Rickard Rydell satisfied with Mantorp Park result

Reigning Scandinavian Touring Car champion Rickard Rydell is happy with the results of the latest weekend in the STCC, even though he fell four points further away from Team Biogas.se driver Johan Kristoffersson in the championship standings, and ponders the lost chance for a victory in the first race.

Chevrolet Motorsport Sweden had a tough opening round of the Championship at Mantorp Park in May, but things seemed better as the STCC returned there this weekend, with Rydell and team-mate Michel Nykjaer claiming a pole position for each of Saturday’s races.

Rydell led the first race from pole position comfortably in the early stages, until a late race charge from Tomas Engström in his Honda Civic saw the two drivers make contact, and both lose out to Team Biogas.se Volkswagen driver Johan Kristoffersson. Kristoffersson was able to sneak through and take the lead and go on to win with Rydell finishing second and Engström eventually recovering to finish in third.

“Given that Mantorp is not the best track for us, a second and third is an OK result,” said Rydell. “I would have liked to have won the first race from pole position, but Tomas (Engström) was a little too aggressive, and it cost me the opportunity to take over the lead in the drivers’ championship this weekend.”

Michel Nykjaer won the second race from pole, with Engström having another strong race, splitting the two Chevrolet Cruzes with Rydell taking the final step on the podium, but the Swede admitted he was lucky to make the finish.

“With two laps remaining of the second heat, I was actually going to park in the pits because of smoke inside the car. It was hard to breathe and I was even forced to open the door to get air, but luckily I could all the way. Now I’m looking forward to race in Östersund, which I think has great potential.”