Preview: STCC back on the streets of Gothenburg

The Scandinavian Touring Car Championship hits the streets of Gothenburg this weekend. Norwegian Volvo driver Tommy Rustad heads the championship table ahead of this weekend, closely followed by rivals Rickard Rydell and Fredrik Ekblom, just five points behind.

The previous race at Mantorp Park saw Rydell and Ekblom dominating the first race, with Ekblom taking the victory despite the best efforts of Rydell to get past.

The second race was another story with 50-year-old Jan “Flash” Nilsson clinching his 34th victory, equalling Richard Göransson, and setting fastest lap in both races.

The Gothenburg circuit is a completely different story compared to Mantorp Park and the other regular Swedish tracks. The 1.5 kilometer long Gothenburg City Race Arena is fast and includes long straights as well as good overtaking opportunities.

Weather forecasts predicts rain for the races on saturday, conditions that could completely change the top as STCC never before has raced on the Gothenburg track in wet conditions.

The penalty weights ahead of this weekend has only changed little after Mantorp Park. The Alfa Romeo 156 of Mattias Andersson has lost 10 kilos and the Honda Accord of Tomas Engström has gained 20 kilos.

Looking back at the Gothenburg race of last year saw Volvo dominating qualifying and the first race with Robert Dahlgren on pole, claiming victory and fastest lap. The now injured reigning champion Richard Göransson however showed in that the BMW is a force to be reckoned with at Gothenburg by winning the second race in style.

The Honda Accord, the Volvo C30 and the BMW 320si are the three most successful cars at Gothenburg with two victories each. The fastest car though is the Volvo C30 by claiming all fastest laps and pole positions since the first race at the track in 2008.

Both qualifying and the two races are held on saturday the 18th of June this weekend, compared to the regular format of qualifying on friday and races on saturday. STCC is alone in Gothenburg with the sole support class Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia.

Official weight list for Gothenburg

+40 kilo = 1225 kilo – BMW 320si E90 [6 speed SQ-box]
+40 kilo = 1210 kilo – BMW 320si E90 [5 speed H-box]
+40 kilo = 1200 kilo – Volkswagen Scirocco
+40 kilo = 1205 kilo – Chevrolet Cruze
+40 kilo = 1199 kilo – Volvo C30
+30 kilo = 1180 kilo – Alfa Romeo 156
+30 kilo = 1180 kilo – SEAT León TFSi
+30 kilo = 1160 kilo – SEAT León TFSi [Jason Watt]
+-0 kilo = 1150 kilo – Honda Accord
-20 kilo = 1120 kilo – BMW 320i E46

Gothenburg one year ago

Race 1:
1 Robert Dahlgren
2 Mattias Andersson
3 Fredrik Ekblom

Race 2:
1 Richard Göransson
2 Patrik Olsson
3 Fredrik Ekblom

Fastest lap:
Robert Dahlgren – 47.685

Pole position:
Robert Dahlgren – 47.123