WestCoast Racing finished their weekend in Denmark on a high when Martin Öhlin finished third, claiming his first podium finish in STCC, while Richard Göransson starting from the 16th spot on the grid flew through the field to finish 6th. Martin Öhlin was very happy after the race.

“Finally my speed this season pays off,” he said. “Even though it felt like I had a hard time finding the rhythm in this race, we had a good weekend. Coming in to this weekend I tried changing my focus and find my joy of racing again, and it helped. Points-wise we were among the best, and now we’re going to keep going in that direction.”

Martin started from second and went round the outside in the first two curves, making sure to stay out of trouble and then fall back in line in third. He then guarded his position until he started to attack Mattias Andersson in second place, but in the end he had to settle for third, crossing the finish line only a couple of tenths behind. An incident in the beginning of the race meant that the first laps were driven behind the safety car which cost Martin valuable time.

“During the first laps I was a little defensive and made sure I secured third place. Then I was able to begin attacking Mattias Andersson, but not many laps were left. I tried saving my tyres to have the grip for a final go at him towards the end of the race, but there wasn’t enough laps left. I’m still pretty happy, I’ve been chasing this podium for much too long,” he said.

Richard Göransson was once again able to charge through the field and advanced quickly from 16th on the grid. He had the fastest lap of the race by far and crossed the finish line in 6th place.

“Ten spots up is okay, I think,” said Richard. “We showed that we were as fast as we knew we were and were able to salvage part of this weekend. We set the fastest lap time and considering what happened in the first race, sixth feels okay.”

He advanced several places at the start of the race where a numbers of cars went off the track and then continued to plough through the field. Towards the end he was fighting Rickard Rydell.

“Both Rydell and Hallrup drove very defensively and closed the door a lot, and there just weren’t enough laps to pass Rydell too. The first race defined our weekend, but I think we’re still ahead in our own championship and we didn’t lose too much overall. We’ll have to be satisfied and remember that we were the fastest. It’s looking good for Knutstorp!”

Team manager Dick Jönsson Wigroth had high expectations for the weekend, but thought afterwards that considering how it began, the weekend turned out alright.

“Martin has had a really good weekend. He’s looked confident and secured a lot of points, and it was about time he stood on the podium. Overall we would have been able to claim even more points, but the timing of the tyre choice for Richards qualifying and his first race didn’t go according to plan. Martin still got a lot of points and he can get a strong finish to the season. Richard showed in the second race that we were once again the fastest, and that’s what we’re bringing to Knutstorp.”

The next race is at Ring Knutstorp in two weeks.

Results, top 8 Jyllandsringen:
1: Fabrizio Giovanardi, Honda 16 laps
2: Mattias Andersson, Alfa Romeo + 0.590
3: Martin Öhlin, BMW + 0.918
4: Johan Kristofersson, Volkswagen + 2.728
5: Rickard Rydell, Chevrolet + 5.718
6: Richard Göransson, BMW + 5.980
7: Viktor Hallrup, Chevrolet + 6.269
8: Patrik Olsson, Volkswagen + 12.001

Martin Öhlin secured a front row start for the second race at Jyllandsringen by finishing seventh in the first STCc-race at Jyllandsringen. He held on to his sixth place through most of the race as he and Johan Sturesson where chasing the two Volkswagens hard as they defended their positions hard. Towards the end Martin lost sixth position after a small mistake under braking.
”It was not an easy race to drive. The car was much more difficult to drive now than it has been previously this weekend and the Volkswagens defended themselves hard. It was impossible to find a way past them. In the end I made a small mistake which gave Mattias a chance to pass me,” Martin said afterwards.

He will now start in second place for the afternoon race and with some rain coming in over Jyllandsringen he hopes to finish the weekend in Denmark on a good note.
”We have to find something out for the next race. I will line up on the outside again but this time I just have one car in front of me. We have a good opportunity to finish in a strong position, I’m usually strong in the rain so we will see what the weather will be up to. I can promise you we will go for it no matter what,” Martin finished.

