Giovanardi wins eventful race at Jyllandsringen

Fabrizio Giovanardi managed to win his second ever STCC race, just 0.590 seconds ahead of Mattias Andersson. The Italian led from pole, thanks to the reversed grid order, all the way to the finish despite hard pressure from Andersson.

Martin Öhlin secured his first ever STCC podium finish, just three tenths behind Andersson.

Johan Kristoffersson crossed the line in fourth ahead of Rickard Rydell, who gained nine points on Fredrik Ekblom who was involved in a major incident in the first corner of the first lap.

Jason Watt tried to brake late for the first corner, hitting a number of cars ahead of him, including Jan “Flash” Nilsson, Casper Elgaard, Colin Turkington, Gabriele Tarquini, Tommy Rustad and Fredrik Ekblom.

The incident was spectacular as both Watt and Elgaard’s car became airborne on the way to the gravel trap. Turkington, Elgaard and Watt retired on the spot while the others were able to continue.

Ekblom and “Flash” were dead last after the incident but were able to fight back up to tenth and eleventh respectively.

Rydell and Richard Göransson were able to gain a lot of positions due to the first corner incident. Rydell was ninth after the first lap from 19th on the grid and Göransson ultimately finished sixth.

Viktor Hallrup crossed the line as seventh ahead of Patrik Olsson and Gabriele Tarquini. Race one winner Tommy Rustad was unable to make ground after the first corner incident and finished 13th behind privateer driver Joakim Ahlberg.

Johan Stureson dropped to 15th after being in the fight for the top five earlier in the race. The BMW driver was past by Kristoffersson and tried to defend from Rydell in to the first corner, resulting in contact between the both and a spin for Stureson.

Championship contenders Ekblom and Rydell are separated by just 11 points ahead of the next round of the STCC at Knutstorp in two weeks.