Per Torsten Eklund (born 21 June 1946) is a Swedish Rally and Rallycross driver. His nickname is "Pekka". In rallying he never made it to the very top but he has been very successful in his later rallycross career. He has been described in CAR Magazine in 2022 as a "rally legend".
Biography
Saab works drive After his education as a driving instructor, together with later teammate Stig Blomqvist at the Kvinnersta Folkhögskola outside of Örebro, Eklund was a Saab factory driver from 1970 till 1979. In 1982, however, the year after Saab discontinued its official rallying involvement, he achieved the brand's last top position in a World Championship event, finishing fourth in the Swedish Rally driving a privately entered, Clarion-sponsored Saab 99 Turbo. He was always proud of that result, since the competition consisted mostly of four-wheel-drive cars, and the event was run in snow. This signified the end of the rally era at Saab, even though Eklund went on to drive an officially-entered Saab 900 Turbo in the British round of the 1997 World Rally Championship. He was Swedish Champion in 1978, beating his team mate Stig Blomqvist. In 1982 Eklund finished 5th overall of the FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers.
Rallycross In 1971, Eklund started driving Rallycross at Valkenswaard in The Netherlands, and some months later he won the first ever Swedish Rallycross event at Hedemora, on 17 October 1971. He first drove a Saab 96 V4, in the early years of the Embassy/ERA European Rallycross Championship as teammate to his compatriot Stig Blomqvist. He was always prominent, became 7th overall respectively fourth overall in the first and second European Championship series of 1973 and 1974, but his greatest successes have been in later times. From the early 1990s till 2009, his last full season, he was one of the fastest competitors of the FIA European Championship for Rallycross Drivers. In 1999, Eklund claimed his first and only European title for Drivers of the Division 1, nowadays known as the SuperCars category.
Toyota Eklund joined Toyota Team Europe in 1980, and gave the second generation Celica's one of its best WRC result by finished second in the 1981 Rallye Côte d'Ivoire. He drove the Group B Celica Twincam Turbo TA64 in selected 1983 and 1984 World Rally Championship events. Eklund also rallied Group A Corolla AE86 and Celica Supra 2800 GT in the British Rally Championship.
Accomplishments FIA European Rallycross Champion 1999 with Saab 9-3 T16 4x4 2nd overall in the 1998, 2002 and 2003 FIA European Rallycross Championships 3rd overall in the 2000 and 2001 FIA European Rallycross Championships Swedish Rallycross Champion 2004
Best international rally results (top three results only)
1969 Norwegian Winter Rally (N), 1st, Saab 96 V4, co-driver ?
1971 Norwegian Winter Rally (N), 1st, Saab 96 V4, co-driver ?
1972 Firestone Rally (E), 1st, Saab 96 V4, co-driver ? Dutch Texaco Rally (NL), 1st, Saab 96 V4, co-driver ? Österreichische Alpenfahrt (A), 3rd, Saab 96 V4, co-driver Bo Reinicke
1973 Swedish Rally (S), 2nd, Saab 96 V4, co-driver Rolf Carlsson Österreichische Alpenfahrt (A), 3rd, Saab 96 V4, co-driver Bo Reinicke
1976 Swedish Rally (S), 1st, Saab 96 V4, co-driver Björn Cederberg
1980 1000 Lakes Rally (FIN), 3rd, Triumph TR7 V8, co-driver Hans Sylvan
1981 Ivory Coast Rally (CI), 2nd, Toyota Celica 2000GT, co-driver Ragnar Spjuth
1982 Portugal Rally (P), 2nd, Toyota Celica 2000GT (RA45), co-driver Ragnar Spjuth Rally of New Zealand (NZ), 2nd, Toyota Celica 2000GT (RA64), co-driver Ragnar Spjuth Ivory Coast Rally (CI), 2nd, Toyota Celica 2000GT (RA64), co-driver Ragnar Spjuth
1983 Ivory Coast Rally (CI), 3rd, Toyota Celica TCT, co-driver Ragnar Spjuth
1984 Swedish Rally (S), 3rd, Audi quattro A2, co-driver Dave Whittock RAC Rally (GB), 3rd, Toyota Celica TCT, co-driver Dave Whittock
1988 Safari Rally (EAK), 3rd, Nissan 200SX, co-driver Dave Whittock
1989 Swedish Rally (S), 2nd, Lancia Delta HF integrale, co-driver Dave Whittock
1991 Hunsrück-Rallye (D), 3rd, Lancia Delta HF integrale 16V, co-driver Jan-Olof Bohlin
Pikes Peak Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (USA): In 2000, Per Eklund achieved a record time of 11:21.58 in his Saab 9-3 Viggen 4x4 while racing the Pikes Peak Open category that was valid until being bettered in 2012 by Frenchman Romain Dumas. In 2002, Per Eklund took the Unlimited Class Victory. Eklund and his Saab's performance defeated the second place Unlimited Class entry and long-time Swedish rival Stig Blomqvist by over 34 seconds with a time of 11:13.20.
