Tomas Engström to race Honda Civic in STCC

Tomas Engström is going to take part in this year’s STCC with a Honda Civic built to the new regulations.
“We are looking forward to an exciting season with all the challenges that a new car, new qualifying format and longer races mean,” said Engström.

The 49-year-old is racing under the Engström Motorsport banner this year, after running as the official Honda Dealer Team last year.
“Honda Sweden has selected to be a smaller partner to Tomas Engström as the premise have been changed for the championship ahead of 2013. However, this does not exclude Honda Sweden from investing in Swedish racing again if the conditions for the championship changes. It is essential for us as the world’s larges engine manufacturer that at least the engine is our own,” said Maria Johansson, PR Manager of Honda Sweden.

Hectic times await for Engström as the team is working hard together with team Brovallen Design, that are going to field Citroëns this season just as last year, to complete the new Honda body. Closest is the official STCC test days at Knutstorp from April 16th to 18th.
“We feel a huge support from our partners who believe in this programme and we are also thankful to Brovallen Design. Without their help and support, this had not been possible and we look forward to a long and successful cooperation with them,” said Engström.

The Honda driver is not willing to speculate on his chances ahead of this season.
“It has been a tough journey from when the rules were changed last year and we have a lot of catching up to do compared to the teams with experience from last year,” said Engström.

Engström raced an S2000 specification Honda Civic with NGTC engine in last year’s STCC, finishing fifth with three victories. His earlier merits include six Camaro Cup titles and second overall in the 2007 ETC Cup.