Photo: Honda Media

Björk joins Honda that expands to two cars

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What TouringCarTimes reported about earlier this week today was confirmed: The Swedish Honda team expands to two cars with regular driver Tomas Engström and newly signed 2006 STCC champion Thed Björk. The team also changes name to Honda Racing. “Honda never does any half measures. When we decide to fight seriously, we do it for real. The STCC 2008 is most definitely no exception,” said Honda Sweden PR-Manager Carina Prodenius Wihlborg.

Tomas Engström has been behind the wheel of a Honda in STCC since 2002. The decision to expand to a two car team came under discussion already last year.
“We discussed this earlier and with Honda’s international campaigns in mind it was doable for 2008. I have been in the discussions for our second driver and my first choise was Thed (Björk). If we are going to do this, we are going to do this with the best driver and Thed is the one in my eyes,” said Engström.

Björk moves from Audi, who has withdrawn from the STCC, where he took his STCC title. For 2008 Björk is aiming high.
“For me it is all about getting the right conditions to win. If I was not able to be in a winners car next season I would rather not been driving at all,” said Björk.

The two Honda Accord that Engström and Björk will drive will be tested during the winter by JAS in Italy. Björk gets a completely new Accord while Engström will continue driving the one he raced in STCC this year. The team will test at Adria in Italy at the end of March.
“We know what needs to be developed on the car. It is mainly about the suspension and the dampers. We have got the speed, but there are some certain corners, the long, banked and quick corners that we’ve had problems with. I hope we can solve that for 2008,” said Engström and added:

“The STCC is harder than ever. Volvo are building a new car, BMW are always fast and now we have got SEAT on the scene. So we need a real upgrade to manage the hard competition. With this team we have the right conditions to head in to the fight for real,” said Engström.