Ekblom doesnt want to return to WTCC

Reigning champion Fredrik Ekblom is the hunted one in the Swedish Touring Car Championship 2008. To be able to focus on the title assault this year Ekblom hopes that he does not have to do any WTCC-races.
“I hope I will be excused from WTCC, the time and energy it took will be needed in STCC this year, to put it mildly,” said Ekblom.

Ekblom ran seven races in the WTCC last year and his main task was to help Andy Priaulx to the WTCC-title.

“It was a very special situation for me. I had to run with strange settings on the car, things that Andy (Priaulx) and his engineers wanted to try out but did not think was worth testing on his car. When it came to qualifying and race I did not get to run 100% but had to help him to good places. I am not complaining, I got paid for my assignment, but it is a special situation when you have not done anything else during your career but to go flat out,” said Ekblom to STCC.se.

Despite his efforts in WTCC he has got no offer to drive there. Instead he will focus completely on STCC and the title defence.
“I have not sought it and it has not fallen over me either. We were quite early to announce that I will continue in STCC. It is a good championship which suits me perfectly. If I would go WTCC I would like to do it with my car and WestCoast Racing. I am confident that we would perform really well there,” said Ekblom.

“To drive WTCC under the conditions I had last year does not feel interesting. We have a championship in Sweden which will take extreme focus and hard work. Four big teams, new cars, Thed (Björk) in a Honda, a new track and live-TV. There is nothing else but to eat, sleep and breathe STCC,” Ekblom said.