STCC @ Knutstorp

[JMeissner]

Knutstorp Race
STCC 26/05/02

Race One

Roberto Colciago won the first race at Knutstorp today (Sunday) and it was a rough race. The action was thick as usual already in the first corner. Nicklas Karlsson had poleposition and took the start. Engström in the Honda followed him and had second place, but behind the two it was chaos. Tobias Johansson got pushed in to a spin that forced Volvo's Edward Sandström out in the gravel. Sandström managed to get back out again but went in to the pits. Exiting the first corner Mattias Andersson banged in to Magnus Krokström who had to retire after this.

The order was now Karlsson-Engström-Kristoffersson-Colciago, and Kristoffersson was really on the back of Engström trying to get past. Though the Audi driver was a bit too hot and as he tried to pass the Honda the two cars collided. The overtaking attempt was a bit too ambitious and Engström spun as Kristoffersson went in to the side of the Honda. Kristoffersson received a drive-through penalty that costed him a few places.

Roberto Colciago now had a clear track up to Karlsson and started to gain quickly. And with four laps to go Colciago calmly pulled up and braked later than Karlsson, the leader was now Italian. As the pack drove over the finish line for the final time Colciago was in the lead with Karlsson second and Janne "Flash" Nilsson up in to third place.


Race One


1 Roberto Colciago Audi A4 15 laps
2 Nicklas Karlsson Vauxhall Vectra +2.232
3 Jan Nilsson Volvo S40 +4.980
4 Tommy Kristoffersson Audi A4 +4.072
5 Jan Lindblom Vauxhall Vectra +18.707
6 Anders Hammer Audi A4 +19.268
7 Marius Erlandsen Audi A4 +27.999
8 Tomas Engström Honda Accord +1 lap

Race Two

Edward Sandström made the two winners of the weekend exactly the same as at Mantorp two weeks ago. Colciago won the first race and Sandström the second. And as the last race Sandström didn't get it easy. Kristoffersson had poleposition with his team mate Colciago along side. As the start went things again went a bit frenzy. Engström and Lindblom collided which gave Lindblom a damaged door and Engström lost the front spoiler of his Accord.

Kristoffersson was alone in the lead as Colciago started to loose ground. Both Nicklas Karlsson and "Flash" closed right up. After a few laps both Karlsson and Flash had past. And the bad luck continued for the Audi team, as the team started to prepare for the pitstop Kristoffersson's Audi suddenly lost speed. Something in the transmission was broke and Tommy had to retire from his lead.

The action continued; a three-car battle developed between Tobias Johansson, Magnus Krokström and Roberto Colciago. This was after the pitstops and Tobias Johansson got hit in the action by Colciago. Krokström also got involved in the accident that made him retire. Johansson got a puncture and Colciago got a stop-and-go penalty for rough driving. Mean while Edward Sandström took the lead, again thanks to a great pitstop, and was ahead of Karlsson in the Vauxhall. Sandström's team mate "Flash" Nilsson had worse luck with the pitstop and lost much time as the tyre change equipment malfunctioned.


Race Two


1 Edward Sandström Volvo S40 25 laps
2 Nicklas Karlsson Vauxhall Vectra +3.125
3 Mattias Andersson Opel Vectra +8.305
4 Jan Nilsson Volvo S40 +10.953
5 Jan Lindblom Vauxhall Vectra +16.825
6 Roberto Colciago Audi A4 +16.958
7 Marius Erlandsen Audi A4 +19.683
8 Anders Hammer Audi A4 +41.878
9 Tobias Johansson Audi A4 +1:00.257
10 Tomas Engström Honda Accord +2 laps


Johan Meissner
johan@meissner.se

[kmchow]

Whoa, that was just weird to see a cluster of 4 Audi A4s finishing together in the 2nd round. I hope all the A4s are painted very differently.

[Michael H]

That man Sandstrom appears to be the next Super Swede!

But Flash is Mr Consistency!

[JMeissner]

Flash actually had a big lead before his pitstop, the mechanics first did a very quick stop for him. But just as he was released they saw that one of the wheels weren't fastend properly. So when Flash had driven a few meters in the pits the crew stopped him and had to replace the wheel. This made him loose the lead.