STCC: Mantorp Final Test

[JMeissner]

Mantorp Park - Test
STCC 23/04/03

Tomas Engström showed that the JAS build Honda Civic is to count with in the STCC this year as he was fastest at the last test before the premiere. "Now it felt very good, we had a totally different car than last week. Not I think we can be competitive on all tracks," Tomas said. "We have systematically worked with one thing at a time. The car is completely new and we have nothing to go on. And there are still things to do on the chassis part. My goal is clear though, to win the series." Second fastest was Tommy Kristoffersson who had taken over the Audi A4 that Ekblom drove during the previous tests. Ekblom drove the recently completed second Audi A4.

Tommy held the fastest time during the first session but was past by Tomas, but still the Audi team was understandably pleased: "Tommy drives well, and we have also a bit different test programmes," team mate Fredrik Ekblom commented. "I am for my part pleased with the basic concept of the car, but with the new car I haven't got things sorted out as well as the previous car." Ekblom was fourth as Janne "Flash" Nilsson in the Volvo managed to squeeze in between the two yellow Audi's. "We are pleased, it is long straight on Mantorp and that doesn't benefit us, but what we loose in the straight line we gain in the corners," Flash commented.

Tommy Rustad continued producing stable times, as he was fifth fastest in the BTCC Opel (Vauxhall) Astra. Richard Göransson was a couple of places down compared to the other tests. After going off the track damaging the car lightly for the third test in succession Richard was only sixth. Another BMW man to run in to trouble was Mattias Andersson in seventh place. Andersson suffered from gearbox problems.


Mantorp Park Test


1 Tomas Engström Honda Civic 1.23.384
2 Tommy Kristoffersson Audi A4 1.23.411
3 Jan Nilsson Volvo S60 1.23.418
4 Fredrik Ekblom Audi A4 1.23.508
5 Tommy Rustad Opel Astra 1.23.578
6 Richard Göransson BMW 320i 1.23.720
7 Mattias Andersson BMW 320i 1.24.004
8 Patrik Ernstsson BMW 320i 1.24.060
9 Calle Rosenblad BMW 320i 1.24.206
10 Johan Sturesson SEAT Leon 1.24.314
11 Tobias Johansson Audi A4 1.24.410
12 Robin Rudholm SEAT Leon 1.25.338

Johan Meissner
johan@meissner.se

[kmchow]

Hmmm, what do people think about the S60? It seems more competitive here than in the ETCC? Or could it be that it is not suffering from the overheating(??) probs that the ETCC S60s are suffering from due to the cold Swedish air?

[JMeissner]

We had about 20+ celcius yesterday at the test...