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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.
Here 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.