Per Eklund
 Per Eklund in 2015 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |
 Swedish |
| Born |
21 June 1946 Skönnerud (Koppom), Sweden |
| World Rally Championship record | |
| Active years | 1973–1997 |
| Co-driver |
Johnny Johansson Dave Whittock Björn Cederberg Hans Sylvan Ragnar Spjuth Jan-Olof Bohlin |
| Teams | Saab, Toyota, Nissan, Austin Rover, Subaru |
| Rallies | 83 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Rally wins | 1 |
| Podiums | 13 |
| Stage wins | 73 |
| Total points | 270 |
| First rally | 1973 Swedish Rally |
| First win | 1976 Swedish Rally |
| Last rally | 1997 RAC Rally |
Per Torsten Eklund, born on 21 June 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.
Biography
Saab works drive
Eklund was a Saab 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.
Rallycross
In 1971 Eklund started driving Rallycross at Valkenswaard in The Netherlands, and some months later he won the first ever Swedish Rallycross event at Hedemora, on 17 October 1971. He first drove a Saab 96 V4, in the early years of the Embassy/ERA European Rallycross Championship as teammate to his compatriot Stig Blomqvist. 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 later times. From the early 1990s till 2009, his last full season, he was one of the fastest competitors of the FIA European Championship for Rallycross Drivers. In 1999 Eklund claimed his first and only European title for Drivers of the Division 1, nowadays known as the SuperCars category.
Toyota
Eklund joined Toyota Team Europe in 1980, and gave the 2nd generation Celica's one of its best WRC result by finished second in the 1981 Rallye Côte d'Ivoire. He drove the Group B Celica Twincam Turbo TA64 in selected 1983 and 1984 World Rally Championship events. Eklund also rallied Group A Corolla AE86 and Celica Supra 2800 GT in the British Rally Championship.
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
Best international rally results (top three results only)
1969
- Norwegian Winter Rally (N), 1st, Saab 96 V4, co-driver ?
1971
- Norwegian Winter Rally (N), 1st, Saab 96 V4, co-driver ?
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
1976
- Swedish Rally (S), 1st, Saab 96 V4, co-driver Björn Cederberg
1980
- 1000 Lakes Rally (FIN), 3rd, Triumph TR7 V8, co-driver Hans Sylvan
1981
- Ivory Coast Rally (CI), 2nd, Toyota Celica 2000GT, co-driver Ragnar Spjuth
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
1983
- Ivory Coast Rally (CI), 3rd, Toyota Celica TCT, 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
1988
- Safari Rally (EAK), 3rd, Nissan 200SX, co-driver Dave Whittock
1989
- Swedish Rally (S), 2nd, Lancia Delta HF integrale, co-driver Dave Whittock
1991
- Hunsrück-Rallye (D), 3rd, Lancia Delta HF integrale 16V, co-driver Jan-Olof Bohlin
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 Blomqvist by over 34 seconds with a time of 11:13.20.
Trivia
En får ente ge sej ("One mustn't give up") is Per Eklund's motto and also the title of his biography (co-written by Anders Tunberg) which was published in 1998. ISBN 91-88540-95-2
Racing record
Complete FIA European Rallycross Cup results
| Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Saab | Saab 96 V4 Turbo | AUT1 4 |
GER1 6 |
FIN 9 |
SWE |
BEL 6 |
AUT2 |
NED |
GBR1 |
GER2 |
GBR2 |
10th | 24 | |
| 1977 | Saab | Saab 96 V4 Turbo | AUT1 |
NED1 6 |
ITA |
SWE1 |
FIN |
BEL1 |
SWE2 |
NED2 |
BEL2 |
GER |
AUT2 |
24th | 6 |
| 1978 | Per Eklund | Porsche Carrera 3.0 | AUT |
ITA |
SWE 9 |
FIN 3 |
BEL |
NED |
FRA |
GBR |
GER |
27th | 14 | ||
Complete FIA European Rallycross Championship results
Division 2
| Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Clarion Team Europe | MG Metro 6R4 | AUT |
SWE 6 |
FIN |
IRE |
FRA |
BEL |
NED |
NOR |
GER |
GBR |
21st | 11 | ||
| 1991 | Clarion Team Europe | MG Metro 6R4 | POR |
AUT |
FIN |
FRA |
IRE |
SWE 2 |
