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SAAB IN RALLYING IN NUMBERS Saab’s rallying history is heaped in a tradition of success. On the world’s stages, the fi rst recorded even entry for a Saab-backed crew was in 1950. Rolf Molander/Margaretha von Essen took part in the Monte Carlo Rallye in January of that year. Interestingly, Greta Molander took part in that event too, and fi nished a respectable 55th overall, fi fth in her class and second in the Ladies Class. Saab’s fi rst victory came in November 1950, with Rolf Mellde in the Rikspokalen Rally, then Europe’s most gruelling rally. Greta Molander wins the Ladies Class, too. <strong>Here</strong> is a list of Saab’s involvement in rallying from 1952 to the end of its rally programme in 1980: • 1952 - Greta Molander/Helga Lundberg win the Ladies Cup in the Monte Carlo Rally. • 1953 - Rolf Mellde wins the Swedish Championship. SAAB AIMS FOR WRC Story: Staff Writer Picture: Unlicensed Swedish manufacturer Saab are being tipped to make a comeback to the World Rally Championship, according to www.autosport.com. Saab, who haven’t competed in the WRC since 1979, have been linked to a possible return to the series in 2012, using a possible 9-1 or 9-2 base model. The engine is expected to be a BMW unit, which would be the same 1.6litre turbocharged motor that MINI will be using in their Countryman WRC. Spyker, who own and saved Saab from virtual collapse late last year, have had senior offi cials meet with the sport’s organisers about a possible WRC • 1955 - Erik Carlsson gets to be ‘on the roof’ with all Sweden and wins the country’s most important dependability contest, the Rikspokalen, in a Saab 92. • 1956 - Bob Wehman and Louis Braun win the fourth and last Great American Mountain Rallye. Rolf Mellde comes in sixth, with another Saab 93 in seventh place. There is only one American car among the fi rst twenty. • 1959 - Erik Carlsson scores an overt victory in the Midnight Sun Rally. •1960 - Erik Carlsson wins the British RAC Rally, his fi rst of three consecutive victories. • 1961 - Erik Carlsson enters for the Monte Carlo Rally in a Saab 95 - the factory’s only four-speed car. Finishes in fourth place. • 1962 - Erik Carlsson and Gunnar Häggbom win overall in the Monte Carlo Rally. The starting number of the winning car is 303. • 1963 - Erik Carlsson wins the Monte Carlo Rally for the second time, now with Gunnar Palm as his co- FEATURES entry. The fi rm are expected to continue negotiations at WRC Rally France in October. Sources told Autosport: “The initial meeting [between Saab and WRC offi cials, believed to include both the FIA commissions and promoter North One Sport] has happened, and there’s a huge amount of enthusiasm from all concerned. Like MINI, Saab has a great heritage in the sport and a return to the WRC makes a lot of sense.” North One Sport CEO Simon Long said: “I think MINI’s announcement has given people a lot of confi dence in the sport. The messages we’re getting are all positive.” driver. Starting number this year is 283, Erik Carlsson and Gunnar Palm come second in the Spa-Sofi a-Liege “Marathon de la Route”, one of the most demanding rallies. • 1971 - Stig Blomqvist wins the Swedish Rally in a Saab V4. A new generation of drivers takes over as Erik Carlsson becomes Saab’s roving ambassador, accredited to the whole world. • 1976 - Stig Blomqvist wins the Belgian Rally Boucles de Spa. The winning car is a Saab 99 with double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. • 1977 - Stig Blomqvist wins the Swedish Rally in a Saab 99 EMS. • 1979 - Stig Blomqvist wins the Swedish Rallye in a Saab 99 Turbo - the fi rst win by a turbo-charged car in a World Championship rally. • 1980 - Saab shuts down its competition department and retires from all rally activities.