Dick Sahlén secures first SEAT victory since 2004

Dick Sahlén secured his first STCC victory ever and SEAT’s first victory since 2004 in the Swedish championship.
“We are reaching new milestones all the time! I felt already this morning that we were going to be quick today,” said Sahlén.

Rickard Rydell claimed the last and only victory for SEAT in STCC 2004, making a guest appearance from his ETCC campaign.

Sahlén started from pole position, thanks to the reversed top eight grid, in a race which developed to be really close. Less than five seconds covered top ten.

Mattias Andersson fought hard with Sahlén throughout the entire race but dropped back a bit towards the end of the race as Thed Björk started to harass him.

Björk started sixth, fought his way past Richard Göransson and was just two tenths behind Andersson over the finishing line.
“The car was super quick today, but I was not able to get past as they drove so defensively ahead of me. But two podiums from this weekend is something that I am pleased with,” said Björk.

Robert Dahlgren lost the championship lead as he was forced to retire from third position after technical problems with his Volvo C30. Göransson finished fourth and went up in to a seven point championship lead ahead of Dahlgren.

The Volkswagen-duo, that claimed a 1-2 in the first race, were not able to make ground in the second race. Race one winner Fredrik Ekblom finished fifth, with team mate Patrik Olsson right behind him in seventh.

Roger Eriksson finished seventh ahead of Johan Stureson and Tommy Rustad. Jan “Flash” Nilsson was once again off track in the first corner but fought his way back up to tenth, setting fastest lap of the race on his way up.

Viktor Hallrup ended a disappointing weekend for Chevrolet with a DNF. The Cruze-driver was involved in the first corner incidents and retired on the first lap after starting second.