STCC: Premiere @ Falkenberg

[JMeissner]

First Falkenberg Test
STCC 02/05/03

Jan Nilsson in the Volvo was the fastest driver of the first test this STCC premiere at Falkenberg. Fredrik in the new Audi was second fastest with Nicklas Karlsson impressively taking third place. This was Karlsson's first ever run at the car, and with a time only 0.317 after the fastest time this is impressive for a shake down. The second Volvo S60 of Krokström stood in the pit lane with a late arrived gearbox to be mounted.


Falkenberg First Test


1 Jan Nilsson Volvo S60 42.936
2 Fredrik Ekblom Audi A4 +0.117
3 Nicklas Karlsson Alfa Romeo 156 +0.317
4 Richard Göransson BMW 320i +0.401
5 Mattias Andersson BMW 320i +0.421
6 Jens Edman Peugeot 307 +0.466
7 Calle Rosenblad BMW 320i +0.551
8 Tobias Johansson Audi A4 +0.636
9 Tommy Rustad Opel Astra +0.666
10 Johan Sturesson SEAT Leon +0.890
11 Patrik Ernstsson BMW 320i +0.907
12 Thomas Engström Honda Civic +0.933
13 Jan Brunstedt BMW 320i +0.941
14 Robin Rudholm SEAT Leon +1.460


Source: Sportinformation

Johan Meissner
johan@meissner.se

[JMeissner]

Further restrictions for Rustad
STCC 02/05/03

The STCC organisation have decided to punish the BTCC Vauxhall (Opel) further. Originally 100 extra kilos were given to the Vauxhall to equal it compared to the ETCC cars. Though now maximum RPM has been reduced for the Astra. From 8500 rpm to 7500 rpm, something the Opel team is very upset about. Rustad immediately dropped down the result sheets. During all the previous tests Rustad has been somewhere in the top, but today he was only ninth with the lower RPM rules in place. Lets see how the car will perform tomorrow during qualifying.

Johan Meissner
johan@meissner.se

[touringlegend]

Seems a pretty close field. What sort of length is Falkenberg.

Rustad wasn't miles ahead of others was he? Don't see any reason to limit his revs lower down. Anyway, should make sure those engines hold together which they have a problem doing here, just ask Yvan Muller...

[Jimeth]

yeah i could see their point if Tommy had cantered off into the distance, but he hadn't. Surely the weight penalty would have been enough?

[kmchow]

Ahhh, who cares, Rustad is driving a coupe anyways. It's not as if they're punishing a sedan driver!

The pessimist and conspiracy theorists in me thinks that perhaps the STCC wants to make sure a non-ETCC car can't win the championship?

[JMeissner]

This is Falkenberg. A very short and very fast circuit. It's almost like a oval.

[DNQ]

Is the track layout any different to that in GPL? Looks pretty similar.

[JMeissner]

Falkenberg Qualifying
STCC 03/05/03

Fredrik Ekblom took pole today ahead of Janne "Flash" Nilsson. "It's about getting that little extra when it really counts," Fredrik smiled. Janne was only 0.01 seconds ahead of Jens Edman in the Danish Peugeot 307. Tommy Rustad climbed a number of positions after being given another 500 rpm after having lost 1000 before by the STCC organisation. Fifth was Tomas Engström in the Honda. Stay tuned for more info!


Super Pole


1 Fredrik Ekblom Audi A4 42.941
2 Jan Nilsson Volvo S60 +0.300
3 Jens Edman Peugot 307 +0.310
4 Tommy Rustad Opel Astra +0.348
5 Tomas Engström Honda Civic +0.381
6 Tommy Kristoffersson Audi A4 +0.552
7 Tobias Johansson Audi A4 +1.119



First Qualfying


1 Fredrik Ekblom Audi A4 43.039
2 Tobias Johansson Audi A4 +0.027
3 Jens Edman Peugot 307 +0.137
4 Jan Nilsson Volvo S60 +0.193
5 Tommy Rustad Opel Astra +0.214
6 Richard Göransson BMW 320i +0.229
7 Tomas Engström Honda Civic +0.265
8 Tommy Kristoffersson Audi A4 +0.277
9 Mattias Andersson BMW 320i +0.425
10 Niklas Karlsson Alfa Romeo 156 +0.437
11 Carl Rosenblad BMW 320i +0.467
12 Patrik Ernstson BMW 320i +0.680
13 Jan Brunstedt BMW 320i +0.845
14 Johan Stureson Seat Leon +0.869
15 Robin Rudholm Seat Leon +1.054


Johan Meissner
johan@meissner.se

[JMeissner]

To clarify things. The top seven cars of the first qualifying gets to run in the super pole. The first seven cars start according to the super pole while the rest starts according to the first qualifying.

[kmchow]

Wow, I'm pleasantly suprised to see the Volvo S60 doing so well in the STCC.

Today, I heard from the Castrol rep that they have become the global supplier to Volvo? I guess that's the reason why Castrol is sponsoring Volvo? Are they considered a big sponsor?