Richard Göransson’s race ended quickly as he got sandwhiched between two cars in the hairpin which made the BMW airborn and severly damaged. After a pitstop the decision was taken that the car was too damaged to continue the race with and Göransson was forced to retire. He will now line up in 16^th position for the next race.
”I got sandwhiched between Tarquini and Rydell and had nowhere to go and all three of us were forced to retire. The rear wheels were pointing in all kind of directions. It’s part of racing as they say, I guess even we will be forced to retire from a race. We will recharge for the next race, starting from 16^th position will probably be quite exciting,” Richard said.

Next race starts 15.35.

Result top , race 1 Jyllandsringen:
1. Tommy Rustad, Volvo 16 laps
2. Colin Turkington, BMW + 1,977
3. Fredrik Ekblom, Volkswagen + 10,391
4. Johan Kristofersson, Volkswagen + 11,673
5. Johan Stureson, BMW + 12,176
6. Mattias Andersson, Alfa Romeo + 12,796
7. Martin Öhlin, BMW + 13,179
8. Fabrizio Giovanardi, Honda + 14,188

Richard Göransson DNF

Qualifying at Jyllandsringen proved to be challenging for WestCoast Racing as the weather conditions changed quickly back and forth during the two qualifying rounds. In the end Martin Öhlin qualified sixth while Richard Göransson qualified tenth. Martin Öhlin was quite satisfied with his qualifying given the circumstances.
“I’m actually quite pleased. We went through to Q2 and there we did the best we could considering how it developed. This was needed and I’m looking forward to the races tomorrow,” Martin said.

He managed to set a time in his first qualifying round in Q1 good enough for a spot in top eight and Q2. There he chosed to drive on rain tyres, a choice that was right in the beginning with a wet track and rain in the air. But as the track quickly dried up in the last two minutes four cars out on slicks managed to improve and qualify ahead.
“It’s easy to be wise now when you see how it developed but we are second best in the group that decided to run Q2 on rain tyres despite the fact I was just saving the tyres in the end to see if the conditions would change again. I think we have a prettyt good chance in the two races tomorrow,” Martin concluded.

Richard Göransson got to look back at a qualifying where the choice of tyres were just a little out of sync and he missed Q2 with a small margin. He started out on slicks and banked on a time good enought for eight spot. But in a small window where the track dried out just enough for two drivers out on slicks to improve their times before the rain returned, Richard was unable to improve and had to end qualifying with the 10th best time.
“We just simply timed it wrong and had wrong tyres at the wrong time. It is what it is. Now we just have to try harder in the race tomorrow and go for a lot of overtaking moves,” Richard said.

Result, qualifying Jyllandsringen:
1: Tommy Rustad 1:14.751
2: Colin Turkington + 0,457
3: Fredrik Ekblom + 1,091
4: Casper Elgaard + 1,174
5: Johan Stureson + 4,087
6: Martin Öhlin + 4,194
7: Johan Kristofersson + 4,625
8: Patrik Olsson + 6,773

10: Richard Göransson 1:12.107

The WestCoast Racing drivers are out for revenge as they prepare for the STCC-weekend in Denmark. Richard Göransson heads to Jyllandsringen, stronger than ever after his double victory in Karlskoga, to claim the victory he lost to the accident in the season opener. Martin Öhlin left Karlskoga two weeks ago disappointed to miss out on a podium and he heads to Denmark to make amends.
“We are both out for revenge,” says Richard Göransson. “I go to Denmark to take the win that was ours in the first race of the year and that we never got. Jyllandsringen is a track where we are fast and I’m going there for maximum attack. I have no reason to hold back and be conservative, there is just full attack and nothing else and the goal is of course a race win.”

He doesn’t have any doubts about returning to Jyllandsringen after his accident there. Richard looks forward to another strong weekend for WestCoast Racing and to be the star in a very strong field of drivers.
“It’s a track like any other track and there is no option but to just keep going. Karlskoga was the first weekend after my comeback where I felt I could go at 100% and now we just have to keep going. We are in great shape right now, I look forward to an exciting weekend with some tough competition. There are a couple of new strong drivers this weekend who will be fast in light cars. We will give them and everyone else a real run for their money!”

Richard Göransson has won three of the last six races and is fourth in the championship after the two race victories in Karlskoga. He has not changed his goal for the remainder of the season.
“We are leading our own championship, the one that started in Gothenburg and ends at Mantorp, quite comfortably and we will win that championship. We actually are in the hunt for a top three in the overall championship and that is not an impossible goal now. But I have no reason to drive to secure those points. We will keep attacking,” Richard says.

