Robert Dahlgren dominates first STCC race of 2022 at Ljungbyhed

There was no stopping Robert Dahlgren in the first STCC TCR Scandinavia race of 2022 at Ljungbyhed, heading the field from lights to flag to win ahead of Tobias Brink.

The PWR Racing driver made a strong start and never looked back for the remainder of the race, despite an early safety car session.

Audi driver Tobias Brink made a better start from third on the grid than Oliver Söderström of Lestrup Racing who started second, slotting into second position behind Dahlgren into Turn 1.

The safety car was called into action due to an incident involving Christian Skaar, Rasmus Hedberg and Marius Solberg Hansen.

The three collided at the exit of Turn 2, resulting in a retirement for Skaar and Solberg Hansen while Hedberg was able to continue with a damaged CUPRA TCR.

The race resumed on lap five, with Lynk & Co driver Mattias Andersson snatching ninth from Calle Bergman at the restart.

Isac Aronsson made a late launch into Turn 1 on Cupra driver Axel Bengtsson on lap six while fighting for fifth position. But the Exion Racing driver braked too late and went over the grass, rejoining the track in tenth position.

The fight for fifth continued until the end of the race, with Andreas Bäckman prevailing to finish fifth ahead of Bengtsson and Andersson.

Dahlgren won the 18-lap lap race two seconds ahead of Brink, with Söderström completing the podium and Brink Motorsport driver Hugo Nerman finishing fourth.

Dennis Strandberg rounded off the top eight as the top independent driver.

The next STCC TCR Scandinavia round takes place at Skellefteå on June 17-18.