Differing opinions on crash between Emma Kimiläinen and Thed Björk

Emma Kimiläinen and Thed Björk came together in the first STCC race of the weekend in Gothenburg and the opinions on what actually happened differs between the two.
”We had good pace and I was able to pass Thed Björk to retake a position and he didn’t seem to like that. It ended with me in the barriers,” said Kimiläinen.

Björk had been tapped into a spin by Richard Göransson earlier in the race and the reigning champion was on the way up through the field when the crash happened between the Saab and Volvo driver.

Björk went on the outside of Kimiläinen on the exit of the second corner. The two made contact in the run to the third corner in which Kimiläinen spun and was collected by Björk and Kia driver Andreas Wernersson.
”I am disappointed on what happened. She didn’t seem to see me on the outside and she moved over and pushed me towards the barriers. After that she spun on her own and there was nowhere for me or Andreas to go,” said Björk.

Björk was able to rejoin the race while Wernersson and Kimiläinen had to retire. The damage to the PWR Racing prepared Saab 9-3 of Kimiläinen was severely damaged and the Finn had to sit out the rest of the race weekend.
”I am of course both sad and disappointed, but that is racing sometimes. I feel that we have had a lot of bad luck in the season start, but there is only one way forward from this and that is up. We have the speed to fight in the top,” said Kimiläinen.