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.”

Four time STCC-champion Richard Göransson dominated at Gelleråsen. Storming through the field from eight on the grid he claimed his second victory of the weekend, he 37th in STCC and a clean sweep with fastest time in free practice, pole position, fastest laps in both races and two victories.
”Absolutely amazing! It’s 37 victories now! I told Dick (team manager Dick Jönsson Wigroth) before this weekend it would not be a bad idea to win both races and he agreed so I just had to delivered. What a comeback, I must thank everyone in the team for all the support I’ve got in my rehab and I’m back stronger than ever,” Richard said.

He looked like a man on a mission as he stormed through the field in the second race, being up to fifth place after just two laps. Thereone he charged on and with some amazing overtaking manouvres he claimed a lead he was never to give up. Despite being injured in the first round and missing several rounds after that he has now climbed to fifth place overall in the championship, just 12 points shy from third place.
”I got a good start and could claim a few positions directly and the car was perfect, I could attack and some of the others made it difficult for themselves when they tried to defend hard. I’m speechless really, the whole team has been so motivated and this is of course fantastic. We will think about what we should aim for now for the rest of the season. We are advancing in the championship quite fast at the moment. In Denmark we qualified second and dominated the race so it’s a track that suits us just like Knutstorp which follows after Denmark. We’ll just continue scoring I guess and see where it takes us.”

Three victories of which one is a double victory and the record of most victories in STCC from the last six races after he returned to action in Gothenburg, Richard Göransson is back stronger than ever.
”Gothenburg and Falkenberg felt like bonus races. I’ve had a chance to continue my rehab and training during the summer break and I feel stronger mentally now than what I did at those weekends. This was the real comeback. The team, friends and sponsors has given me so much support and I want to thank them all,” Göranssons finished.

Team manager Dick Jönsson Wigroth revealed after the second that he could feel Richard would try and do something special this wekend.
”Richard had that sparkle in his eyes that usually means something special will happen. It proved to be true, he’s really on it now and this race was absolutely incredible. It feels great of course! Unfortunately Martin had a bad race, he was pushed off the track at the start which ruined his race when he had a perfect opportunity to take his first podium. In total this is an amazing race weekend for WestCoast Racing,” he said.

Martin Öhlin started the race in second place and aimed to score his first podium in his rookie season, His race however was destroyed at the start when he was pushed from behind and went off the track in turn 2 and 3. He rejoined in last place and climed to 11th place at the finish.
”We had a great opportunity to be on the podium and the car was great but unfortunately our chance dissapeared already in the start when I got pushed off. I’m incredibly dissapointed right now.”

Result, heat 2 Gelleråsen:
1: Richard Göransson, BMW 17 varv
2: Johan Stureson, BMW + 2,849
3: Roger Eriksson, SEAT + 6,335
4: Rickard Rydell, Chevrolet + 6,991
5: Fredrik Ekblom, Volkswagen + 7,501
6: Jan Nilsson, BMW + 8,728
7: Johan Kristoffersson, Volkswagen +9,801
8: Patrik Olsson, Volkswagen + 10,062
9: Colin Turkington, BMW + 10,624
10: Mattias Andersson, Alfa Romeo + 14,682
11: Martin Öhlin, BMW + 14,800
12: Tobias Johansson, SEAT + 17,698
13: Gabriele Tarquini, Volvo + 18,443
14: Andreas Ebbesson, BMW + 28,640
15: Viktor Hallrup, Chevrolet + 30,634
DNF:
Joakim Ahlberg, Tommy Rustad, Tomas Engström
DNS:
Robin Appelqvist