STCC: Mantorp Finale

[JMeissner]

Mantorp Qualifying, 9/19/2004, 10:36:59 AM

The weather is really aweful today at Mantorp. The track is soaking wet and the rain is really pouring down now and then. Tommy Rustad though managed to get the power down despite the dreadful conditions and took poleposition. But it was really close between him and Jan Nilsson in the Volvo. The Volvo-driver had to settle with second place only 0.01 seconds behind.

The title race got an interestning twist as Göransson spun off the track after only five laps. The time he had then finally gave him sixth position. His championship rival Robert Dahlgren on the other hand took third place right behind his team mate Nilsson. Fourth place went to Fredrik Ekblom in the Audi A4 who will have to push really hard to keep third place in the championship ahead of Rustad who is right behind.

Mantorp Qualifying

1 Tommy Rustad Opel Astra 1:34.444
2 Jan Nilsson Volvo S60 1:34.455
3 Robert Dahlgren Volvo S60 1:34.761
4 Fredrik Ekblom Audi A4 1:34.896
5 Johan Sturesson Peugeot 307 1:35.007
6 Richard Göransson BMW 320i 1:35.376
7 Olli Haapalainen Audi A4 1:35.778
8 Mattias Andersson Alfa Romeo 156
9 Jens Hellström Honda Civic
10 Tomas Engström Honda Civic
11 Tommy Kristofferssson Audi A4

[JMeissner]

The weather is getting better with a drying track.

Stay tuned for pictures of the new Mercedes.

[FIRE]

Originally posted by JMeissner
Stay tuned for pictures of the new Mercedes.

Can't wait to see them.

I am surprised there's only 1 BMW in top 10. Are there no more BMWs in STCC?

[JMeissner]

Mantorp Race One, 9/19/2004, 2:27:09 PM
Richard Göransson managed to take the 2004 STCC title in the first race of the day here at Mantorp. But it was close that it all ended in tears in the very first corner. Janne "Flash" Nilsson took the start from Rustad coming in to the first corner. And it was behind these two that it all went wrong. Dahlgren went in to the side of Göransson and the pair spun off the track. On the way off the track Mattias Andersson was unforiunately clipped in his Alfa Romeo and had to retire.

Göransson managed to get back up on the track. Dahlgren was on his way back as well, but the Volvo was too badly damaged and stopped right on the track. This played right in the hands of Göransson when the safety car was brought out to clear Dahlgren from the track. The order was now Flash-Ekblom-Rustad in the top.

As the safety car was brought back in again the race resumed furiously. Rustad passed Ekblom for second place. But that wasnt to last for long. While Flash was leading Rustad dropped place after place. And when Haapalainen passed Rustad at the back of the track Rustad went wide and drove out on the grass. He was able to rejoin right ahead of Göransson in sixth place.

Flash mean while in the lead had a difficult time to fend off Ekblom. On lap number ten Ekblom got up along side Flash in the "pariser" corner and passed in to the lead. Another driver that gained places was Thed Björk in the West Coast Racing BMW. He climbed to third place from last position on the grid and was right behind Flash in the closing stages of the race. But the Volvo-man managed to stay ahead and finished second ahead of Björk.

While Göransson only finished in seventh position this was enough to give him the title. Dahlgren could only watch the race from the pit lane while his Volvo S60 was stranded on the other side of the track. Tommy Rustad who lost his pole position gets it back for the second as he finished sixth in this race. Sixth position gives him pole position due to the reversed grid order. Stay tuned for the second race!

Mantorp Race One



1 Fredrik Ekblom Audi A4 12 laps
2 Jan Nilsson Volvo S60 +0.7
3 Thed Björk BMW 320i +1.0
4 Tomas Engström Honda Civic +2.3
5 Olli Haapalainen Audi A4 +3.4
6 Tommy Rustad Opel Astra +8.6
7 Richard Göransson BMW 320i +9.6
8 Tommy Kristoffersson Audi A4 +10.3

[JMeissner]

You all know where you can find more pictures of it.

[FIRE]

Wow! Car looks great.

[JMeissner]

Mantorp Race Two, 9/19/2004, 4:13:46 PM
Richard Göransson finished the season of 2004 in the best way possible by taking the win. Richard fought his way through the field to take the win ahead of Tomas Engström in second and Fredrik Ekblom in third. But the second and third places were only settled in the last couple of laps. Janne "Flash" Nilsson fought his way through the field in a impressive way. As Richard Göransson had muscled past Engström in to the lead Flash quickly gained on the Honda-driver who now was second.

But Nilsson was never able to get really close to Engström. This was mostly thanks to the extremely strong Honda engine, as soon as they got out on the long back straight the Honda immideately pulled two-three car lengths. Though in a desperate move on the closing laps Janne "Flash" Nilsson leapt out from behind on Engström and threw his Volvo on the inside.

But the Volvo-driver was far from striking distance and went in to the side of Engström. Engström was able to keep his car on the track and could continue. But the race was over for Jan Nilsson as his front suspension broke. Not a very good weekend for the Volvo team. Dahlgren finished ninth far behind from the top drivers. Stay tuned for final championship positions.

Mantorp Race Two Top Ten



1 Richard Göransson BMW 320i 15 laps
2 Tomas Engström Honda Civic
3 Fredrik Ekblom Audi A4
4 Thed Björk BMW 320i
5 Olli Haapalainen Audi A4
6 Tommy Kristoffersson Audi A4
7 Jens Hellström Honda Civic
8 Peo Norén BMW 320i
9 Robert Dahlgren Volvo S60
10 Christer Gellerstedt BMW 320i

[John Winter]

Did you take those pics yourself Johan?

[JMeissner]

Yes I did.

[rustyfan]

Great pics of the Mercedes!

Can't wait for the 2005 STCC season now...

Edit: And after checking your site, it gets even better if the MG rumor should turn out to be true!

[kmchow]

It seems every racing MB always seem to emulate the F1 West racing livery and paint scheme? There's a pair of C class coupes racing in our WC series. How well funded is this STCC MB team? The team sounds like a very experienced one?