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Press: Saab 9-3 Viggen Competes in Pikes Peak Hill Climb
Posted by Unknown Sender (more from Unknown Sender) on Tue, 4 Jul 2000 12:18:41

TSN Press
7/4/00
Subject: Saab 9-3 Viggen Competes in Pikes Peak Hill Climb
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Press Photos at http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/press/


On July 4, Swedish veteran champion race car driver Per Eklund will pilot a
modified Saab 9-3 Viggen in the unlimited class of the 78'h running of the
Pikes Peak International Hill ClimbÑthe second oldest automobile race in
the U.S.A. With a 750-HP Saab Ecopower 2.0-liter engine, this Viggen is the
most powerful Saab automobile ever.

Norcross, Ga. - The route to the top of Pikes Peak is not a challenge for
the faint-of- heart. It's a 1 2-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. For the event, Saab and 1999 European Rallyaoss Champion, Per
Eklund, have teamed with Trollspeed of Trollhattan to create the most
powerful Saab everÑan all- wheel drive 9-3 Viggen with a Saab Ecopower
2.0-liter engine that delivers 750 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 518 Ib.-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 very strong tubular frame that gives both
high torsional stiffness and good protection. The protection can be useful
if anything goes wrongÑthe race up Pikes Peak is quite fast (the average
speed of last year's winner was nearly 75 mph) and the course is entirely
lacking in safety railings. 'If you happen to get one skid too many,' notes
Eklund, 'you're not in the way to obstruct the guys coming up behind you.'

Eklund labors under a handicap compared to the local and veteran drivers:
he's only recently seen the hill for the first time. However, he was able
to make a few practice runs

in early June and is excited about his chances. 'I'm really looking forward
to competing in this race,' said Eklund. 'Although it's in the middle of
the European Rallycross series, it's a great opportunity to test my skills
and this car against some of the best in the world. I expect top results.'

History of the Race to the Clouds

The first automobile to make it to the top of Colorado's Pikes Peak was a
Locomobile Steamer in 1901. It took nine hours to drive, and push, the
vehicle to the top. The first race was held in 1916 and the fastest time
was 18 minutes, 24 seconds. The current race record is 10 minutes, 4.06
seconds set in 1994 by Pikes Peak veteran racer Rod Millen.

For more information see www.ppihc.com or www.eds.eklund.com

Technical specifications of Per Eklund's Pikes Peak Ecopower Saab 9-3
Viggen

Engine - Original Saab engine block and cylinder head. Engine tuned by
Trollspeed of Trollhattan. Longitudinally mounted, four-cylinder,
1 6-valve with twin overhead camshafts
- Garrett turbocharger with intercooler (3.0 bar or 42.8 psi)
- Displacement: 2.0 liters
- Bore/stroke: 92/77 mm
- Compression ratio: 9.0:1
HP Rating 750 HP at 8,000 rpm
Peak torque 518 Ib.-ft. at 6,500 rpm
Transmission Four-wheel drive with programmable active differentials and
six-speed Prodrive gearbox
Weight 2,090 Ibs.
O - 60 mph 2.3 seconds
Top speed 155 mph

Per Eklund Bio

Per Eklund competed in his first rally race in 1964 in his father's driving
school car, three weeks after receiving his driver's license. Before that,
he rode as a co-driver/navigator for his father, Torsten, and his brother,
Lars. He began competing in a Saab two-stroke in 1966 and started driving a
factory-sponsored Saab in 1970.

Throughout the 1 970s, Eklund was one of Saab's most successful factory
drivers and won the 1976 Swedish Rally in a Saab 96. Eklund has exceptional
breadth as a driver and has won Swedish championships in rallying, hill
climbing and rallycross. He has started more than 100 World Championship
events.

When Saab stopped its participation in the World Championships in rally in
1979, Eklund was immediately offered a place on many of Europe's rally
teams. His first assignment was to develop and compete in a Fiat Ritmo for
the Italian car producer. Eklund had similar assignments with Volkswagen,
which launched Golf GTI at that time, Triumph, Datsun/Nissan and Toyota.

Eklund is still extremely successfully, having won the Swedish Rallycross
Championship in 1997 in a Saab 900 and the European Rallycross Championship
in 1999 in a Saab 9-3.
==================
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