World Rally legend Per Eklund is competing in tne inaugural 2007 London Masters Rallycross competition, held at ExCel on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December. A World Rally Championship round winner and former European Rallycross Championship title holder, Per has been competing in motorsport for around 40 years.
Swedish-born Per began his driving career in 1968 in the Swedish Rally, a race he won in 1976. From 1970 to 1979, he was a Saab works driver and started racing in a Saab 99 Turbo before progressing to a Saab 900 Turbo, which he raced in the British round of the 1997 World Championship. During the 70s and 80s, Per raced in the RAC Rally competing in a mix of cars including a Toyota Celica, a Saab 96 V4 and 99 EMS, and a Lancia Delta before driving for British Leyland and Audi.
Per started driving in Rallycross by winning the first ever Swedish Rallycross event at Hedemora, on 17th October 1971. He again drove a Saab 96 V4 and then a Saab 99 in its various sporting evolutions. He was always prominent, became seventh overall respectively and fourth overall in the first and second European Championship series of 1973 and 1974. His greatest successes have been in more modern times when he won the FIA European Rallycross Championship in 1999 and is still one of the fastest competitors finishing eighth in this year’s competition.
Race and show organiser Philip Bunn said: “We are thrilled that Per will be competing at the London Masters. His involvement, along with drivers such as Ollie Donovan and ‘Mad’ Mark Watson, confirms that this is a major event for the motorsport calendar and as such is attracting major competitors. The final preparations are being made to the circuit so that we ensure that the surface is perfect for a high performance motorsport competition.”
The circuit is a minimum of 14.5 metres wide with an approximate length of 650 metres. The lap time for a Division 1 car is expected to be between 30 and 35 seconds with an average speed of approximately 80mph. The circuit has been constructed with fast flowing corners, featuring two spectacular yumps. With Division 1, Super National, Procar 1600 and 2000, Revivals, Junior Rallycross and Minicross categories, visitors will be on the edge of their seats watching the exhilarating live action.
The London Masters is just one of the exciting features of the 2007 London Motorsport Show which covers all disciplines of motorsport from Karting through to Formula One and is a must for any motor racing enthusiast. Doors open each day from 10am and the show closes at 6.30pm on Saturday with the rallycross event finishing at around 8pm and 3.30pm on Sunday. For information and to book tickets, visit londonmasters.co.uk.
