Tommy Rustad: “I will fight to the final race”

Tommy Rustad dropped back to fourth in the championship after the STCC races at Karlskoga. The weekend started strongly with second on the grid and second in the first race.
“I was really happy after qualifying, the balance of the car was great as was the pace in both races. I have never been so glad over a second place,” said Rustad to TouringCarTimes.

Rustad matched the pace of double winner Richard Göransson in the first race to finish second just one second behind. The second race however was a different story as the norwegian had to retire with a puncture.
“I was very keen to keep my position and stay out of trouble in the second race to score points. But Ebbesson pushed me off in corner three and that ruined my race,” said Rustad.

The Volvo driver was the closest challenger for title rivals Fredrik Ekblom and Rickard Rydell ahead of Karlskoga. But the retirement in race two saw Rustad dropping to fourth position in the championship on 117 points, 40 points behind championship leader Ekblom with 150 points left to fight for.

Despite the points gap and just three race weekends left of STCC 2011, Rustad is determined to continue fighting for the championship top.
“Of course, each time I lose points, it makes it harder to catch up. But we know that we can win races at the remaining tracks, I claimed pole at Jyllandsringen, which is next up, earlier this year and it isn’t over until it’s over. I am going to fight all the way to the final race,” said Rustad.