Photo: STCC

Jimmy Eriksson wins finale as Mikael Karlsson is crowned STCC champion

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Jimmy Eriksson won the final race of the year at Mantorp Park while Brink Motorsport team-mate Mikael Karlsson claimed enough points with second place to secure the 2024 STCC drivers’ title.

Eriksson started from pole and headed the field into the first corner ahead of team-mate Brink, with Karlsson making a strong start from fifth to snatch third heading into Turn 1.

The race started in traditional season finale style with a clash heading into Turn 2 when Exion Racing BMW team-mates Månz Thalin and Calle Bergman clashed.

Thalin went wide exiting the first corner and collected his team-mate when re-entering the circuit, resulting in a broken suspension and retirement on the spot for Bergman.

Thalin was able to rejoin the field, only to retire in the pits later on due to damage sustained in the incident.

There was further drama before the end of the first lap as Brink, who fought hard to repair his Tesla after the spectacular crash in Race 1, braked too late heading into the final corner.

Brink was then struck by Cupra driver Axel Bengtsson, resulting in a retirement due to a broken rim for Bengtsson while Brink could rejoin the field last.

As the safety car headed back in, Eriksson continued in the lead ahead of Karlsson.

Outgoing champion Robert Dahlgren held a strong pace, passing Volkswagen driver Alexander Graff for fourth soon after the restart and then Viktor Gustavsson on lap six for third place.

Eriksson won the race in style, setting the fastest lap to head Karlsson by close to three seconds, with Dahlgren a distant third.

Gustavsson came home in fourth for Exion Racing Volkswagen and Anton Marklund fifth for PWR Racing Cupra.

Brink limped home in seventh place ahead of Graff while Bern finished eighth and last in a reduced field following all incidents.

Karlsson secured his first STCC title with a margin of seven points to Eriksson while Brink dropped from first ahead of the weekend to third, 21 points behind. Four-time STCC champion Dahlgren finished fourth, 47 points behind Karlsson.