Linus Ohlsson delivers podium for Flash on STCC return

Linus Ohlsson was delighted to score a podium on his return to the STCC after a year away, and with Jan ‘Flash’ Nilsson’s reborn Flash Engineering team, driving the Saab 9-3 to third after a close race with Polestar Cyan Racing’s Scott McLaughlin.

The 25-year-old made a great start to run third into the first corner ahead of both McLaughlin and Dacia Dealer Team’s Mattias Andersson, but dropped behind at Turn 2 before he retook both at the hairpin when both McLaughlin and Andersson made contact.

“It was a good few laps racing with Scott,” said Ohlsson to TouringCarTimes. “My start was fantastic, I went through the middle of two cars, Scott and Mattias, I had a good first lap, but I lost to Scott and Mattias on the straight, but got them both at the hairpin later.”

Ohlsson was running in second following Richard Göransson’s retirement, but fell to third behind McLaughlin on lap ten, with the New Zealander making a dive down the inside at the hairpin.

“Scott was really quick, I couldn’t hold him the whole race and I didn’t want to block him too much and get a penalty, or he’d get tired of me and just push me out of the race, so it was better to let him past,” said Ohlsson. “The team is new, I’m having a comeback so I wanted to do a podium for the team and for myself.”