Göransson wins in Norway

Richard Göransson won the race at Våler in Norway today. He won the race ahead of three Audi’s with championship leader Thed Björk second, Fredrik Ekblom third and Tommy Kristoffersson fourth. Tomas Engström rounded out top five, only three tenths behind.

“Great! I’m very pleased. The day started with a broken engine but ended with a win. The boys made a very quick pitstop (fastest off all teams) and I had the pace to drive away from Björk. Just as last year I can leave Norway as a winner,” Göransson said after the race.

Audi’s Thed Björk was very happy with his second place despite carrying 60 kilos of penalty weight.

“I’m so pleased with our pace today. Richard was a bit quicker and I settled for second and the important points. I now have 12 points down to him in the championship which is great, he only got two points on me this weekend,” Björk said.

The race started in a spectacular way. Björk took the lead from his pole position ahead of Göransson. Behind the leaders Janne “Flash” Nilsson collided with Alexander Storckenfeldt and Stefan Söderberg. Flash was stranded in the gravel trap while the other two drivers could continue, only to retire a lap later.

The safety car was deployed and cruised the track for three laps. As the restart went, the action was there again. Engström made a launch on Göransson immideately and the two cars collided briefly. Behind them David Björk and Nicklas Karlsson crashed, Karlsson could continue while Björk retired on the spot.

A couple of laps in to the race Göransson made his move on Björk. He simply out braked the Audi-driver and slid past on the inside. As the pit window opened Thed Björk, once again, made his pitstop as one of the first. The stop was quick without any problems. Göransson pitted the following lap, and after a lightning pitstop got out ahead of Björk again.

At first Björk seemed to be quicker than Göransson, but as the BMW-driver got the temerature up in his tyres there was nothing to do for Björk but to see Göransson get away.

Behind the top three of Göransson, Björk and Ekblom there was a hard fight for fourth between Kristoffersson and Engström. Engström was ahead of both Ekblom and Kristoffersson earlier but lost out in the pits. The Honda-driver was all over Kristoffersson in the closing laps. But Kristoffersson had none of it and closed the door for him.

Next up i Anderstorp in two weeks.