Controversial clash between Rydell and Rustad

Rickard Rydell and Tommy Rustad had a controversial clash in the first STCC race at Falkenberg while fighting for second.
“That incident ruined my weekend. Rydell just sent me off track,” said Rustad to TouringCarTimes.

Rustad’s team mate James Thompson had on the first lap of the race damaged his oil sump after going straight over a high curb, resulting in oil in the racing line. This was, according to Rydell, the reason for the clash between him and Rustad.

“James Thompson had put oil on the track and when Tommy came on the outside, I slid on the oil and touched his Volvo,” said Rydell.

The both made contact in the final very fast corner onto the start/finish straight, resulting in a big slide for Rustad. The Volvo driver lost a lot of ground and had to pit a couple of laps later to clear the radiator from grass because of rising engine temperatures.

Rydell was penalized with one penalty round, losing second to Richard Göransson in the race, a penalty Rustad did not agree with.

“I lost 11 places and he lost one place because of the penalty. Anyhow, my car was really strong, especially over a race distance, and I am going to be back to fight for it at Karlskoga,” said Rustad.

Rydell finished third in the first race and fifth in the second race, meaning that he lost the championship lead to race one winner Fredrik Ekblom. Rydell is three points behind Ekblom with four races left of the season while Rustad still is third, but 33 points behind.

“Fredrik Ekblom is doing a great job and his car is tough to pass. It is going to be a really tough championship right in to the end,” said Rydell.

STCC returns in a little more than one month at Karlskoga on the 13th of August.