Robert Dahlgren heads PWR Racing 1-2 in eventful first Gelleråsen race

PWR Racing drivers Robert Dahlgren and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky headed a superior 1-2 in the first STCC TCR Scandinavia race of the weekend at Gelleråsen Arena while the action was intense behind them.

Dahlgren started from pole and claimed the lead into Turn 1 while his team-mate Åhlin-Kottulinsky made a strong start from third to slot into second.

Lestrup Racing Team driver Mikael Karlsson meanwhile made a slow start and dropped down from second to fifth behind Mattias Andersson and Oliver Söderström.

Karlsson managed to re-pass his team-mate on the second lap while heading onto the main straight, only for Söderström to get back past a couple of laps later with some contact.

Kågered Racing driver Hugo Nerman tried to follow Söderström past Karlsson, only for him to be pushed wide by Karlsson and dropped down to tenth position.

Volkswagen driver Söderström then chased down MA:GP driver Andersson in the battle for third position.

Söderström threw his car on the inside of Andersson at the hairpin and the two made heavy contact, sending Andersson spinning of the circuit and into retirement.

Söderström was able to continue the race with a badly damaged car, dropping from third to finish ninth.

Dahlgren won the race half a second ahead of Åhlin-Kottulinsky, with Karlsson a distant third, 13 seconds behind.

Kågered Racing driver Nerman fought his way back up to finish fourth, with Lestrup Racing Team driver Robin Knutsson claiming his so far best finish with fifth.

Andreas Ahlberg crossed the finishing line in sixth ahead of the Brink Motorsport duo of Tobias Brink and Kevin Engman.

The second race of the weekend starts at 14:00 CEST, with Dahlgren again starting from pole position.