Benjamin Leuchter and Johan Kristoffersson delighted with step forward

Benjamin Leuchter and Johan Kristoffersson took Sébastien Loeb Racing’s first podium finishes of the year in the second race at Zandvoort, with Leuchter’s second place catapulting him up the standings, while Kristoffersson locked in a strong result with third behind him.

The two drivers were well-placed for the reversed grid second race after making it into the top ten.

Kristoffersson had already bettered team-mate Rob Huff’s season’s best result of fifth on Saturday as he finished fourth, but Leuchter now has the honour of having achieved the best finish for Volkswagen with second in Race 2 on Sunday in his rookie season.

“I’m very happy with my progress,” said Leuchter to TouringCarTimes.

“At the start of the year, I was trying to follow what Rob and Johan were doing, but that wasn’t really working. I’m now realising that if I go my own way on set-up and approach, the results are better.”

Two-time Scandinavian Touring Car and World Rallycross champion Kristoffersson added:

“This track suits us much better and we’ve learned a lot of things (and) I have learned a lot of things, trying to analyse and improve my driving every weekend,” he said to TouringCarTimes.

“We are just behind the top really, so the feeling is quite good, but you really want to fight for the top spot, but at the same time it’s a good improvement, so we have to be happy with that as well.”

The Swede, who raced on Michelin tyres last year in the STCC, said along with the Balance of Performance, learning the WTCR’s Yokohama tyres was a key factor.

“I don’t like talking about BoP, but I do think the BoP has been a little in our favour this weekend, so that’s one thing, and the other thing is now I’m understanding how to use the tyres for one lap – as you only have one lap on these tyres where you get to make the time.”