Robert Dahlgren ready to take on rivals who want to stop him retaining his title

2017 Scandinavian Touring Car Championship drivers’ champion Robert Dahlgren has challenged those who want to take him on as he defends his title with PWR Racing that “they will need to fight extremely hard” to stop him.

Dahlgren took seven victories from 21 races in 2017 to secure his first championship in the STCC, finishing 47 points clear of his former Volvo team-mate Fredrik Ekblom in the standings, and as drivers continue to be announced, with his most likely threat to be a full-season programme from 2012 champion and 2017 World Rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson, the 38-year-old says he welcomes the challenge.

“I have been aiming to become a double champion since the second I passed the finish line at the Mantorp final last year and took my first STCC title,” said Dahlgren.

Only three drivers have successfully defended their first championship title in the STCC’s history, with Jan ‘Flash’ Nilsson taking back-to-back titles when the STCC started back in 1996-1997 in a Volvo S40, Roberto Colciago in 2001-2002 in a Kristoffersson Motorsport-run Audi A4, and the last was Richard Göransson, who won the 2004-2005 titles in a WestCoast Racing BMW 320si.

“It is extremely motivating as such few drivers have succeeded, and it would be a big milestone in my career to become one of them,” added Dahlgren.

“2017 was one of the best seasons of my career, and I know we have the prerequisites for success this year. But with that said, I know at the same time that the competition will be even tougher. One thing is certain, and that is those who want to challenge me for this title will have to fight extremely hard,” Dahlgren continued.

The 2018 STCC season gets underway at Knutstorp on May 5th.