Saab 9³ Viggen Pikes Peak - Motorsports Almanac

possesses three times the horsepower of its stock 2.0T counterpart. It's but one of a handful Karlsson has built for
several race teams, including for rallycross racer Per Eklund. Recently tested for Eklund's Pikes Peak program, the
engine takes the four-wheel-drive Saab 9-3 (with programmable active differentials and a six-speed Prodrive gearbox)
from 0 to 60 mph in only 2.3 sec. and to a top speed of 155 mph. With Karlsson's help, Eklund has racked up several
noteworthy finishes, including a prestigious European Rallycross championship. While competition-oriented business
makes up a considerable percentage of his work, Karlsson also builds many applications for the street, all undeniably
stout in performance. From the exterior, the shop appears much like a rural farmhouse. The inside, however, is quite
the opposite. The well-equipped 2,000-sq. ft. facility boasts a full machine shop, engine building center and a fourwheel-drive
dyno room. It's all Karlsson requires to build some of the world's most impressive engines. Karlsson has a
personal interest in Saab. His first involvement with the company began in the late '70s when he worked with Saab
AB's factory race team. Karlsson was also instrumental in the development of the first Saab 9000 prototypes before
branching out on his own to form Trollspeed. Over 20 years later, Karlsson continues to share a strong rapport with
Saab AB and is considered one the most venerable tuners in his field. Trollspeed, Smedstorp Åsaka, SE-46195 Trollhättan,
Sweden, 46-(0)520/424-398
SAAB 9-3 VIGGEN PIKES PEAK – RACE HISTORY
Year # Driver Event Class ET Radar 1 Radar 2 Radar 3 Split Time Pos
2000 93 Per Eklund Pikes Peak PPO 11:21.58 * 114.3 105.0 104.2 04:58.59 1**
2001 93 Per Eklund Pikes Peak PPO 12:08.30 110.6 - - - 2**
2002 93 Per Eklund Pikes Peak Unlimited 11:13.20 116.1 105.4 111.3 04:52.60 1**
* = New Record ** = Position in class.
IMAGE GALLERY
The Trollspeed tuned 750 PS engine. The purposeful cockpit.
The aggressive wings were installed for 2002 when the car was entered in the unlimited class.
SOURCES
http://popularmechanics.com/automotive/auto_technology/2001/8/blow_hard/print.phtml
http://www.egarrett.com/motor_sports/racereports.jsp?report_id=80
http://www.europeancarweb.com/tuned/0307ec_760hpsaab/
http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/press/020702.html
http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/press/020626.html
© Compilation by Rainer Nyberg 2004-06-05 Fact-sheet 04/036