Richard Göransson takes 36th victory in style

Richard Göransson has retaken the title as the most victorious driver in STCC after holding the lead from lights to flag in the first race of the day at Karlskoga.
“It was a great race for me. I had it under control and I was never worried,” said Göransson.

Tommy Rustad scored his fourth second place of the year and crossed the line one second behind Göransson. The Volvo driver gained a couple of points on the leading duo, three points to be specific on championship leader Fredrik Ekblom who finished third.

Ekblom’s team mate Johan Kristoffersson claimed fourth and his best so far finish in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship.

Championship contender Rickard Rydell had a quiet race to fifth, losing five points on Ekblom.

While the top five positions remained static through the race, things were eventful behind. The safety car was brought out on the first lap after a first corner accident involving Jan “Flash” Nilsson, Tobias Johansson, Roger Eriksson, Tomas Engström and Gabriele Tarquini.

Johansson was on the grass in the run for the first corner, running in to “Flash” who bounced in to Eriksson, Engström and Tarquini. Johansson and “Flash” retired while the others were able to continue.

The next safety car period was caused by Patrik Olsson, Mattias Andersson and Colin Turkington in two separate incidents with just a couple of laps left.

Something seemed to break in the front suspension of Olsson who suddenly spun off track in the braking for the first corner. Turkington then went on the inside of Andersson, fighting for sixth, in to the first corner following the commotion after Olsson’s off. The both locked wheels resulting in a puncture for Turkington and a damaged radiator for Andersson, both retired.