Four tracks confirm split from STCC to SBF

Four Swedish tracks have been confirmed to join the Swedish Automobile Sports Federation (SBF) and to leave the STCC calendar.
“We are four tracks that have decided to not host STCC. Except Karlskoga, also Falkenberg, Mantorp and Tierp. Perhaps another couple of tracks as well,” said Mike Luff, part-owner of Karlskoga to VF.se.

The four tracks are part of the new company formed by SBF to host a new championship in direct competition to STCC.

“We are connected to SBF and it is with help from them that we have built our entire operation. We can’t throw them out and we want to host races with proper Swedish Championship status. I think that the team owners and drivers are going to chose the championship hosted by the federation (SBF),” said Luff.

The STCC organisation is not sure that Luff’s predictions are going to turn out to be true.

“It is easy to sit on a meeting like they had and create a “hallelujah feeling”. It is not as easy as they seem to think to start a new championship. Where are they going to get all the cars from? I am 110 percent sure that all teams that have said that they are going to race in the STCC are going to continue with us,” said Bob Huzell, Managing Director of STCC.

Despite the hard words from SBF and the track owners, the STCC organisation are planning to run the season as planned.

“We are assuming that, with the difference that Karlskoga and perhaps some other track is gong to be replaced. The first three races are held on tracks that we can be sure of, especially as Solvalla and Gothenburg are our own tracks. Nothing surprises me anymore. I just think it is strange for them (SBF) to break with us when we have worked successfully for 17 years,” said Huzell.

The season starts on the 4th of May at Knutstorp, a track not represented at the SBF meeting. With Karlskoga, Mantorp, Falkenberg and Tierp Arena gone from STCC, the current calendar looks like this:

04/05 Knutstorp
08/06 Solvalla
29/06 Gothenburg
13/07 Falkenberg
10/08 Östersund
24/08 Karlskoga
07/09 Tierp Arena
21/09 Mantorp Park

In response to Karlskoga’s break-away from STCC, Huzell says that they are investigating a STCC race at Karlstad’s airport, located about 80 kilometers from Karlskoga.

“That is something we have been interested of for a while, but in respect of Karlskoga, we have not looked further in to it. Now we are for sure going to look at it again,” said Huzell.

Peter Landemark, Managing Director of Karlstad Airport, is positive to STCC’s new plans.

“It is for sure something we are interested in and we have to look closer at it if it becomes necessary,” said Landemark.