Trivia En får ente ge sej (Värmland dialect for "One must not give up") is Eklund's motto and the title of his biography. By Per Eklund & Anders Tunberg, 210 pages, Sportförlaget 1998,
Racing record
Complete IMC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1970 Saab AB Saab 96 V4 MONSWERet ITA KEN AUT GRE GBR 1971 Saab Scania Saab 96 V4 MONSWERet ITA KEN MAR AUT GRE FRAGBR7 1972 Saab Scania Saab 96 V4 MONSWE8 KEN MARGRERetAUT3 ITA USAGBRRet
Complete WRC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pts 1973 Saab-Scania Saab 96 V4 MON SWE POR KEN MOR GRE POL FIN AUT ITA USA GBR FRA 1974 Saab-Scania Saab 96 V4 MON SWE POR KEN GRE FIN ITA CAN USA GBR FRA 1975 Saab-Scania Saab 96 V4 MON SWE KEN GRE MOR POR FIN ITA FRA GBR 1976 Saab-Scania Saab 96 V4 MON SWE POR KEN GRE MOR Saab 99 EMS FIN ITA FRA GBR 1977 Saab-Scania Saab 99 EMS MON SWE POR KEN NZL GRE FIN CAN ITA FRA GBR NC 0 1978 Saab-Scania Saab 99 EMS MON SWE KEN POR GRE NC 0 Per Eklund Porsche Carrera FIN CAN ITA CIV FRA Saab-Scania Saab 99 Turbo GBR 1979 Fiat Alitalia Fiat Ritmo 75 MON 54th 3 Saab-Scania Saab 99 Turbo SWE POR KEN GRE NZL British Leyland Cars Triumph TR7 V8 FIN CAN ITA FRA GBR CIV 1980 Pierburg Volkswagen Golf GTi MON 11th 27 Team Datsun Sweden Datsun 160J SWE British Leyland Cars Triumph TR7 V8 POR KEN GRE ARG FIN NZL ITA FRA GBR Premoto Toyota Toyota Celica 2000 GT CIV 1981 Pierburg Volkswagen Golf GTi MON 10th 29 Publimo Racing / Clarion Porsche 911 SC SWE Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica 2000 GT POR KEN FRA GRE ARG BRA Rallysport News Team Porsche 911 SC FIN ITA Premoto Toyota Toyota Celica 2000 GT CIV Toyota Team Great Britain GBR 1982 Saab Sport Saab 99 Turbo MON SWE 5th 57 Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica 2000 GT POR KEN FRA GRE NZL BRA Rallysport News Team Porsche 911 SC FIN Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTi 16S ITA Premoto Toyota Toyota Celica 2000 GT CIV Toyota Team Great Britain GBR 1983 Saab Sport Saab 99 Turbo MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG 10th 22 Sesab Service Audi Quattro A2 FIN ITA Premoto Toyota Toyota Celica 2000 GT CIV Toyota Team Great Britain GBR 1984 Clarion Audi Quattro A2 MON SWE POR FIN ITA CIV 7th 30 Westlands Motors Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG Toyota Team Great Britain GBR 1985 Clarion Svenska Audi Quattro A2 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG FIN ITA CIV GBR 10th 24 1986 Austin Rover WRT MG Metro 6R4 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG GBR USA 34th 8 Clarion Team Europe FIN CIV ITA 1987 Subaru Deutschland Subaru RX Turbo MON 12th 25 Clarion Team Europe Audi Coupé Quattro SWE POR FIN CIV ITA GBR Fuji Heavy Industries Subaru RX Turbo KEN FRA GRE Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX USA NZL ARG 1988 Clarion Team Europe Lancia Delta HF 4WD MON SWE 20th 12 Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX KEN FRA GRE USA NZL ARG FIN CIV ITA Clarion Team Europe Nissan March Turbo GBR 1989 Clarion Team Europe Lancia Delta Integrale SWE FIN AUS ITA CIV GBR 19th 16 Nissan March Turbo MON POR GRE NZL ARG Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX KEN FRA 1990 Clarion Team Europe Lancia Delta Integrale 16V MON POR KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG FIN AUS ITA CIV GBR NC 0 1991 Clarion Team Europe Lancia Delta Integrale 16V MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG FIN AUS ITA CIV ESP GBR 49th 3 1992 Clarion Team Europe Subaru Legacy RS MON SWE POR 32nd 8 Noriyuki Koseki Subaru Legacy 4WD Turbo KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG FIN AUS ITA CIV ESP Per Eklund Subaru Legacy RS GBR 1993 Eklund Team Europe Subaru Legacy RS MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE ARG NZL FIN AUS ITA ESP 31st 6 1996 Clarion Team Europe Subaru Legacy RS SWE KEN IDN GRE ARG FIN AUS ITA ESP NC 0 1997 Per Eklund Saab 900 Turbo MON SWE KEN POR ESP FRA ARG GRE NZL FIN IDN ITA AUS GBR NC 0
