[STCC] Race 10 - Våler (NOR), 14 September 2008 - Göransson champion!

[JMeissner]

The Swedish Touring Car Championship goes to Norway for its only round outside the Swedish border. The Våler-track is the scene for the penultimate round of the STCC 2008. Last year rain affected the race heavily as a shower drew in over the track right before the start. For this year no rain is predicted.

The championship lead changed once again after the race at Knutstorp. Richard Göransson took over the lead ahead of Fredrik Ekblom. Göransson heads the championship with six points over Ekblom with two races to go and 20 points still to be raced over.

Göransson can decide the title at Våler, but Ekblom, Björk and Rudholm are all in for a chance to stop him. How will it turn out?

[PorscheFanNo1]

So with Göransson heavy as a rock and both Ekblom and Björk with almost no weight at all, it looks as its gonna be a 4 way battle all the way to Mantorp!

[JMeissner]

Ekblom takes important pole:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=2691

[JMeissner]

01 Fredrik Ekblom 56.213
02 Robert Dahlgren +0.045
03 Tommy Rustad +0.116
04 Johan Stureson +0.221
05 Roger Eriksson +0.442
06 Richard Göransson +0.577
07 Robin Rudholm +0.701
08 Thomas Schie +0.816

[PorscheFanNo1]

Dick Sahlen has just rolled so the race will finish under pace car and Rickard Göransson has by so secured the championship.

[stedevil]

Well deserved championship win, just sad it was won like that instead of a proper final race fight. But I guess we still have the team championship and battle for 2-4th place to look forward to in Mantorp.

Though I must say it was somewhat uncharacteristic of Ekblom to get himself tangled up in an accident with a car that was clearly much faster (and lighter) than him. Usually he is Mr Consistency and found it strange he didnt just let Rustad pass and secure a 3rd place.

The black flag for Rustad seemed over the top as well. The Norwegian racetrack stewards perhaps not 100% on top of STCC racing rules? It wasn't the best TV view angle, but it seemed it should be possible to have 2 cars side by side in that corner if Ekblom would just have noticed Rustads overtaking attempt.

[Bramzel]

Very stupid from Ekblom indeed, why even bother defend so hard when you know you'll finish in front of those tire-munching Volvo's anyways. Not very clever when you're racing for the championship as it showed.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Have to agree with both Andersson and Krokström, Ekblom closed the door on Rustad and its his own fault, stupid move indeed, cost him the title. The penalty on Rustad is a a farce too, black flag?!? Have that ever been used in STCC for contact? Drive through is what it usually brings, and sometimes a 30 sec penalyt added after the race, but black flag? Stupid...

Damn sweet win for Dahlgren and Volvo tho, and a damn impressive fastest laptime, 4 tenths faster then anyone else! Volvo will be a serious title contender next year.

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

Very stupid from Ekblom indeed, why even bother defend so hard when you know you'll finish in front of those tire-munching Volvo's anyways.

The Volvos seemed to have gotten the tiresituation partially under control and the cold weather this weekend further helped their case, so Im not sure Ekblom automatically would have taken their 1st or 2nd spot. But the 3rd spot was really his to lose and no way would Göransson overtake him under normal circumstances with all the extra weight he was carrying, so Ekblom would for sure have gotten closer in the championship standings. Before the race, if I had to nominate only 1 single driver in STCC that would NOT make such a silly thing to end his championship hopes, it would have been Ekblom. Lucky I didnt bet on that.

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Damn sweet win for Dahlgren and Volvo tho, and a damn impressive fastest laptime, 4 tenths faster then anyone else! Volvo will be a serious title contender next year.

For sure they will, but they will also be a LOT heavier. Now, that they have finaly got the tires to last, they are seriously underweight. For sure they will not retain their 50kg(?) weight break due to being the new car on the track for next season.

Ironically, next year the tire wear problems also wouldn't have been such a big issue, since STCC is also turning into 2 sprint races format.

[JMeissner]

Race report:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=2692

Göransson is the champ

[PorscheFanNo1]

Originally Posted by stedevil

For sure they will, but they will also be a LOT heavier. Now, that they have finaly got the tires to last, they are seriously underweight. For sure they will not retain their 50kg(?) weight break due to being the new car on the track for next season.

Ironically, next year the tire wear problems also wouldn't have been such a big issue, since STCC is also turning into 2 sprint races format.

But we also know Volvo has an insane qual setup so the shorter sprints with more aggressive setup will surely help the Volvo.
I'm not sure the Volvo is that light afterall, Dahlgren was at 1143 this weekend with 30 kilo added for his podium at Knutstorp. But I think they are supposed to be 1140 without weights and then they got a break for using E85 for like 17 kilo or something? And then a further 10 for some performance balancing. So dont think they will be that much heavier next year afterall.