Trotting track Solvalla turns racing circuit for STCC

Trotting track Solvalla has turned in to a 1250 meter racing circuit for the STCC this weekend. The championship hosts its second race weekend of 2013 on 20 000 square meters of newly laid asphalt, located just 10 kilometers from the city center of Swedish capital Stockholm.

Richard Göransson heads the championship ahead of Solvalla after his win in the first heat and second place in the second head of the season opener at Knutstorp.
“I feel comfortable ahead of the weekend as we had pole for both races at Knutstorp. Solvalla is interesting, there are a couple of places where it is easy to make a mistake and we can expect some good fights. There is no secret that we are aiming high this year and we showed clearly in the first race that we are in the top to stay,” said Göransson.

Göransson’s closest rival so far is Volvo driver Thed Björk who claimed the victory in the second race at Knutstorp and Björk is equally eager to win.
“Solvalla is a very technically aggressive circuit, you have to be prepared to work hard with the car on the circuit. Arena circuits suit my driving style really well and that is why I have got high expectations ahead of the weekend,” said Björk.

Top non Volvo or BMW driver so far is this season is Jocke Mangs of Brovallen Design, one of the few drivers of the STCC who has raced at Solvalla before.
“I have shown that I have the speed for the top and I think that things look even better for Solvalla, the big teams haven’t tested here before and I have the experience from last year. There is no doubt that things are very tough in the STCC this year and the Volvo and BMW teams have better resources than us, but I firmly believe that we can win, hopefully this weekend,” said Mangs.

While Volvo and BMW have occupied the top spots, Mangs and Citroën is not the only driver to take in to the top fight consideration. Saab driver Daniel Haglöf proved to be very fast on the similar Gothenburg City Arena circuit last year and Honda driver Tomas Engström, who had a tough season start after having missed the pre-season testing, is together with Mangs and Niclas Olsson the only driver to have raced at Solvalla before.
“I have always enjoyed this type of circuits and I get extra triggered by the feeling that there are so much spectators there (last year had 22 000). This race is going to be great, I am really looking forward to Solvalla,” said Engström to Teknikens Värld.

The STCC weekend at Solvalla features one race of 40 minutes, a format which means many laps around the short temporary circuit. The race starts at 15.15 CET on Saturday.

Entry list Solvalla

Fredrik Ekblom – Volvo Polestar Racing – Volvo S60
Thed Björk – Volvo Polestar Racing – Volvo S60
Robert Dahlgren – Volvo Polestar Performance – Volvo S60
Linus Ohlsson – Volvo Polestar Performance – Volvo S60
Richard Göransson – BMW Dealer Team – BMW SR
Fredrik Larsson – BMW Dealer Team – BMW SR
Robin Rudholm – Xlander Racing WCR – BMW SR
Jocke Mangs – Brovallen Design – Citroën C5
Niclas Olsson – Brovallen Design – Citroën C5
Tomas Engström – Engström Motorsport – Honda Civic
Mattias Andersson – Dacia Dealer Team – Dacia SE
Roar Lindland – Team Tidö – Saab 9-3
Daniel Haglöf – PWR Racing – Saab 9-3
Alexander Graff – Picko Troberg Racing – Saab 9-3

Schedule Solvalla

Friday 7/6
14.30 – STCC Test 1
17.00 – STCC Test 2

Saturday 8/6
12.00 – STCC Q1
12.20 – STCC Q2
12.35 – STCC Q3
15.15 – STCC Race