Mattias Andersson leaves Skövde third in the standings after good weekend for Dacia

Mattias Andersson picked up fifth place and a podium, as well as a strong haul of points after qualifying third on Saturday in his Dacia SE to head to Mantorp Park third in the standings, just three behind the Polestar Cyan Racing Volvo of Richard Göransson.

Andersson was running third at the start of Race 1 before he was knocked into a slide by Volvo’s ringer Scott McLaughlin, which saw Andersson drop behind both McLaughlin and the Saab of Linus Ohlsson, from there it was a lonely run to finish fifth.

“In the first race I wasn’t happy with fifth place, but some races it’s bad timing or bad luck,” said Andersson to TouringCarTimes. “I did a good start but had contact with Richard Göransson, and that’s why he caught fire. It was a small touch, but it damaged my front. Then Scott McLaughlin touched me in the hairpin and I was down to fifth, so it was a messy first lap.”

With the decimated field in the second race due to incidents, the most notable of which was the crash between Flash Engineering Saab driver Reuben Kressner and Polestar Volvo driver Scott McLaughlin on lap six, the 42-year-old was able to pick his way forward, eventually passing Rasmus Mårthen’s Brovallen Ford Mondeo on lap 20 to secure the final podium spot.

“In the second race, I had an OK start and just tried to look forward and see what was happening. Luckily we missed the big mess at the end of the straight,” said Andersson. “We knew the Volvo of Robert Dahlgren would be hard to hold off, so I’m happy with third and third in the championship, with just the two toughest competitors ahead.”