[touringlegend]

How come Tommy Kristoffersson got into Super Pole then? I see Richard Göransson is missing from the superpole list too.

Glad to hear Tommy Rustad get's a limit of 8000rpm now, much fairer. Extremely close looking too, can we see any pictures anywhere ?

[JMeissner]

Richard Göransson for some as of yet unknoen reason never made it out to the superpole.

Pics will come tomorrow!

[JMeissner]

Falkenberg Race 1 & 2
STCC 04/05/03


Race One

Fredrik Ekblom managed to score victory immediately for the new Audi A4. Ekblom was the winner ahead of Edman in his Danish Peugeot with Janne "Flash" in third with his Volvo. And Edman took second place in the very beginning of the race. Edman made a better start and squeezed past on the inside of Flash. The first safetycar session of the year didn't take long to get.

As Ernstsson and Rosenblad fought wildly down the start/finish straight the two collided which resulted in Ernstsson spinning off in front of a number of cars in the middle of the straight. Rosenblad spun off the track one corner later brining the safety car out for a couple of laps. At the same time Rustad got a puncture and went off the track. The order was now Ekblom-Edman-Flash in the top with Andersson and Engström right behind.

Alfa Romeo driver Niklas Karlsson and Richard Göransson had a good fight on the track. Karlsson pushed hard and closed right up pushing Göransson hard. Though Göransson had to give his position away after getting a drive-through penalty. This was because he pushed his own team mate Mattias Andersson wide on to the grass. Niklas mean while steamed on gaining quick on Engström. Though there were too few laps and Engström held his fourth position over the finish line.


Race One Results


1 Fredrik Ekblom Audi A4 21 laps
2 Jens Edman Peugot 307 +1.240
3 Jan Nilsson Volvo S60 +2.336
4 Tomas Engström Honda Civic +4.283
5 Niklas Karlsson Alfa Romeo 156 +4.665
6 Tobias Johansson Audi A4 +8.248
7 Johan Stureson Seat Leon +15.103
8 Richard Göransson BMW 320i +19.607
9 Jan Brunstedt BMW 320i +20.454
10 Tommy Kristoffersson Audi A4 +23.026
11 Robin Rudholm Seat Leon +25.945



Race Two

Richard Göransson had a much better second race, taking the win ahead of Janne "Flash" and first race winner Fredrik Ekblom in third. The second race was started just as the same with the safetycar coming out very early. It was Rudholm and Kristoffersson who crashed in to each other coming to a halt in the gravel trap by the first corner forcing the safetycar out. The order was now Göransson-Karlsson-Flash in the top.

As the stranded cars of Kristoffersson and Rudholm were cleared the race was on again. Engström was really hot immediately passing Stureson in the SEAT up in to fourth position. The second safety car session of the day was not far off. Andersson went off the track causing the third session of the day to start. As the cars were released again the two Audi's of Johansson and Ekblom really were on the go.

Johansson started to overtake Edman after the first corner when Jens ran wide. Not long after that the Audi driver past Engström. Mean while Ekblom followed his example passing all cars between him self and Johansson, including one nice and fearful pass of Rustad coming in to the first corner. Seemingly the Audi team already have begun with team orders as Johansson slowed down to let Ekblom past.

Göransson was in front at this time, though not totally alone. Karlsson was really close at one point, but a rear damper destroyed his race causing him to fall from second place to fifth. Another one to loose many places was Honda man Tomas Engström. His Civic started to sound strange and lost speed. Tomas was seventh over the finish line. Next up is Mantorp Park in two weeks time.


Race Two Results


1 Richard Göransson BMW 320i 35 laps
2 Jan Nilsson Volvo S60 +1.207
3 Fredrik Ekblom Audi A4 +5.649
4 Tobias Johansson Audi A4 +6.226
5 Niklas Karlsson Alfa Romeo 156 +8.101
6 Tommy Rustad Opel Astra +12.564
7 Tomas Engström Honda Civic +21.563
8 Johan Stureson Seat Leon +23.851
9 Jan Brunstedt BMW 320i +29.488

Johan Meissner
johan@meissner.se

[Thommy]

Pictures?

[rustyfan]

For those in Sweden, TV4+ will show the STCC races 21:00CET tonight.

[JMeissner]

Originally posted by Thommy
Pictures?

Pics online now at, well you know where...

[rustyfan]

Great pics, especially that second one - can't wait to see the races on TV

[rustyfan]

After having seen the first two rounds on TV last night, I have to say that STCC is more fun to watch than ETCC. So far this year, anyhow.

Less cars, yes, but in terms of variety, STCC has ETCC beat - more makes involved in the battles and a lot more variations when it comes to the paint jobs. That the races at Falkenberg, the first one in particular, featured lots of close, hard racing doesn't hurt either of course

Can't wait for Mantorp

[kmchow]

Ahh, a lot of paint scheme variety is also very important. Don't want to see 20 white cars racing around! Gack... gack... I'd venture to say the STCC has replaced the BTCC as being the crown jewel of touring cars???? Either that or the ETCC, but the BTCC has definitely stepped aside!