Per Eklund Wins 1999 European Rallycross Championship

1 December 1999

    NORCROSS, Ga., Nov. 30 -- Swedish rallycross racer Per Eklund
has claimed the 1999 European Rallycross championship in a modified Saab 9-3.
Eklund secured the title with consistent top results all season: two wins,
four second place finishes and two third place finishes. This is his first
European Rallycross championship title and follows up his second place finish
last year.  Eklund also took the Silver in this year's Swedish Rallycross
series.
    Eklund competed in his first rally race in 1964 in his father's driving
school car, three days after receiving his driver's license.  He competed in a
Saab two-stroke that year and started driving a factory-sponsored Saab in
1970.  Throughout the 1970s, Eklund was one of Saab's most successful factory
drivers and won the 1976 Swedish Rally in a Saab 96.  Eklund also won
championships in the Swedish rally and hillclimb series.
    The European Rallycross Series consists of nine events with races in
France, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, The Netherlands, Norway and Germany.
Racers are allowed to drop their two lowest scores.  Eklund wrapped up the
title this season in the series' eighth race in Norway.
    Eklund and his team will attempt to retain the European championship next
season in a new 2000 Saab 9-3.

    Technical specification of Per Eklund's all-wheel drive Saab 9-3 Turbo

    Engine        Longitudinally mounted, four-cylinder, 16-valve with twin
                  overhead camshafts, Garrett turbocharger with 45 mm
                  restrictor (to meet the competition rules), and intercooler.
                  Displacement: 2.0 liters. Bore/stroke: 92/77 mm. Compression
                  ratio: 9.0:1. Original Saab engine block and cylinder head.
                  Engine tuned by Trollspeed of Trollhattan.

    Rating        550 - 600 hp at 6,500 rpm
    Peak torque   592 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm
    Transmission  Four-wheel drive with programmable active differentials and
                  six-speed Prodrive gearbox
    Weight        532 lbs. (1999 regulations)
    0 - 60 mph    Under 2.5 seconds
    Top speed     124 - 155 mph, depending on the drivetrain ratio

        Final results in 1999 European Rallycross championship series

    Place      Name                          Car                Points
    1          Per Eklund, Sweden            Saab 9-3 T16       123
    2          Kenneth Hansen, Sweden        Citroen Xsara VTS  117
    3          Ludvig Hunsbedt, Norway       Ford Escort T16    103
    4          Pavel Koutny, Czech Republic  Ford Escort T16     84
    5          Michael Jernberg, Sweden      Ford Focus T 16     81
    6          Eivind Opland, Norway         Mitsubishi Car T16  80
    7          Lasse Sallstrom, Sweden       Ford Escort T16     80
    8          Jos Kuypers, Holland          Ford Escort T16     78
    9          Marko Jokinen, Finland        Citroen ZX T16      58
    10         Anna Hane, Sweden             Audi S2 Quattro     41
    11         Martin Schanche, Norway       Opel Astra T 16     38
    12         Martin Iversen, Norway        Ford Escort T16     12
    13         Jen-Luc Pailler, France       Citroen Xantia T16  31
    14         Jacques Franssen, Belgium     Subaru Impreza      31
    15         Jos Sterkens, Belgium         Ford Mondeo T 16    26