Photo: STCC

Full season looking “more positive” for Fredrik Ekblom

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Kristoffersson Motorsport (KMS) looks likely to run Fredrik Ekblom for the remainder of the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship season, providing he can stay in touch with series leader Robert Dahlgren in Falkenberg, according to team boss Tommy Kristoffersson.

Ekblom took pole for the opening two races in Falkenberg while main rival and SEAT driver Robert Dahlgren could only manage a best result of fourth.

The former Volvo driver currently sits in third pace in the STCC standings, 26 points behind Dahlgren, but Kristoffersson indicated he might keep Ekblom on-board if he leaves Falkenberg still in touch in the title race.

Kristoffersson told TouringCarTimes: “Fredrik was so disappointed after Solvalla, with the jump-start and everything, so we thought it was fair of us to give him the chance to race in Falkenberg, which is one of his favourite tracks.”

Kristoffersson’s son Johan is Dahlgren’s nearest rival in the points, having taken five victories in six appearances in the championship – including a treble in Alastaro. But the World Rallycross driver will miss the final two rounds in Anderstorp and Mantorp due to calendar clashes, with Ekblom the likely stand-in.

It means that next month’s round in Karlskoga appears critical for Ekblom’s title aspirations.

“For sure it looks much more positive for the rest of the season,” said Kristoffersson.

While much talk has centred around whether Ekblom will see out the season for KMS, Kristoffersson was keen to downplay any suggestions of implementing team orders as yet. He maintained his drivers would still fight for themselves, but admitted that team orders may come into play post-Falkeneberg.

He said: “The guys have to compete by themselves but now we will have to see the results after the races tomorrow and then we will see after Karlskoga because Johan may have less weight there.”

“Individually, they are all very competitive and they all like to win, but in the end we have a responsibility for the brand, for Volkswagen, so we will see how we play the cards.”