Andreas Wernersson’s stunning pole supported by off-site engineer

Andreas Wernersson’s progress throughout Friday at Skellefteå on his way to securing the Brink Motorsport team’s first pole position in touring cars was all the more interesting, with Wernersson’s race engineer unwell and supporting the team remotely this weekend.

Ronnie Bergström, previously two-time champion Johan Kristoffersson’s race engineer, has been working with Wernersson this season, but this weekend the experienced race engineer is unwell and unable to join the team on-site, with Wernersson’s data engineer Robin Henningsson stepping up to fill in.

The team have been calling on Bergström’s support remotely, with their two-run strategy paying off in qualifying, with Wernersson closing up throughout the day to PWR Racing’s Robert Dahlgren. Dahlgren was almost two seconds ahead in the first test in the morning, but fell to three-tenths behind come qualifying in the evening.

“We were quite off the pace in the first practice, but then we started to go the right way,” said team manager Ted Brink to TouringCarTimes.

“We made some adjustments with the help of Ronnie who helping us between sessions, and Robin coordinated the team here, and with all that work and with some magic from Andreas, he pulled it off.”

The team will continue to be supported by Bergström remotely today on race day, as Wernersson fights to reclaim the championship lead from Dahlgren at the PWR Racing driver’s home circuit near the town of Skellefteå.

“Ronnie really liked that we were quickest yesterday,” added Brink. “He’s a guy driven by results. I spoke to him a few moments ago and he already has some ideas for the warm up and he’s following closely.”