Final half of STCC 2011 starts at Karlskoga

The Scandinavian Touring Car Championship returns after the summer break at Karlskoga this weekend. Four races remain of the season and a mere two points separate the main title contenders Fredrik Ekblom and Rickard Rydell.

Statistics speak in favor of Ekblom and the biogas powered Volkswagen Scirocco at Karlskoga. The team dominated the races here last year with a blisteringly fast pole lap set by Ekblom, a 1-2 in the first race and fastest lap for team mate Patrik Olsson.

But Rydell and Chevrolet Team Sweden is not to be ruled out of the top fight this weekend. Rydell has been extremely consistent in the last couple of races and this weekend should be no exception. The fact that the Volkswagen team has got their turbo pressure reduced by 0.05 bar is going to help Rydell as well.

One drawback on paper for Rydell however is that he never before has raced at Karlskoga. But with an official test session at Karlskoga on thursday, we should get an early glimpse of the pace between the two title contenders.

Volvo Polestar Racing’s Tommy Rustad is the closest contender to Ekblom and Rydell. The Norwegian has been in the top consistently throughout the year but had a difficult weekend at Falkenberg last time out and lost important points, increasing the gap to 33 points to the championship lead.

Rustad has got a new team mate this weekend in the form of legendary touring car racer Gabriele Tarquini. The Italian is facing a steep learning curve as he never before has driven the Volvo C30, nor has he set his foot on a Swedish racing circuit.

The BMW drivers are not to forget at Karlskoga. Statistics clearly show that Karlskoga suits the BMW 320si with it being the most victorious car at the track with seven victories. IPS Motorsport’s Johan Sturesson is the best placed BMW driver in fourth, nine points ahead of Jan “Flash” Nilsson, who won the last race at Falkenberg, and 15 points ahead of Colin Turkington.

Reigning champion Richard Göransson will be right up in the top at Karlskoga as well, proving to be on a stronger form than ever after the comeback from his back injury, sustained in the STCC premiere.

TouringCarTimes will be on the scene for the official test session tomorrow.

Official weight list for Karlskoga

+40 kilo = 1225 kilo – BMW 320si E90 [6 speed SQ-box]
+40 kilo = 1210 kilo – BMW 320si E90 [5 speed H-box]
+40 kilo = 1210 kilo – Volkswagen Scirocco
+40 kilo = 1205 kilo – Chevrolet Cruze
+40 kilo = 1199 kilo – Volvo C30
+40 kilo = 1190 kilo – Honda Accord
+10 kilo = 1160 kilo – SEAT León TFSi
-20 kilo = 1150 kilo – Volkswagen Scirocco [Kristoffersson]
+10 kilo = 1140 kilo – SEAT León TFSi [Jason Watt]
-10 kilo = 1140 kilo – Alfa Romeo 156
-20 kilo = 1120 kilo – BMW 320i E46

Karlskoga one year ago

Race 1:
1 Fredrik Ekblom
2 Patrik Olsson
3 Thed Björk

Race 2:
1 Dick Sahlén
2 Mattias Andersson
3 Thed Björk

Fastest lap:
Patrik Olsson – 1:08.020

Pole position:
Fredrik Ekblom – 1:07.176