Robert Dahlgren doubles up in crash-strewn second race at Knutstorp

Robert Dahlgren withstood a fierce challenge from Fredrik Ekblom to take his second STCC victory of the day at Ring Knutstorp in a race marred by a big crash for Reuben Kressner and Andreas Andersson and which finished under the safety car.

Behind Ekblom, Tobias Brink claimed his first podium of the season for Brink Motorsport in third ahead of PWR Racing team co-owner Daniel Haglöf.

Dennis Strandberg recovered from his race one drive-through to finish fifth in the Lestrup Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI, while Kari-Pekka Laaksonen scored his first STCC points with 10th.

Having made a near-perfect start from pole position, Dahlgren easily led fellow front-row-starter Brink’s Audi into turn one, but further back, carnage ensued.

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky’s troubled day continued as she stalled her Audi on the grid and was subsequently hit in the rear by the Volkswagen of Andreas Ahlberg and Marcus Annervi’s Honda.

The Safety Car was brought out immediately, as track workers removed the damaged cars of Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Ahlberg, while Annervi limped his Civic back to the pits into retirement.

Dahlgren again got the jump at the restart and proceeded to build an advantage over Brink who began to fall back into the clutches of Ekblom and Daniel Haglöf. Ekblom didn’t waste much time in getting past Brink as he set about chasing Dahlgren.

Once in clear air, the lead battle was on, with Ekblom setting fastest lap after fastest lap before the duo were separated by no less than a second. Dahlgren just held the initiative and was able to get enough power down to keep the VW behind.

It was ultimately an anti-climatic battle.

The safety car was called upon in the closing stages of the race due to a monumental accident involving Reuben Kressner and the SEAT of Andreas Andersson. Kressner tried to push his Audi RS 3 LMS alongside heading into the fast esses sequence behind the pits but the pair touched, sending both heavily into the barriers and partially launching Andersson’s car into the air.

Both drivers were unharmed in the incident.

With the recovery of the crashed cars proving difficult, the safety car led the field over the line with the chequered flag.

The third and final race of the day at Knutstorp takes place at 16:00 CET.

Update: Mattias Anderssson received a 1-second penalty for overtaking under yellow flags, moving him from eighth to ninth.