Brovallen Design to hand Joakim Darbom STCC debut at Anderstorp

Former Trofeo Abarth 500 champion Joakim Darbom will make his Scandinavian Touring Car Championship debut at next month’s penultimate round at Anderstorp in a second Brovallen Design entry.

The 21 year-old from Huddinge, who tested the team’s Audi RS 3 LMS last week, will partner regular driver Reuben Kressner in September with a view to making a permanent switch to the series next year.

“Hopefully this is the start for a full season in the STCC in 2018,” Darbom said.

“The Audi is a wonderful, potent and balanced car.”

Currently second in the Abart 695 series this year with two wins, Darbom won the 500 title in 2015 with the LMP Engineering team for whom Nicklas Lilja drove in the opening STCC round at Knutstorp in May.

The step up to touring cars with Brovallen, who secured their first podium of the year with Kressner’s third place in the final race at Falkenberg last month, remains steep, but Team Manager Tobias Johansson believes Darbom has shown enough promise to deliver on his series debut.

“He is a young, promising driver that was really fast when we tested,” said Johansson. Of course it is also great for us to have both car on track; that has been our goal all season.”

Darbom will be with the team throughout the Karlskoga race weekend to showcase the car ahead of his full debut on the opening weekend in September.