Johan Kristoffersson takes nine point lead into break

Team Biogas.se driver Johan Kristoffersson heads into the mid-season break with a slender nine point lead in the STCC drivers’ standings over 2011 champion Rickard Rydell, after a strong weekend at Mantorp Park.

The 23-year-old Swede took victory in race one after a late race incident between Rydell and Honda driver Tomas Engström, though Rydell was able to claw back two points in race two, with the Chevrolet driver finishing in third position and Kristoffersson again the top Volkswagen driver in fourth.

“When Rydell and Engström started fighting, I had a little left of my tyres and was able to catch up,” said Kristoffersson. “When they hooked up with a couple of laps left to run I was able to sneak up the inside.”

Kristoffersson now leads the Championship on 146 points, with Rydell on 137 and the other Chevrolet of Michel Nykjaer also within striking distance on 119.

“I was hoping for a bigger lead after this race, but I’m still quite happy,” said Kristoffersson.

Although there’s a one month break till the next round of the STCC at Östersund, Johan Kristoffersson will be back in action this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps for the sixth round of the International Superstars Series with Audi, where he sits third in the standings just eight points behind Vitantonio Liuzzi.