Erik Vik

Erik Vik is a Swedish racing driver. 
Vik spent some time in the Swedish Air Force before becoming a rallying driver and eventually moving to Formula One to drive for Shadow and Wolf. 
== Early Years ==
Erik's parents, Lars and Alva, decided to move to Trollhättan after WWII. Lars was a hobby rally driver and full-time engineer working for recently founded SAAB automobile. This had an influence on young Erik but he also aspired to become a fighter pilot from a very young age. 
== Flying Career ==
Erik earned his first wings at his local glider club in 1968 at just 15 years old. A few years later the Airforce accepted Erik and after his military flight training he went on to fly both the A32 Lansen at F7 airforce base and AJ37 Viggen at F10 airforce base. 
In January 1974, Erik was forced to eject over the Baltic sea because of a structural failure of his aircraft's wing. The crash was deemed Erik's fault and his wings were taken away. However, he kept his squadrons motto "The Show Must Go On!"
==From Rally to Racing ==
In the Spring of 1969, Erik started rallying with his father's car. During this year he would prove himself as a capable driver and SAAB started gaining interest. Eventually, SAAB offered him the position as a part-time test diver which Erik accepted. Two years later he drove for SAAB in the world cup and manage to win at home in the Swedish Rally. At that point, he was forced to prioritize the airforce and would not be able to compete or rally anymore. 
After his air crash in 1974, he went back to drive for SAAB. Due to recovering from injuries, Erik wasn't able to compete but still worked and travelled with the rally team. During the Press-on-Regardless Rally in America, Vik managed to impress the Shadow racing team enough that they offered him a reserve driver role. 
==Shadow (1975 - 1977)==
At the 1975 French Grand Prix, Erik finally had a chance to fill in for his teammate and managed to finish in 9th position. He stayed with Shadow as a reserve and test driver until 1977.
==Wolf (1978)==
During the 1977 season, Walter Wolf offered Vik a driver position in the 1978 season. He wasn't able to compete in the first race in Argentina because of sickness. At Kyalami, Erik returned and after an intense race, finished 9th.
==Personal Life==
Erik has fond memories of his time in the Swedish Airforce. Even during races, Vik often found himself staring at passing aircraft. He is still a licensed private pilot and he enjoys flying with friends and drivers. 
After Erik's crash, he moved back to Trollhättan were he meet his wife, Rosa. They married in 1976 and had their first child, Emma, one year later. Rosa enjoys travelling around the world with her husband and watches every race with great enthusiasm.Category:Drivers
Category:Swedish
Category:F1
Category:Rally