STCC hot & ready for Gelleråsen

The second round of STCC 2006 takes off this weekend at Gelleråsen. The premiere at Knutstorp started the new season in an spectacular way. Thed Björk won the race after colliding with leading Robin Rudholm on the very last lap. There is no reason that the second round won’t provide intense racing again!

We have Tomas Engström – Honda Accord, who finished third at Knutstorp, that is looking to take the top spot of the podium:

– I’m really looking forward to Gelleråsen, we’re usually doing good there and I know every little bump on that track. But I can’t take anything in advance in this championship. We have analysed the race setup, the qualifying and calmly adjusted the details. We are more than ready for this race, Engström said to STCC.se.

Another driver looking for a better result is Robert Dahlgren – Volvo S60. He retired from the first race in a cloud of flames.

– The premiere was one of the worst races we’ve ever done. But we’ve forgotten that and our focus is to take points. Though our goal for this weekend is to take a podium position. I aim to do a good qualifying and be in the front of the field. I have confidence in the pitstop crew that they will make a good stop, Dahlgren said.

Robin Rudholm – BMW is most certainly looking for a better result. As he was stranded in the gravel trap on the last lap after leading, the frustration was high.

– It was quite much fuss about my incident with Björk after Knutstorp. But the frustration is gone and the only revenge I have in mind is to out pace him on the track. The team have worked 24/7 training pitstops so I am convinced that we’ve found alot of time there, Rudholm said.

Last race winner Thed Björk – Audi is looking confident for the coming race.

– My job is to take as much points as possible and I’m really ready for the race. Gelleråsen is a track that suits me well, last time I won there. We are aiming for a quick pitstop and a high pace during the race. With that I’m sure we can repeat the performance from last race, Björk said.

Björk’s team mate Fredrik Ekblom – Audi is also looking forward to the race but thinks that BMW will be stronger here.

– It will be a tough fight against BMW, they have good material and some revenge to get. All of the BMW-drivers will be dangerous. But I held pole here last year and I wont settle for anything else, Ekblom said.

Duncan Huisman – BMW is one of the “dangerous” BMW-drivers that Ekblom points out:

– It was really tough racing at Knutstorp, but now I know where the bar is set. I have never been hit so many times during a race, I felt like a matador with a lot of bulls everywhere and a red flag on my car. But I have no hard feelings to anyone. My hopes for this race is a podium finish, BMW should be more competetive here, Husiman said.

Reigning champion Richard Göransson – BMW is another BMW driver looking for a good result.

– I spun twice at Knutstorp but still finished fifth. I have to be pleased with that, it proves that we have the speed. We come to Gelleråsen even more prepared and we have practiced hard with the pitstops. We will take the victory, Göransson said.

Peugeot-driver Johan Stureson finished seventh and feels that he can do better at Gelleråsen.

– Last race we proved that the car is in the top of the field. Our tests before the season at Gelleråsen promised good. I have driven long distance racing as practice before the race, Stureson said.

Previous WTCC-racer Carl Rosenblad looks for a podium finish and is confident that they will be quickest in the pits:

– My back is healed now. We will be very fast att Gelleråsen and I have no doubt that we will be quickest in the pits, Rosenblad said.

There is no doubt that the STCC-field will battle just as furiously at Gelleråsen. The field is full of drivers that have chance for victory. But will the BMW-mafia strike back this time? The top three was filled with FWD-cars at Knutstorp.

The race starts at 15.00 CET on Sunday, be sure to check back then!