Fredrik Ekblom leaves Skövde frustrated

Fredrik Ekblom started the STCC premiere weekend in Skövde strongly by being fastest in Q1 and claiming the first 25 points of the championship. But after finishing second behind team mate Thed Björk in the first race, the Volvo Polestar Racing driver suffered from a puncture and retired in race two.

”I had a good start and was working my way towards the top when I got a puncture and just spun. It was a frustrating and disappointing end to the weekend,” said Ekblom.

The three-time STCC champion started tenth and made good progress during the first part of the race. But team mate Björk was not far behind and was able to take advantage of Ekblom’s scrap with Fredrik Larsson for second place, getting past the both.

Ekblom continued his fight with Larsson and the two made contact going out of the hairpin. Not long after, Ekblom had a puncture and spun into the barriers and to retirement.

”It was obviously not what I wanted, especially as things looked so good earlier in the race. But it is early days in the championship and I still got a good amount of points with me,” said Ekblom.

Ekblom is third in the championship after Skövde, two points behind Larsson and 25 points behind team mate Björk.