Complete FIA European Rallycross Cup results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ERC Points 1976 Saab Saab 96 V4 Turbo AUT14 GER16 FIN9 SWE BEL6 AUT2 NED GBR1 GER2 GBR2 10th 24 1977 Saab Saab 96 V4 Turbo AUT1 NED16 ITA SWE1 FIN BEL1 SWE2 NED2 BEL2 GER AUT2 24th 6 1978 Per Eklund Porsche Carrera 3.0 AUT ITASWE9 FIN3 BEL NED FRA GBR GER 27th 14
Complete FIA European Rallycross Championship results
Division 2 Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ERX Points 1990 Clarion Team Europe MG Metro 6R4 AUT SWE6 FIN IRE FRA BEL NED NOR GER GBR 21st 11 1991 Clarion Team Europe MG Metro 6R4 POR AUT FIN FRA IRE SWE2 BEL NED NORNC GBR GER 20th 17 1993 Clarion Team Europe Subaru Legacy Turbo AUT(6) POR4 FRA4 IRE(6) SWE4 FIN2 BEL3 NED(NC) NOR3 GER1 4th 106 1994 Clarion Team Europe Subaru Impreza AUT2 POR7 FRA3 IRE5 GBR4 SWE(NC) FIN3 BEL7 NED(NC) NOR(7) GER6 6th 93 1995 Clarion Team EuropeSubaru Impreza AUT2 POR(NC) FRA5 SWE3 GBR(7) IRE(8) BEL4 NED5 NOR2 FIN(6) CZE2 GER3 4th 118 1996 Clarion Team Europe Subaru Impreza AUT1 POR(9) FRA4 SWE(6) IRE(7) GBR2 BEL3 NED5 NOR(6) CZE3 GER(6) 5th 104
Division 1* Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ERX Points 1997 Clarion Team Europe Saab 900 Turbo AUT3 FRA(6) POR(6) GBR3 SWE4 FIN(9) BEL5 NOR4 CZE2 GER5 6th 97 1998 Clarion Team Europe Saab 900 Turbo AUT2 POR1 FRA(6) SWE(4) GBR1 FIN3 BEL(8) NOR2 GER3 CZE3 2nd 119 1999 Clarion Team Europe Saab 9-3 T16 CZE1 FRA3 POR2 SWE(3) FIN2 BEL2 NED2 NOR1 GER(NC) 1st 123 2000 Clarion Team Europe Saab 9-3 T16 POR1 FRA3 CZE1 SWEDNS BEL3 NED3 NOR7 POL(DSQ) GER23rd102 2001 Clarion Team Europe Saab 9-3 T16 FRA(11) POR3 AUT2 CZE2 SWEDNS BEL4 NED(9) NOR(6) POL2 GER13rd99 2002 Clarion Team Europe Saab 9-3 T16 POR(5) FRA4 AUT1 CZE4 SWE4 BEL1 NED(7) NOR3 POL5 GER1 2nd 126 2003 Clarion Team Europe Saab 9-3 T16 POR3 FRA(5) AUT2 CZE1 SWE2 BEL2 NED7 NOR5 POL(7) GER2 2nd 125 2004 Clarion Team Europe Saab 9-3 T16 POR6 FRA1 CZE5 AUT4 NOR(8) SWE7 BEL7 NED(10) POL3 GER8 5th 100 2005 Clarion Team Europe Saab 9-3 T16 FRA(9) POR7 AUT7 CZE5 NOR8 SWE3 BEL4 NED(12) POL4 GER7 6th 92 2006 Eklund Motorsport Saab 9-3 T16 POR8 FRA(12) CZE12 AUT12 SWE7 HUN7 BEL7 NED8 NOR8 POL11 GER(NC) 9th 73 2007 Eklund Motorsport Saab 9-3 T16 POR4 FRA4 HUN6 AUT9 SWE(11) NOR(14) BEL14 NED14 POL4 CZE6 8th 75 2008 Eklund Motorsport Saab 9-3 T16 POR6 FRA14 HUN(15) AUT9 NOR13 SWE9 BEL12 NED(NC) CZE10 POLNC GER6 10th 57 2009 Eklund Motorsport Saab 9-3 T16 GBR10 POR12 FRA(NC) HUN10 AUTNC SWE13 BELDNS GER12 POL14 CZENC 14th 31 2010 Eklund Motorsport Saab 9-3 T16 POR FRA GBR HUN SWE14 FIN15 BEL GER POL10 CZE15 22nd 14 * Division 2 was rebranded as Division 1 in 1997.
Supercar Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ERX Points 2011 Eklund Motorsport Saab 9-3 GBR POR FRA NOR SWE24 BEL NED AUT POL CZE7 22nd 10 2013 Eklund Motorsport Saab 9-3 GBR POR HUN FIN NOR SWE FRA AUT GER22 45th 0 2014 Eklund Motorsport Saab 9-3 GBR NOR BEL GER22 ITA 37th 0
Complete FIA World Rallycross Championship results
Supercar Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1213 WRX Points 2014Eklund Motorsport Saab 9-3 POR GBR NOR FIN SWE BEL CAN FRA GER30 ITA TUR ARG57th0 2015Eklund Motorsport Saab 9-3 POR HOC BEL GBR GER SWE24 CAN NOR FRA ESP TUR ITA ARG35th0
References
External links Per Eklund fan page Rallybase profile