Saab 9³ Viggen Pikes Peak - Motorsports Almanac

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Peak International Hill Climb, Eklund won the Open Class and finished with the second fasted overall time of the day. "This has been my dream. I started rally racing 36 years ago, and this is my biggest victory," said Eklund. That’s quite a statement considering he is the reigning European Rallycross Champion. “This 9-3 Viggen was perfect today,” he added. “Even at this elevation, the high-output turbo engine was very powerful. A careful right foot sure helped me today.” The Saab Ecopower 2.0-liter engine helped Eklund set the Open Class record. It had been broken earlier in the day by Paul Choiniere. He finished at 11:26.05 in his Hyundai Tiburon a few minutes before Eklund came screeching across the finish line in 11:21.58. Larry Ragland, driver of the Vortec-powered GMC Envoy with an Inline 6cylinder engine, captured first-place overall with a time of 11:17.66. The route to the top of Pikes Peak is not a challenge for the faint-of-heart. It’s a 12-mile course of both pavement and gravel that starts at an elevation of 9,402 feet and ends at 14,110 feet. Known as “The Race to the Clouds,” this event is the second oldest automobile race in the U.S. (after the Indianapolis 500) and features 156 turns with no guardrails. PER EKLUND'S SAAB 9-3 VIGGEN IN UPHILL BATTLE AT PIKE'S PEAK Mechanical Gremlins Prevent Peak Performance Pike's Peak, Colorado, June 30, 2001 - Per Eklund (Saab-Garrett) had a good run going in the Pike's Peak Open class, just as planned all year long. Then "the wheels came off", so to speak. First he hit a rock that flattened a tire. Undaunted, Per pressed on. Then his gearbox broke, leaving him with only first and second gear. No problem. Then a power steering belt broke making the drive a little more strenuous at the top. In spite of the eventfulness of the run, Per still eclipsed the finish line in 12:08.30, only 36 seconds slower than his winning and record setting time of 11:28.58 set last year. That record still stands as 2001 winner Jean Pierre Richelmi (Toyota Carolla-Toyota) won the 2001 version with a time of 11:34.51. 2001 was a very uneventful year for Garrett Racing Turbos. But on the bright side, Per Eklund's record in Pike's Peak Open class still stands, and the overall hill record of Rod Millen (Pennzoil Toyota- Garrett) still stands as well at 10:04.06. 2002 PIKES PEAK PREVIEW Swedish rallycross racer Per Eklund will return to Colorado to compete in the 2002 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on Saturday, June 29. At the wheel of the most powerful Saab car an all-wheel-drive, 750-hp Saab 9-3 Viggen former open-class winner Eklund will now be competing in the unlimited class during his third race on the mountain. Norcross, GA - Known as "The Race to the Clouds," the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is a unique challenge to man and machine. It's a 12.4-mile course of both pavement and gravel that starts at an elevation of 9,402 feet and ends at 14,110 feet, featuring 156 turns with no guardrails. Former European Rallycross champion Per Eklund captured a win during his first entry in the fabled hill climb, racing to the finish line in an open-class record time in 2000. After suffering a blown tire last year, but still finishing second in his class, Eklund is confident that he has a strong chance at setting a new record on the mountain this year. For the event, Saab and Eklund have fine-tuned the same race car that tackled the mountain the two previous races. It's the most powerful Saab ever an all-wheel-drive 9-3 Viggen with a Garrett turbocharged Saab 2.0-liter engine that delivers 750 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 545 lb.-ft. of torque at 6,500 rpm. With this amount of power, all-wheel drive and a 6-speed sequential-shift transmission, the 9-3 Viggen's acceleration is in the Formula One class: 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds. The car is geared for a top speed of 155 mph. The vehicle is constructed on a sturdy tubular frame that gives both high torsional stiffness and good crash protection. This year marks the 80th running of the second oldest automobile race in the U.S. (after the Indy 500) at Pikes Peak. Speeds on the course can reach in excess of 100 mph on the few short straightaways, although 42 percent of the course is curves, including many first- and second-gear switchbacks. "In the unlimited class this year, we were allowed to make more modifications to the car's aerodynamics," Eklund said. "We have created more downforce with spoilers and a smoother underside, and that will help me be more aggressive in the corners. In addition, we're using a new, even larger Garrett turbocharger that increases torque by about 5 percent." Eklund commented, "If the road conditions are good and the surface is smooth, we have a real chance at winning the unlimited class this year, and maybe even setting a new record in the process!" 