Photo: STCC Media

PWR Racing set for Karlskoga reinstatement after TCR ruling

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The cars of PWR Racing look set to have their strong results from the Karlskoga round of the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship reinstated, after the TCR Technical Working Group moved to clarify the situation in respect of the anomalous homologation of the team’s Cupra TCRs exhausts.

The three cars of Daniel Haglöf, Philip Morin and Robert Dahlgren lost their 1-2-5 result from the first race at Karlkoga following a protest from the Volkswagen-equipped WestCoast Racing team, which promoted the KMS Volkswagen of Johan Kristoffersson to victory, while MA:GP Honda driver Mattias Andersson protested the result of Race 2, which meant Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky lost her landmark race victory, with Andersson himself inheriting the win.

The decision of the TCR Technical Working Group was released today which stated that the exhaust system used by the Cupra and Audi teams so far this season would be recognised as a homologated part, with Cupra Racing already having made noise to support the PWR Racing stance that their components were legal.

“The TCR manufacturers attending the meeting of TCR Technical Working Group on September 12th 2018 voted unanimously to allow the user defined installation of components certified as option ‘Low Noise Silencer’,” read the technical bulletin. “The maximum allowed sound level by different regulation of TCR series will define the minimal configuration of the low noise exhaust system.”

After PWR Racing were excluded, the team took the matter to the board of appeal, which is due to be heard by the Swedish Motorsport Federation (SBF) ahead of this weekend’s season finale at Mantorp Park.

Although the SBF may still rule the cars as illegal, with the results from Karlskoga then wiped out, the position of the TCR Technical Working Group, along with car builder Cupra Racing’s staunch support of PWR adds weight to their claim, and should the cars be reinstated this would make a significant difference to the championship situation.

Reigning champion Robert Dahlgren would now be the championship leader by seven points over 2012 STCC champion and 2018 World Rallycross champion elect Johan Kristoffersson, with Daniel Haglöf also back in realistic contention, 21 points behind Dahlgren with 55 points available. Andreas Wernersson in the Lestrup Racing Team Volkswagen would fall to fourth in the order, but still would be mathematically in play, 37 behind.

However, there could be further complexity, with the issue able to escalated to another two levels within the Swedish sporting authorities, which could see the championship’s victor only confirmed in the court room, some months after the season has concluded.