STCC test at Mantorp

[JMeissner]

Official test at Mantorp
STCC 20/04/01

Tommy Kristoffersson sat the quickest time on this testday at Mantorp. It was a snowy Mantorp Park the teams arrived to early this morning and the sessions had to be rescheduled. The snow was cleared of the track and as the temperatures got higher the cars started to get on the track around 13.00. The track was wet during the whole day and the teams had to run the cars on setups opted for rain. Rickard Rydell held the quickest time until the very end when Kristoffersson sat his very quick lap. Rydell did not run in the last two hours of the test. Mattias Andersson in the Vauxhall did only manage to drive five short laps before his engine blew. Jan Lindblom in his Volvo S40 was again the quickest privateer; with a time two seconds behind Kristofferssons best. Next test for the STCC drivers are on the 29:th April at Karlskoga.

1 Tommy Kristoffersson Audi A4 1.26.020
2 Rickard Rydell Volvo S40 1.26.538 +0.518
3 Pontus Mörth Opel Vectra 1.27.344 +1.324
4 Magnus Wallinder Audi A4 1.27.408 +1.388
5 Jan Nilsson Volvo S40 1.28.048 +1.548
6 Niklas Karlsson Alfa Romeo 156 1.27.749 +1.729
7 Jens Edman Volvo S40 1.28.008 +1.988
8 Jan Lindblom Volvo S40 1.28.090 +2.070
9 Magnus Krokström Audi A4 1.28.461 +2.441
10 Niklas Lovén Vauxhall Vectra 1.29.272 +3.252
11 Carl Rosenblad Nissan Primera 1.29.483 +3.463
12 Tomas Engström Chrysler Stratus 1.30.067 +4.047
13 Anders Hammer Audi A4 1.30.688 +4.150
14 Lennart Pherson Audi A4 1.30.704 +4.166
15 Fredrik Sundberg Volvo S40 1.32.036 +6.016
16 Hubert Bergh Honda Accord 1.32.768 +6.748
17 Mattias Andersson Vauxhall Vectra 1.33.016 +7.691
18 Marcus Gustavsson Alfa Romeo 156 1.33.711 +7.691
19 Torbjörn Sällfors BMW 320i 1.35.169 +9.149
20 Djon Clausen Alfa Romeo 155 1.38.526 +12.506

Johan Meissner
johan@touringcartimes.com

[kmchow]

WOW, 20 CARS TESTING!!! Haven't had those grids in ages in any ST series!! Heck, that's more than the ETCC can probably muster!! But let's see, out of 20 cas--5 A4s,5 S40s, 3 Vectras, 3 156s, 1 BMW, 1 Accord, 1 Primera, 1 Stratus. Why so few BMWs attending?? I would have expected more?? I'm also suprised to see a Vectra do so well?

[JMeissner]

Well, yes, if you look at the times and the number of cars, there is going to be mutch more action in the STCC than in the ETCC. At least I think so...

Well, the third placed Vectra is an ex STW car, I think it is from 1999. The car was driven in the two last races in the STCC last year with Mörth behind the wheel, and it did qute well, Mörth is a very good driver.

Why so few BMW? Well, the development of them ended in 1997 (or was it 98?) so it will not be competetive enough, as simple as that

[kmchow]

But didn't development end for the A4 Quattros in '97 as well? Or are the A4s FWD versions?

OTOH, the team running the BMW also has a lot to do with the performance. I'm sure if Schnitzer or CiBiEmme raced, the car would do better from a competitive standpoint.

Nevertheless, I still love ST cars,regardless of which make and year!!!

It seems the STW cars (Pug 406 and Vectras) in particular are more heavily developed than even their BTCC ones? The only rival I think is Italy with Alfa Romeo and BMW heavily competing???

[ganda123]

ahem...haven't said this for a couple of years but...
GO RICKARD!!!!
A class above the other Volvo drivers that's for sure. I suppose the Swedish fans are pleased he's racing there as they can actually go and see him and get his autograph like the british fans could. Till he comes back I'll support Muller...

[JMeissner]

Yes, that is correct I think, the offical development of 4WD Audis ended that year, but the semi official ABT team continued developing some years after. And with the 4WD it makes it more easier to keep up, eventhough other teams may develop more. And a large part of the Swedish circuits are quite "Knockhillish", so they have an advantage there...

Yes, the teams that run BMW in the STCC are minor ones.

Though, it will be interestning to se how the Opel Vectra (STW) and the Vauxhall Vectra (BTCC) will perform compared to each other. Who do you think will have the advantage? The Vauxhalls are 2000 spec and the Opel is 1999...

Hey Ganda, long time no see

[kmchow]

JMeissner wrote:

>Yes, that is correct I think, the offical development of >4WD Audis ended that year, but the semi official ABT team >continued developing some years after.
>
I wonder how much more development they could gain? New aerodynamic packages would have ended already in '97? That leaves only engine and suspension to be further developed. It should be interesting...

>Though, it will be interestning to se how the Opel Vectra
>(STW) and the Vauxhall Vectra (BTCC) will perform compared
>to each other. Who do you think will have the advantage? >The Vauxhalls are 2000 spec and the Opel is 1999...
>
Yeah, that would be interesting. I think the cars should be on par engine wise? Last I recall,the STW spec engines were the hottest (best). So with the STW program ended, I think Opel, like Pug, should have probably released the technology/engine out to non-STW teams?

[JMeissner]

>Yeah, that would be interesting. I think the cars should be on par engine wise? Last I recall,the >STW spec engines were the hottest (best). So with the STW program ended, I think Opel, like >Pug, should have probably released the technology/engine out to non-STW teams?

I'm not sure about the engines, but they ought to have quite mutch the same technology. But, the Vauxhalls did get one extra year of development, so maybe they have got an advantage?

Its also going to be interestning to se if the Alfas can get any mutch needed assistance from the ETCC Alfa Team (Nordauto). If they could get the same assistance, well, then the Audis, Opels, Volvo etc should start to get worried...

[kmchow]

JMeisnner wrote:

>Its also going to be interestning to se if the Alfas can >get any mutch needed assistance from the ETCC Alfa Team
>(Nordauto). If they could get the same assistance, well, >then the Audis, Opels, Volvo etc should start to get >worried...
>
From what I hear, if you are able to get a hold of a 156, you will be very welll supported--at least information and parts wise (maybe not budget though)--by Alfa. I hear Alfa is very good in this support dept.