Tommy Rustad takes first win of the year

Tommy Rustad has taken his first victory of the year at the final race at Mantorp Park. The Norwegian, driving an Opel, finished ahead of David Björk (BMW) and Johan Stureson (Peugeot).

The drivers championship was already when STCC arrived at Mantorp for its traditional season finale, but there was still a team championship to decided. The battle was between the two BMW-teams WestCoast Racing, already drivers champions, and Flash Engineering. Only one point seperated the two teams so the title would go to the team with the highest placed car in the race.

It was a rainy day at Mantorp and on a soaked track the start got wild. When the dust settled, polesitter Jan “Flash” Nilsson hade gone off all by himself and found himself way back in the field. Behind them chaos erupted as this years champion Fredrik Ekblom and Flash Engineerings Richard Göransson tangled. In their tangle they took off themselves and collected Volvodriver Robert Dahlgren and Fredriks teammate Robin Rudholm with them. So three of the four cars fighting over the team championship was out already in the first corner together with Robert DAhlgre, second placed in the championship.

This opened up the way for former STCC-champion Tommy Rustad who took full use of the decimated field to give the Opel-team their first victory.
– This is wonderful, to win the last race of the season is second best to winning the whole championship. We needed this after a very difficult season.
Rustad who earlier this year announced his plans to go back to rallycross in a new large project did admit the win gave him second thoughts.
– It looks like rallycross for me, but when you sit here with a win you do think about STCC again. We will see what happens.

Last years rookie of the year, David Björk, drove a flawless race to second place in his older BMW 320 E46. Björk who last year scored in several races has had a more problem filled season this year, and was happy with his first podium in STCC.
– I couldn’t do much about Rustad, but I’m very happy with second place, he said. Especially after a season like this one.

Another driver with a season filled with problems is Peugeotdriver Johan Sturesson. But at Sturup two weeks ago he finished third after a strong race and at Mantorp he followed it up with another podiumfinish.
– It’s great to finish this season with consecutive podium finishes. This gives extra energy for next year, we hope to find a budget so we can build a new Peugeot.

The teamchampionship now fell to Flash Engineering after teammanager “Flash” could climb back to a sixth place, enough to secure the teamchampionship with two points.
– It’s a nightmare for a driver just driving for points, he said after the race. But that was needed today and I’m really proud to have secured the teamtitle. We have worked hard for this.

Champion Ekblom was happy he had already secured the title at the last race.
– A strange way to end a successful season. Today I’m really pleased the title was already secured. This could have been a nightmare otherwise.