Arvika
Arvika is a locality and the seat of Arvika Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden with 14,184 inhabitants in 2005.-Geography:The town of Arvika is situated at Kyrkviken, a bay of Glafsfjorden, Sweden's only inland fjord, a remnant of the time following the last ice age .The area is hilly with the...
. His nickname is "Pekka". In rallying he never made it to the very top but he has been very successful in his later rallycross career.
Saab works drive
Eklund was a SaabSaab Automobile
Saab Automobile AB, better known as Saab , is a Swedish car manufacturer owned by Dutch automobile manufacturer Swedish Automobile NV, formerly Spyker Cars NV. It is the exclusive automobile Royal Warrant holder as appointed by the King of Sweden...
factory driver from 1970 to 1979. In 1982, however, the year after Saab discontinued its official rallying involvement, he achieved the brand's last top position in a World Championship event, finishing fourth in the Swedish Rally driving a privately entered, Clarion-sponsored Saab 99
Saab 99
- Development :On April 2, 1965, Gudmund's day in Sweden, after several years of planning, the Saab board started Project Gudmund. This was a project to develop a new and larger car to take the manufacturer beyond the market for the smaller Saab 96...
Turbo. He was always proud of that result, since the competition consisted mostly of four-wheel-drive cars, and the event was run in snow. This signified the end of the rally era at Saab, even though Eklund went on to drive an officially-entered Saab 900 Turbo in the British round of the 1997 World Rally Championship. He was Swedish Champion in 1978, beating his team mate Stig Blomqvist
Stig Blomqvist
"Stig" Lennart Blomqvist is a Swedish rally driver. He made his international breakthrough in 1971. Driving an Audi Quattro for the Audi factory team, Blomqvist won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1984 and finished runner-up in 1985...
. In 1982 Eklund finished 5th overall of the FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
for Drivers.
Rallycross
Eklund started driving in Rallycross by winning the first ever Swedish Rallycross event at HedemoraHedemora
Hedemora is the oldest locality in Dalarna County and the seat of Hedemora Municipality, Sweden, with 15,164 inhabitants in 2011.Despite its small population, Hedemora is for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city...
, on 17 October 1971. He first drove a Saab 96 V4, then a Saab 99 in its various sporting evolutions. He was always prominent, became 7th overall respectively 4th overall in the first and second European Championship series of 1973 and 1974, but his greatest successes have been in more modern times. Nowadays he is one of the fastest competitors of the FIA European Championship for Rallycross Drivers.
Accomplishments
- FIA European Rallycross Champion 1999 with Saab 9-3 T16 4x4
- 2nd overall in the 1998, 2002 and 2003 FIA European Rallycross Championships
- 3rd overall in the 2000 and 2001 FIA European Rallycross Championships
- Swedish Rallycross Champion 2004
1972
- Firestone Rally (E), 1st, Saab 96 V4, co-driver ?
- Dutch Texaco Rally (NL), 1st, Saab 96 V4, co-driver ?
- Österreichische Alpenfahrt (A), 3rd, Saab 96 V4, co-driver Bo Reinicke
1973
- Swedish Rally (S), 2nd, Saab 96 V4, co-driver Rolf Carlsson
- Österreichische Alpenfahrt (A), 3rd, Saab 96 V4, co-driver Bo Reinicke
1982
- Portugal Rally (P), 2nd, Toyota Celica 2000GT, co-driver Ragnar Spjuth
- Rally of New Zealand (NZ), 2nd, Toyota Celica 2000GT, co-driver Ragnar Spjuth
- Ivory Coast Rally (CI), 2nd, Toyota Celica 2000GT, co-driver Ragnar Spjuth
1984
- Swedish Rally (S), 3rd, Audi quattro A2, co-driver Dave Whittock
- RAC Rally (GB), 3rd, Toyota Celica TCT, co-driver Dave Whittock
Pikes Peak
- Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (USA): In 2000 Per Eklund achieved the still valid record time of 11:21.58 in his Saab 9-3 Viggen 4x4 while racing the Pikes Peak Open category.
- In 2002 Per Eklund takes the Unlimited Class Victory. Eklund and his Saab's performance defeated the second place Unlimited Class entry and long-time Swedish rival Stig BlomqvistStig Blomqvist"Stig" Lennart Blomqvist is a Swedish rally driver. He made his international breakthrough in 1971. Driving an Audi Quattro for the Audi factory team, Blomqvist won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1984 and finished runner-up in 1985...
by over 34 seconds with a time of 11:47.45.