Photo: STCC

STCC continues with mid-week twilight race at short Mantorp

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The Scandinavian Touring Car Championship continues on Thursday this week with the second round of the 2016 season at the short Mantorp Park circuit in twilight conditions.

Volvo driver Robert Dahlgren took command in the season opener at Skövde four weeks ago, claiming pole and victory to head the championship table by 28 points over team mate Richard Göransson.

The victory and championship lead means that the former V8 Supercars driver will carry maximum penalty weight of 60 kilos.

”I have a great feeling after the season start and I’m looking forward to try the twilight concept in the STCC for my first time. Carrying 60 kilos will be tough, but it will also make a strong result even sweeter and I am aiming for the top three again, no doubt,” said Robert Dahlgren.

The Polestar Cyan Racing line-up will resume normal business after Scott McLaughlin’s guest appearance in Skövde as Prince Carl Philip Bernadotte is back behind the wheel of the #13 Volvo S60.

”I love to be back racing in the STCC again. I have raced many times at Mantorp Park before, but never on the short version and never in twilight conditions. So I am really excited to take on these challenges and I hope for a strong points haul,” said Prince Carl Philip.

Dacia Dealer Team driver Mattias Andersson was best of the non-Volvo drivers and has claimed third position in the drivers’ championship after a podium finish in the second Skövde race.

”We are ready, prepared and will go for it. My goal is a podium finish in both races, to cling on to the Volvos in the points and not let anyone else past,” said Andersson.

The driver initially looking strongest behind the Volvo drivers was Flash Engineering driver Linus Ohlsson who finished third in the first race only to retire after contact in the second race. Ohlsson will drive an all-new Nissan as the Japanese manufacturer returns to the STCC for the first time since 2001.

Former Formula 1 test driver Björn Wirdheim will make his STCC debut at Mantorp Park for Flash Engineering, still driving a Saab as the team will change their remaining two cars later this year. Wirdheim missed the first race due to clashing commitments with the Japanese Super GT series.

Another team with potential for improvement at Mantorp is SEAT Dealer Team PWR Racing. While Emma Kimiläinen will miss the race due to damage sustained in two crashes at Skövde, Johan Kristoffersson and Daniel Haglöf are keen to get revenge from the season start that was filled with incidents and mechanical issues.

2012 STCC champion Kristoffersson showed best form of the SEAT drivers, claiming two top five finishes and is currently placed fifth in the drivers’ championship.

The STCC action starts at 11:00 CET on Thursday with testing, followed by qualifying at 16:15 and the first race at 18:45, broadcasted live on svtplay.se.

Scandinavian Touring Car Championship Entry List

No – Driver – Team – Car
11 – Robert Dahlgren – Polestar Cyan Racing – Volvo S60
12 – Richard Göransson – Polestar Cyan Racing – Volvo S60
13 – Carl Philip Bernadotte – Polestar Cyan Racing – Volvo S60
3 – Johan Kristoffersson – PWR Racing – SEAT León
77 – Emma Kimiläinen – PWR Racing – SEAT León
37 – Daniel Haglöf – PWR Racing – SEAT León
9 – Reuben Kressner – Flash Engineering – Saab 9-3
24 – Linus Ohlsson – Flash Engineering – Nissan SE
## – Björn Wirdheim – Flash Engineering – Saab 9-3
20 – Mattias Andersson – Dacia Dealer Team – Dacia SE
28 – Rasmus Mårthen – Brovallen Design – Ford Mondeo

Mantorp Park Timetable

Thursday 26th May

11:00 Test 1
14:00 Test 2
16:15 Qualifying Q1
16:35 Qualifying Q2
18:45 Race 1
21:00 Race 2