Martin Öhlin is equally charged for the weekend. He left Karlskoga two weeks ago disappointed after having started second in the second heat only to be pushed off the track at the start. He now looks forward to Jyllandsringen where he proved to be fast in the season opener.
“I was obviously disappointed after Karlskoga and I will use that disappointment for revenge in Denmark,” he says. “It’s about time now to get dividends for the speed that is in me and the car. Jyllandsringen is a good track for the BMW and I will aim for a lot of points and a place on the podium.”

Martin Öhlin is far behind in the overall championship after four weekends with few or no points. He has now set himself another goal for the remainder of the season.
“There is no reason to look at the championship position now, all that matters now are good weekends and max attack for me. Richard has advanced quickly and if I can score a lot of points and mix it up there he gains for that as well. I will go for it.”

Schedule, STCC Jyllandsringen

Saturday 27/8
13.40: Test
16.35: Qualifying

Sunday 28/8
10.40: Warm up
13.00: Race 1
15.35: Race 2

TV schedule, STCC

Viasat
Sunday 28/8
12.30: Race 1 (Viasat Sport)
16.15: Race 2 (Viasat Motor)

SVT
Monday 29/8
17.00: SVT1

WestCoast Racing, STCC Gelleråsen 2010:

24-25 april
Q1: Richard Göransson, P4
Q2: Richard Göransson, P4
Heat 1: Richard Göransson, P2
Heat 2: Richard Göransson, P7

4 september
Q1: Richard Göransson, P2
Q2: Richard Göransson, P3
Heat 1: Richard Göransson, P1
Heat 2: Richard Göransson, P2

Richard Göransson at Jyllandsringen:
1 victory, two second places

Martin Öhlin at Jyllandsringen:
Best STCC P7 2011 after starting last
Carrera Cup 2010: One second place and one third place

Car weights, STCC Jyllandsringen 2011:

1225 kilo: BMW 320si E90 [6 speed SQ-box] 1210 kilo: BMW 320si E90 [5 speed H-box] 1210 kilo: Volkswagen Scirocco
1205 kilo: Chevrolet Cruze
1199 kilo: Volvo C30
1165 kilo: Honda Accord [Elgaard, Giovanardi] 1160 kilo: Volkswagen Scirocco [Kristoffersson] 1160 kilo: Alfa Romeo 156
1150 kilo: Honda Accord [Engström] 1150 kilo: SEAT León TFSi
1130 kilo: SEAT León TFSi [Jason Watt] 1120 kilo: BMW 320i E46

By claiming the fourth straight win of this season’s Swedish GT championship, Fredrik Lestrup and Fredrik Larsson secured the top spot in the championship. Fredrik Lestrup, who has driven the past four GT races, drove the final stint of the season’s last race at Ring Knutstorp and took the driver’s title.
“I’m really happy. We won the championship and that was the target,” Fredrik exclaimed after crossing the finish line. “This race was really tough and I had to drive hard to keep the lead across the line. The tyres were worn by the end, and it wasn’t easy, but we did it. WestCoast Racing have done an amazing job. What a team to drive for! Fredrik Larsson did a fantastic job during the first stint today and now we’re the champions. It’s a great boost to get the title and the experience will be good for the coming races in Germany.”

Fredrik Larsson started the race and drove the first stint. He opened up a big gap, which he was then forced to rebuild after a period under safety car halfway through his stint. He pitted after about half the race and handed the car over to Fredrik Lestrup.
“Great, this was what we wanted. It was tight at the end, but winning is enough. I’m really happy I could be a part of helping WestCoast Racing and Fredrik Lestrup win the championship. This was the target when Dick and I started working together, and three wins out of three races seems okay,” Fredrik Larsson said.

Team manager Dick Jönsson Wigroth was of course pleased that WestCoast Racing have once again claimed a championship win.
“This was the championship we had a chance to win this year, and we did,” said Dick. “A good start to our GT programme, and Fredrik Lestrup has done a fantastic job. Working with Fredrik Larsson has also been a lot of fun, and the key to the victory is definitely the fact that we have had two very good drivers.”