Photo: Mediaempire

Flash Engineering makes shock STCC return with Björn Wirdheim

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Former multiple STCC champion team Flash Engineering makes a shock return to the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship this year, entering with two cars, with one driven by former Formula 1 test driver Björn Wirdheim.

”I am excited and I look forward to racing in Sweden again. I have followed STCC throughout the years and it is impressive to see how many good drivers there are in the championship,” said Wirdheim.

Flash Engineering withdrew from racing after the 2012 TTA season, with team owner and two-time STCC champion Jan “Flash” Nilsson now back running the new programme.

”I love racing, I have always loved racing. I have lived on and in the sport for my entire life and after a needed time out of three years, my desire to return is here again,” said ”Flash”.

Wirdheim will be joined by two young drivers in the squad, with 19-year-old Reuben Kressner driving the team’s second car and 25-year-old Linus Ohlsson as the team’s reserve driver.

Kressner has driven single seaters, most recently Formula 4 in France and Formula Renault in Sweden.

”This is incredibly exciting for me, I really look forward to take the step from single seaters to STCC and to be taught under the direction of Jan ”Flash” Nilsson, as well as having routined team mates as Björn and Linus,” said Kressner.

Ohlsson, who drove for Volvo in 2013 to finish fourth in the standings, and most recently drove for Brovallen Design in 2014, will stand in for Wirdheim when he has clashing international races but could be on the grid in a third car for the season start.

”It feels amazing to be back in the Flash team and in the STCC. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for and I know that Jan is going to give me the right conditions to succeed,” said Ohlsson.

“Flash” has his sights set high for the return of his team, with the ambition to beat reigning champions Polestar Cyan Racing.

“We are back to beat the best. We are back to beat Volvo. If that happens early or after a while is irrelevant. That is where we are going,” said ”Flash”.

The team has not yet stated which type of cars they are going to use, but most likely the Saabs they have rented to Team Tidö for the past couple of seasons.