2002 PIKES PEAK PRACTICE Eklund dials in SAAB in preparation of Saturday’s Falken Tire Pikes Peak International Hill Climb COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Two years of experience at the Falken Tire Pikes Peak International Hill Climb seem to finally be paying dividends for Per Eklund of Arvika, Sweden. After a disappointing practice session on the top section, during which he failed to complete a run, Eklund rebounded with perhaps his best-ever day of practice during Wednesday's runs on the 5.5-mile section from the staring line to Glen Cove. Driving his Saab 9-3 Viggen, Eklund put together four consistent runs of 5 minutes, 18.53 seconds, 4:58.80, 4:55.59, and 4:55.54 on his final try. "The feeling is perfect," Eklund said. "The car is like a soft lady." Eklund set the record for Pikes Peak Open division in 2000 with an 11:21.58 effort that shaved more than a half-minute of the old mark. In 2001, Eklund horsed his car to a respectable 12:08.30 despite flattening a tire and losing his second gear. "You learn every year," Eklund said. Fellow countryman Stig Blomqvist of Örebro, Sweden drove a 5:18.16 on his first and only run of the day. On his second he blew the engine on his Ford RS200E. He didn't complete another run. Blomqvist's team is trying to get another motor shipped from England as soon as possible. Both Blomqvist and Eklund are veteran rally racers. Blomqvist won the 1984 World Rally Championship, while Eklund has won the European RallyCross title. The two cut their teeth racing against each other, but have not competed head-to-head in 15 years. Eklund said he did not try to push the car too hard in qualifying. “Get the car up in one piece,” was his main objective. “I’m happy,” Eklund said. “The car worked very well.” Although, Eklund is feeling confident about his times on the lower half of the course, how his car will act on the top half remains unknown. During practice on the upper section Tuesday, Eklund failed to complete a run due to problems in the car’s electrical system and cam sensor. “I had a bad practice there, so I have no clue,” Eklund said. Stig Blomqvist, who blew an engine in Wednesday's practice run, is expected to have his car ready to challenge Eklund in the Unlimited Division on Saturday.
PER EKLUND VICTORIOUS IN GARRETT-BOOSTED BATTLE OF THE SWEDES AT PIKES PEAK He Edges Fellow 55-Year-Old Countryman and Rival Rally Champ Stig Blomqvist for Unlimited Title Cascade, Colorado, June 29, 2002 - Fifty-five-year-old Swedes Per Eklund (Saab 9-3 Viggen-Garrett) and Stig Blomqvist (Ford RS200 E-Garrett), rival rally champions for decades, duked it out for the Unlimited Class title at today’s 80th Pikes Peak International Hillclimb high above Colorado Springs. Eklund, the former European Rallycross Champion and two-time Swedish Rallycross Champion who won the Open Class here at Pikes Peak in 2000, made it look easy as he won today’s treacherous climb up the 12.4-mile (22 Km), 156-turn course to the 14,110-foot (4300 meters) summit of Pikes Peak in 11 minutes, 18.34 seconds. His victory came despite brakes that were failing during the final four miles. Eklund’s engines are prepared by Trollspeed of Trollhättan, Sweden. "It was very good (considering)," said Eklund, who won the Pikes Peak Open division in 2000. "The course was slippery and the brakes were failing, not good." For Blomqvist, the 1984 FIA World Rally Champion and current development driver for Skoda, his first-ever Pikes Peak International Hillclimb was anything but easy. Stig blew an engine during qualifying on Thursday and his U.K.-based Mach 2 Racing team scrambled to have a replacement flown in from its engine-builder in England, Mountune, Ltd. The team’s all-night efforts enabled Blomqvist to simply make it to the starting line. None the worse for wear, Blomqvist went to work on race day and drove his Garrett-boosted Group B rally car, prepared by Colin Blower Garages, Ltd., to a respectable run of 11 minutes, 47.45 seconds. He also experienced brake problems. Only local favorite David Donner of Colorado Springs, driving a custom-built Donner/Dykstra racer in the Open Wheel Division, was faster than Eklund today. Donner covered the distance in 10 minutes, 52.38 seconds. That was still the better part of a minute shy of the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb record of 10 minutes, 4.06 seconds set in 1994 by Rod Millen in a Garrett-boosted Pennzoil Toyota Celica Per Eklund's Saab 9-3 Viggen takes Unlimited Class Victory in the 80th