BEL |
NED |
NOR NC |
GBR |
GER |
20th | 17 | |
| 1993 | Clarion Team Europe | Subaru Legacy Turbo | AUT (6) |
POR 4 |
FRA 4 |
IRE (6) |
SWE 4 |
FIN 2 |
BEL 3 |
NED (NC) |
NOR 3 |
GER 1 |
4th | 106 | ||
| 1994 | Clarion Team Europe | Subaru Impreza | AUT 2 |
POR 7 |
FRA 3 |
IRE 5 |
GBR 4 |
SWE (NC) |
FIN 3 |
BEL 7 |
NED (NC) |
NOR (7) |
GER 6 |
6th | 93 | |
| 1995 | Clarion Team Europe | Subaru Impreza | AUT 2 |
POR (NC) |
FRA 5 |
SWE 3 |
GBR (7) |
IRE (8) |
BEL 4 |
NED 5 |
NOR 2 |
FIN (6) |
CZE 2 |
GER 3 |
4th | 118 |
| 1996 | Clarion Team Europe | Subaru Impreza | AUT 1 |
POR (9) |
FRA 4 |
SWE (6) |
IRE (7) |
GBR 2 |
BEL 3 |
NED 5 |
NOR (6) |
CZE 3 |
GER (6) |
5th | 104 | |
Division 1*
| Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Clarion Team Europe | Saab 900 Turbo 4x4 | AUT 3 |
FRA (6) |
POR (6) |
GBR 3 |
SWE 4 |
FIN (9) |
BEL 5 |
NOR 4 |
CZE 2 |
GER 5 |
6th | 97 | |
| 1998 | Clarion Team Europe | Saab 900 Turbo 4x4 | AUT 2 |
POR 1 |
FRA (6) |
SWE (4) |
GBR 1 |
FIN 3 |
BEL (8) |
NOR 2 |
GER 3 |
CZE 3 |
2nd | 119 | |
| 1999 | Clarion Team Europe | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | CZE 1 |
FRA 3 |
POR 2 |
SWE (3) |
FIN 2 |
BEL 2 |
NED 2 |
NOR 1 |
GER (NC) |
1st | 123 | ||
| 2000 | Clarion Team Europe | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | POR 1 |
FRA 3 |
CZE 1 |
SWE DNS |
BEL 3 |
NED 3 |
NOR 7 |
POL (DSQ) |
GER 2 |
3rd | 102 | ||
| 2001 | Clarion Team Europe | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | FRA (11) |
POR 3 |
AUT 2 |
CZE 2 |
SWE DNS |
BEL 4 |
NED (9) |
NOR (6) |
POL 2 |
GER 1 |
3rd | 99 | |
| 2002 | Clarion Team Europe | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | POR (5) |
FRA 4 |
AUT 1 |
CZE 4 |
SWE 4 |
BEL 1 |
NED (7) |
NOR 3 |
POL 5 |
GER 1 |
2nd | 126 | |
| 2003 | Clarion Team Europe | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | POR 3 |
FRA (5) |
AUT 2 |
CZE 1 |
SWE 2 |
BEL 2 |
NED 7 |
NOR 5 |
POL (7) |
GER 2 |
2nd | 125 | |
| 2004 | Clarion Team Europe | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | POR 6 |
FRA 1 |
CZE 5 |
AUT 4 |
NOR (8) |
SWE 7 |
BEL 7 |
NED (10) |
POL 3 |
GER 8 |
5th | 100 | |
| 2005 | Clarion Team Europe | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | FRA (9) |
POR 7 |
AUT 7 |
CZE 5 |
NOR 8 |
SWE 3 |
BEL 4 |
NED (12) |
POL 4 |
GER 7 |
6th | 92 | |
| 2006 | Eklund Motorsport | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | POR 8 |
FRA (12) |
CZE 12 |
AUT 12 |
SWE 7 |
HUN 7 |
BEL 7 |
NED 8 |
NOR 8 |
POL 11 |
GER (NC) |
9th | 73 |
| 2007 | Eklund Motorsport | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | POR 4 |
FRA 4 |
HUN 6 |
AUT 9 |
SWE (11) |
NOR (14) |
BEL 14 |
NED 14 |
POL 4 |
CZE 6 |
8th | 75 | |
| 2008 | Eklund Motorsport | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | POR 6 |
FRA 14 |
HUN (15) |
AUT 9 |
NOR 13 |
SWE 9 |
BEL 12 |
NED (NC) |
CZE 10 |
POL NC |
GER 6 |
10th | 57 |
| 2009 | Eklund Motorsport | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | GBR 10 |
POR 12 |
FRA (NC) |
HUN 10 |
AUT NC |
SWE 13 |
BEL DNS |
GER 12 |
POL 14 |
CZE NC |
14th | 31 | |
| 2010 | Eklund Motorsport | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | POR |
FRA |
GBR |
HUN |
SWE 14 |
FIN 15 |
BEL |
GER |
POL 10 |
CZE 15 |
22nd | 14 | |
* Division 2 was rebranded as Division 1 in 1997.
Supercar
| Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Eklund Motorsport | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | GBR |
POR |
FRA |
NOR |
SWE NC |
BEL |
NED |
AUT |
POL |
CZE 7 |
22nd | 10 |
| 2013 | Eklund Motorsport | Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 | GBR |
POR |
HUN |
FIN |
NOR |
SWE |
FRA |
AUT |
GER NC |
45th | 0 | |
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Per Eklund. |
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kenneth Hansen |
European Rallycross Division 1 Champion 1999 |
Succeeded by Kenneth Hansen |