Final half of STCC begins at Karlskoga

The Swedish Touring Car Championship returns to action this weekend at Karlskoga after a five week summer break. Four race weekends remains and the title fight looks to become an exciting one. Robert Dahlgren, Volvo, heads the championship, just three points ahead of Richard Göransson, BMW.

Last time at Karlskoga, Dahlgren and Göransson were almost equal on scoring points. Dahlgren took 22 points while Göransson landed 23 points with sixth and third position. But Dahlgren had the pace, starting second and finishing second in the first race while Göransson qualified as low as eight, seven tenths slower than Dahglren, and last of the Q2-drivers.

Triple STCC champion Fredrik Ekblom is luring behind the top duo in third, 37 points behind Dahlgren. And last time STCC visited Karlskoga, Ekblom took pole and won the first race in a commanding way. For this race Ekblom is 20 kilos lighter compared to last time and should be reckoned as one of the favorites for the victory this weekend.

Another force to be reckoned with is the two Flash Engineering-drivers Thed Björk and Jan “Flash” Nilsson, heading for their home track Karlskoga. Björk has not won a STCC race in two years, the last came for Honda in 2008 at Karlskoga. His team mate, “Flash”, won the final race at Karlskoga in may and both drivers are likely to be in for stealing points from the title contenders.

Not to be forgotten is SEAT driver Dick Sahlén who currently is fourth in the championship. Sahlén had a strong weekend at Karlskoga last time, finishing second in the second race. The SEAT-team, Mattias Ekström Junior Team, has steadily improved the results during the season and will most likely be in the top this weekend as well.

Weight list for Karlskoga

1210 kilo – BMW 320si E90
1199 kilo – Volvo C30
1170 kilo – Alfa Romeo 156 (Andersson, Hoffsten)
1150 kilo – Volkswagen Scirocco
1145 kilo – Chevrolet Cruze
1130 kilo – SEAT Léon
1120 kilo – BMW 320i E46
1120 kilo – Opel Astra
1120 kilo – Alfa Romeo 156 (Appelqvist)
1100 kilo – Volvo S60

Previous winners at Karlskoga

2010 – Fredrik Ekblom, Jan Nilsson
2009 – Robin Rudholm, Robin Rudholm, Jan Nilsson, Robert Dahlgren
2008 – Richard Göransson, Thed Björk
2007 – Fredrik Ekblom, Richard Göransson
2006 – Robert Dahlgren, Thed Björk
2005 – Tomas Engström, Thed Björk