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World's Top Drivers to Compete in Saab Cars in 2000 Michelin Race of Champions    

4 December 2000

World's Top Drivers to Compete in Saab Cars in 2000 Michelin Race of Champions    

 Some of the World's Top Rally and Road Racing Drivers and Motorcycle Racers
Will be Competing Head-to-Head in Modified Saab 9-3 Race Cars in the Michelin
       Race of Champions, Held December 8-10 in Spain's Canary Islands

    NORCROSS, Ga., Dec. 4 Saab is competing in one of the
world's most spectacular races with two, 600-horsepower Garrett turbocharged
all-wheel-drive Saab 9-3 rallycross cars.  The cars, provided by Swedish
rallycross racer Per Eklund, will be used for head-to-head competition in the
Michelin Race of Champions on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain December 8-10,
2000.  Racing in the competition are some of the world's top drivers like
four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen, F1 racer JJ Lehto, and former
Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan.  Last year's racing was so intense
that it was broadcast worldwide on 231 channels in 171 countries.
    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001204/ATM022 )
    The Nations Cup event consists of eight national teams comprised of one
rally driver, one race driver, and one motorcycle racer.  The Finnish line-up
of Makinen, Lehto, and Kari Tiainen won the 1999 event, and all three will
return this year to defend their title.  Newcomers include a U.S. team led by
former Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan, who will be joined by 2000 Superbike
Champion Colin Edwards and Baja specialist "Lightning" Larry Ragland.  Each
team's rally driver will go head-to-head with the opposing rally driver, race
driver against race driver, and biker against biker.
    Eklund, who claimed the 2000 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Open
Class title earlier this year in a modified Saab 9-3 Viggen, has also been
invited to compete in the event's Legends Class against former rally champions
including Stig Blomqvist, Hannu Mikkola and Timo Salonen.  Eklund finished
second in this year's European Rallycross Championship and won the Swedish
Rallycross Championship.
    The modified Saab 9-3 rallycross cars are turbocharged by Garrett, a
leading global manufacturer of turbochargers for passenger cars, light trucks,
and commercial vehicles, with worldwide headquarters in Torrance, California,
and European Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.  Known for its active
involvement in auto racing worldwide, Garrett is proud to co-sponsor Saab and
Per Eklund in this high-powered racing event.
    The Saab cars will be driven throughout the weekend, including in the
event finals.  For more information about the race, see
http://www.raceofchampions.com .  For information on Per Eklund, see
http://www.eklund.eds.com .

Technical specification of Eklund's all-wheel drive Saab 9-3 rallycross cars

    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        2574 lbs.
    0 - 60 mph    Under 2.5 seconds
    Top speed     124 - 155 mph, depending on the drivetrain ratio