Fredrik Ekblom claims two vital pole positions as Robert Dahlgren is eliminated

Volkswagen driver Fredrik Ekblom keeps his minimal title hopes alive by claiming two from three pole positions in the STCC season finale qualifying at Mantorp Park, as main title rival and SEAT driver Robert Dahlgren was eliminated in Q1 after setting his best times during yellow flags.

While the two poles awarded Ekblom with two points, Dahlgren has to score just two points in the three races of tomorrow in order to secure the title, no matter where Ekblom finishes. Dahlgren will start all three races from P11.

The Q1 session saw Ekblom beating local driver Mattias Andersson by a mere 0.045 seconds, with the Honda Racing Sweden driver continuing to show strong form.

PWR Racing team co-owner Daniel Haglöf finished third ahead of Lestrup Racing’s Albin Wärnelöv in fourth and Brink Motorsport driver Micke Ohlsson finishing fifth, 0.955 seconds from pole.

The session was red-flagged at about half-point as Reuben Kressner beached his Brovallen Design Audi in the gravel at the end of the long straight.

Ekblom was once again fastest in the Q2 session, this time with Honda driver Andersson 0.143 seconds behind in second place.

Ekblom’s Kristoffersson Motorsport team-mate Fredrik Blomstedt was third fastest ahead of SEAT’s Haglöf in fourth and STCC returnee Andreas Wernersson showing strong form in fifth position, 0.796 from pole.

The final Q3 session had Andersson claiming an emotional first pole position of the season, beating Ekblom by 0.137 seconds. Blomstedt made it two Volkswagens in the top three, with Haglöf half a second from Andersson in fourth and Wernersson seven tenths behind in fifth.

The first race of the STCC finale weekend starts at 11:00 CEST tomorrow.