Times & Pics - Falkenberg

STCC 16/04/03

It was Richard Göransson who sat the fastest time of the day on the first STCC test of the season at Falkenberg. Though Richard spent most of his time in the pit lane after having problems with a damper. This is a problem all ETCC BMW's fights with. But after fixing that problem Richard went out and set the quickest time only to crash off the track. "I lost the car in the chicane. It is a bit tricky and it got too much," Richard said. Second fastest was Janne "Flash" Nilsson: "Don't tell the others, but we sat the time with old worn tyres," Flash joked.

The surprise of the day was for sure Fredrik Ekblom in the brand new Audi A4 Super 2000 setting fourth best time. Before the test no one really expected the team to be on the pace. "We are really happy, now we know that we can be with in the game. But we have alot left to make the car work. The engine isn't much to do about, but our strength is the chassis." The Audi team only had one car ready but has confirmed that the second one will be ready for the test at Mantorp next week. Tommy Rustad with the third quickest time was pleased and replied calmly on the voices from the pit lane that he is going to be "too" quick:

"Then they'll have to go even faster," Rustad said with a smile. The Peugeot DK team was present with Jason Watt and Jens Edman. The Peugeot's were a bit off the pace and Watt went off the track and damaged his 307. "Went out on the grass and the car just slid out," Watt explained. "The problem is that in ten days we are going to drive the first round of the Danish championship. My car isn't ready; today I tested with Jan Magnussen's car. Now we got even more to do," said the second Peugeot driver Jens Edman. Things are indeed looking good for the STCC with fastest eleven cars within one second. Impressive for a championship with completely new rules.

Falkenberg Test - Combined Sessions

1 Richard Göransson  BMW 320i    43.292 
2 Jan Nilsson        Volvo S60   43.294
3 Tommy Rustad       Opel Astra  43.305 
4 Fredrik Ekblom     Audi A4     43.370 
5 Patrik Ernstsson   BMW 320i    43.568
6 Thomas Engström    Honda Civic 43.669     
7 Calle Rosenblad    BMW 320i    43.830 
8 Jan Brunstedt      BMW 320i    43.861 
9 Johan Sturesson    SEAT Leon   43.915    
10 Mattias Andersson BMW 320i    43.994 
11 Jens Edman        Peugeot 307 44.009 
12 Jason Watt        Peugeot 307 44.703 
13 Robin Rudholm     SEAT Leon   44.838 

Falkenberg Test - First session

1 Jan Nilsson        Volvo S60   43.024
2 Richard Göransson  BMW 320i    43.038
3 Fredrik Ekblom     Audi A4     43.142
4 Tommy Rustad       Opel Astra  43.367
5 Patrik Ernstsson   BMW 320i    43.568 
6 Calle Rosenblad    BMW 320i    43.931 
7 Jan Brunstedt      BMW 320i    44.044 
8 Mattias Andersson  BMW 320i    44.091 
9 Thomas Engström    Honda Civic 44.133 
10 Jens Edman        Peugeot 307 44.339 
11 Jason Watt        Peugeot 307 44.689 
12 Johan Sturesson   SEAT Leon   44.709
13 Robin Rudholm     SEAT Leon   45.302 

Source: Pictures: © Johan Meissner / TouringCarTimes
        Sportinformation
	STCC.se

Johan Meissner