Linus Ohlsson wins rain-hit Solvalla race as Volvo claims team title

Linus Ohlsson claimed his first STCC victory since 2013 and Nissan’s first since 2001 in the final race at Solvalla that saw Polestar Cyan Racing securing the teams’ title for the fourth year in succession. The title was secured thanks to a double podium from title rivals and team-mates Robert Dahlgren, finishing second, and Richard Göransson, third.

Ohlsson started from the reversed grid pole position and was on his own for the entire race to win by over 28 seconds.

Just as in the last race, things were hectic in the fight for second place. Four cars were involved in the fight, including Ford driver Rasmus Mårthen, the Volvo duo of Dahlgren and Göransson, as well as SEAT driver and STCC newcomer Philip Morin.

Dahlgren was behind Mårthen in the fight for second place initially, but was unable to make his way past. Instead it was Morin who passed Göransson, Dahlgren and finally Mårthen.

But just as Morin got past, a heavy rain shower hit the track with just a couple of laps left, with the SEAT Dealer Team PWR Racing driver spinning on the very slippery track to drop down to fifth position.

The fight was again very hard between team-mates Dahlgren and Göransson, with both Volvo S60s having battle scars, but this time with Dahlgren coming out on top to reduce the gap to his manufacturer colleague from 25 to 22 points with 75 points left to be fought for in the season finale at Knutstorp.

Brovallen Design driver Mårthen finished in fourth ahead of Morin, while Prince Carl Philip Bernadotte crossed the line in sixth after several spins in the heavy rain.

Dacia Dealer Team driver Mattias Andersson was collected by the spinning Bernadotte early in the race and lost six laps on the leaders while pitting for repairs. Race one winner Daniel Haglöf retired on the first lap after making contact with Göransson.

STCC continues in three weeks at Knutstorp in the south of Sweden.