Running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Swedish rallycross racer Per Eklund piloted the most powerful modified Saab ever -- an all-wheel-drive 750-hp Saab 9-3 Viggen -- to victory in the Unlimited Class. Eklund clocked the second-fastest overall time of the day in the 80th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on Saturday, June 29th. Colorado Springs, CO – Former European Rallycross champion Per Eklund traveled from Sweden to tackle the 12.4-mile pavement and gravel course up Pikes Peak to capture the checkered flag and the victory at 14,100 feet. He claimed his second class victory in three Pikes Peak visits with a personal best time of 11:13.24, bettering his 2000 Pikes Peak Open Class winning time by over 8 seconds. Eklund and his Saab's performance defeated the second place Unlimited Class entry and long-time Swedish rival Stig Blomqvist by over 34 seconds (11:47.45). This challenging course features 156 turns and no guardrails. "The road surface was very slippery this year and at times it felt like I was driving on ice, but the Saab engine and rest of the drivetrain performed perfectly," said Eklund. - In fact, the engine coolant and turbo intercooler temperatures were so much lower than we expected that we could have probably run another .5 bar of boost pressure (over 7 psi) and run quicker with a lot more horsepower." The last four miles of the treacherous course were particularly attention-grabbing for Eklund as his car's brake fluid boiled and the pedal went to the floor. "I guess we paid so much attention to gaining improved downforce by adding the front wings to the car this year that we took away needed airflow to cool the front brakes. It's tough enough driving this mountain with brakes." Eklund said. "I'd rather not have to drive up here again without them, but everything worked out fantastic." For this year's entry in the Unlimited Class, Eklund and his team fine-tuned the same race car that tackled the mountain the two previous races. It's the most powerful Saab ever -- an all-wheel-drive 9-3 Viggen with a Saab 2.0-liter engine that delivers 750 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 545 lb.-ft. of torque at 6,500 rpm. With this amount of power, all-wheel drive and a 6-speed transmission, the 9-3 Viggen's acceleration is in the Formula One class: 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds. Running in the Unlimited Class this year, Eklund's team was able to add front and rear wings and other aerodynamic aids to better harness the Saab engine's prodigious power and transfer it to the tarmac and gravel road surface. The car is geared for a top speed of 155 mph. The vehicle is constructed on a sturdy tubular frame that gives both high torsional stiffness and good crash protection. Eklund has been competing in rallies, rallycross and other races since the early 1960s, most often behind the wheel of a Saab. Throughout the 1970s, Eklund was one of Saab's most successful factory drivers, and won the 1976 Swedish Rally in a Saab 96. In an impressive rookie performance, he won the open class at Pikes Peak in 2000 with a class-record-setting time of 11:21.38, the second fastest overall time of the day. GARRETT PRODUCES NOVEL TURBO FOR PIKES PEAK www.egarrett.com The Garrett T04S turbocharger used at Pike's Peak has the following features: • Commercial Diesel type ball bearing cartridge in an air cooled centre housing. • Thin wall HK30 stainless steel turbine housing. • High pressure ratio (4.0:1) 90mm BCCW11 compressor wheel. • 74.2mm turbine wheel of Mar-M 247 material, required for turbine inlet temperatures up to 1050C (1922F). TROLLSPEED by Rob Hallstrom Saab Tuner builds 760-horse powerhouse The engine revs at ear-splitting levels. Although the sound is deafening, if you listen carefully, there's a perfect rhythm within the din, which, as the rpm climbs, becomes the noise of pure performance. Then, in an instant, silence as the DynoJet comes to a halt. All eyes are directed to a chart on a computer screen. The numbers show 760 hp at 5800 rpm – impressive, to say the least. As surprising as it is impressive is that the car tested isn't a modified twinturbo 996, Ferrari Maranello F1 or Lamborghini Murcielago. Quite the contrary. Though it outputs horsepower comparable to any of the world's top supercars, the car in question is a Saab. Built by respected Swedish tuner Tommy Karlsson of Trollspeed, the 2.0-liter (2046cc) engine is highly modified but still is recognizably a Saab. Located near Saab's plant in Trollhättan, Sweden, the shop builds perhaps the most powerful Saab engines in the world. The Garrett turbocharged four, which uses the original Saab engine block and 16V cylinder head, easily
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