Robert Dahlgren wins Race 1 at Karlskoga as Johan Kristoffersson spins out

Robert Dahlgren won the first Scandinavian Touring Car Championship race at Karlskoga as pole sitter Johan Kristoffersson spun out into retirement in turn three.

SEAT driver Kristoffersson claimed the start but was forced to watch the race from the sideline as a wheel came off just three corners into the race. Kristoffersson had complained to the team about an issue on the warm up lap that seemingly was a faulty wheel nut.

This left the track clear for Dahlgren who won the race by close to nine seconds after overtaking Dacia Dealer Team driver Mattias Andersson, who made a great start, early on.

Andersson was on his own in second place while SEAT Dealer Team PWR Racing driver Daniel Haglöf had to fight hard for third place.

Haglöf had championship leader Richard Göransson and the Flash Engineering duo of Björn Wirdheim and Linus Ohlsson right on his tail for the entire race.

The SEAT driver managed to stay ahead to claim the final podium spot despite the best efforts of Volvo driver Göransson who had to settle with fourth.

Wirdheim crossed the line in fifth position, just 0.005 seconds behind Göransson, while Ohlsson dropped to finish sixth from third on the grid.

The victory for Dahlgren brings him closer to team-mate Göransson in the drivers’ championship, reducing the gap from from 34 to 21 points.

Race two starts at 15:55 CET with Rasmus Mårthen starting on the reversed grid pole for the Ford team Brovallen Design.