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Mantorp Race One & Two
STCC 12/05/02
Mantorp Park Race One
Roberto Colciago held his poleposition from start to finish and took the first victory of the season. Janne "Flash" Nilsson followed him home in second place and with Tomas Engström in third. Though Engström held second place in the race for a while. As the lights went to green Engström made a better start than Nilsson enabling him to get up in to second place. Though Nilsson had none of it and took the outside of the first corner which gave the inside for the next corner. Nilsson was again back in second place.
As the field came out from the chicane and out on the long main straight Engström used his superior Honda engine, which undoubtedly is the strongest in the field, and could drag past Nilsson. Flash didn't seem to have the pace at the beginning of the race. Colciago and Engström pulled away in the front while Nicklas Karlsson closed up from behind. In fact, after only a few laps Karlsson managed to get past Nilsson coming in to the last corner of the lap. Though Karlsson went wide in the coming corner and Nilsson was again in third place.
As the race progressed things happened. A thunderstorm went close by the track area making it coming, not much but little, rain on the track. This seemed to help the Audi's with their 4WD as Colciago pulled away and his mate Kristoffersson was making up ground quickly from behind. Engström seemed to loose pace quickly, Nilsson went past him and started to pull away. After the race Engström reported that he didn't want to push that hard when the rain came as Engström hasn't made that many laps in rain with his Honda.
At the same time as Nilsson went past Engström the race was over for Nilsson's team mate Edward Sandström. His rear right tyre exploded and Edwards cruised slowly in to the pits. The Vauxhall boys didn't have any luck either. Karlsson was well up at one stage behind Nilsson though as the race progressed both Karlsson and Lindblom in the other Vectra dropped several places. The fastest lap was set by Roberto Colciago, and the time was 1:19.636. Stay tuned for the second race, with pitstop, which starts at 15.20 (EST).
Mantorp Park Race One
1 Roberto Colciago Audi A4 12 laps
2 Jan "Flash" Nilsson Volvo S40 +4.888
3 Tomas Engström Honda Accord +11.344
4 Tommy Kristoffersson Audi A4 +13.815
5 Tobias Johansson Audi A4 +22.601
6 Jan Lindblom Vauxhall Vectra +23.659
7 Nicklas Karlsson Vauxhall Vectra +24.270
8 Mattias Andersson Opel Vectra +30.349
9 Magnus Krokström Volvo S40 +34.240
10 Anders Hammer Audi A4 +35.218
11 Marius Erlandsen Audi A4 +1:00.482
Mantorp Park Race Two
Edward Sandström managed to turn his DNF from the first race to a win in the second race. And this was his second STCC race ever. Though Edward didn't get it easy, the action was great during the second race. Roberto Colciago had poleposition since he had the fastest lap in the first race, but as the lights went to green Tomas Engström roared past in his Honda Accord. Though Colciago was quick to respond and retook the lead fast. That enabled Flash to squeeze past Engström as he lost momentum.
Just as the last race Engström made the most of his extra power and could just drive past Flash on the long straight. Engström now had his sight set on Colciago. Mean while a big fight between the two Volvo drivers developed. Sandström was behind Flash but was very hot on getting past his team mate. And with a quite rough move Edward made his way past Flash after only a few laps. As the two Volvo drivers fought Engström was getting closer and closer to Colciago.
And the straight was really the place for the Honda today. After some laps of fighting Engström managed to get a great exit on to the long straight and roared past Colciago and in to the lead. The order was then Honda-Audi-Volvo-Volvo-Audi with Tommy Kristoffersson rounding out top five. Edward Sandström was the first driver to enter the pits of the top drivers. The Volvo team pulled off a great pitstop despite that Edward stalled the engine. And it was here Sandström secured his victory. Even though both Flash and Engström made good pitstops Edward was well ahead.
Colciago waited until the very last lap that the driver is allowed to pit. The Audi team made a great pitstop. Colciago went out on the track at the very same time as Edward came roaring down the start/finish straight. Colciago came out ahead, but Edward was able to get ahead since he had a few more laps where he could get up the temperature in his tyres. Edward held the lead over the finish line despite a hard effort, especially in the closing laps, from Colciago to over take him. The race was over and the order over the line was Sandström-Colciago-Engström-Flash-Kristoffersson.
Mantorp Park Race Two
1 Edward Sandström Volvo S40 20 laps
2 Roberto Colciago Audi A4 +0.421
3 Tomas Engström Honda Accord +4.030
4 Jan "Flash" Nilsson Volvo S40 +4.730
5 Tommy Kristoffersson Audi A4 +15.752
6 Tobias Johansson Audi A4 +17.402
7 Jan Lindblom Vauxhall Vectra +20.513
8 Magnus Krokström Volvo S40 +38.924
9 Maruis Erlandsen Audi A4 +55.342
10 Nicklas Karlsson Vauxhall Vectra +1 lap
Johan Meissner
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