O'Donovan to race Eklunds Saab at the Superprix

Posted: October 15, 2006 9:04 PM

“I am delighted that we have been able to reach an agreement to bring Per’s Division 1 car the to the 2006 Shannon Holdings Rallycross Superprix. It’s something that we have been working on for a while now, but because Per has already started work on his 2007 car it means that he cannot do the event, which is a great pity. I am really happy though; that he will be there to help with the car set up and brings his considerable expertise to the weekend. I would not say we are favourites to win now, but with a car like this we must have a great chance and I will be doing my best to come out on top.”

Eklund only just missed out on winning the 2006 Swedish Rallycross Championship with the car, finishing second overall behind the new European Rallycross Champion Lars Larsson and said “
Ollie contacted me some time back about using my second car for the Superprix and it was easy to reach an agreement with him to use the Saab. At that stage I was planning on competing at the event, but Saab Sweden have released next years body shell to me early, so we have already started working on that which sadly means I cannot compete with our second car. I am now looking forward to Croft, to run Ollie instead, which should be easy to do with a driver of his experience. He has done very well this year since coming into the British Rallycross Championship and Croft could be very good to him this year”
Also announced was the entry for Cumbrian based rally driver & team principal/owner of the Stobart Honda British Superbike team - Paul Bird has agreed a deal with Edwin Geraerts to drive the Belgian's Division 1 specification Ford Focus in the 2006 Shannon Holdings Rallycross Superprix at Croft circuit on October 28th & 29th.

Bird claimed the 2005 MSA National Gravel Rally Championship title in a Stobart supported Ford Focus WRC and has contested selected Rally events during the early part of this season. He is currently taking a break from Rallying, but now has his sights firmly fixed on the top step of the podium at the Rallycross Superprix.

Other Irish drivers taking part include John Mc Cluskey in his Citroen Xsara WRC and the newly crowned British Champion, Wicklow driver Christopher Evans in his ex Martin Schanche Opel Astra 4x4