Photo: Mediaempire.se

Ekblom wins eventful race ahead of Rydell

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Fredrik Ekblom claimed his second victory of the year in an eventful Scandinavian Touring Car Championship race at Mantorp Park.
“I am really pleased. But if Rydell would have started from pole, things would have been different. Our key is to qualify well and then keep ahead,” said Ekblom.

Rickard Rydell fought hard trying to get past Ekblom but had to settle for second.
“I am disappointed that I was not able to get past. The CNG engine is a lot quicker in a straight line and I cannot remember the power difference being that big compared to naturally aspirated engines from when I was racing the diesel SEAT in WTCC,” said Rydell.

Tomas Engström had a strong race to score his first podium finish of the season and his first points of 2011. Jan “Flash” Nilsson had an impressive race from 18th on the grid to fourth over the line.
“If there would have been more incidents up ahead, I would have caught the top and then I would have won the race. I had the momentum and it is going to be a good second race,” said “Flash”.

“Flash” was involved in one of the many incidents during the race. The BMW driver threw his car on the inside of Tommy Rustad at the Mjölby corner, resulting in a tap and a huge slide for Rustad who later recovered to seventh.

Rustad dropped further down after another last second launch, this time from previous championship leader Johan Stureson. The IPS Motorsport driver started ninth and made good progress up through the field.

Stureson then got alongside Rustad as the Norwegian made a mistake. The two made contact, resulting in Stureson having to pull off a great save and dropping two positions. Later on, Stureson tried to get back on Rustad, resulting in a crash that ripped off the front suspension of the BMW while Rustad was able to continue.

James Thompson was able to get past team mate Rustad at the end of the race to finish sixth behind Roger Eriksson.

Alx Danielsson claimed eighth and is going to start from pole position in the second race.

Colin Turkington and Mattias Andersson were early victims in the race. Turkington lost out as Andersson and Martin Öhlin made contact in the first corner. Öhlin struck the front end of Turkington who had to retire with a broken steering rod. Andersson retired a few corners later with a blown engine.