DTC/STC: Series Jyllandsringen event report

Thompson and Björk wins at Jyllandsringen
Göransson closed in on Dahlgren in the Scandinavian Touring Car Cup

For the third time this season the Danish and Swedish Touring Car Championship met at the same race meeting, not only to battle for trophies and points for their respective championships, but also for the newly instigated Scandinavian Touring Car Cup -- the forerunner of the championship that will see the two national series merge into an international one.

The venue was Jyllandsringen in Denmark, and the field had gained a high profile addition in the shape of James Thompson, who was having his first race in the Scandinavian Touring Car Cup having raced in the two opening rounds of the European Touring Car Cup as well as the most recent round of the Danish Touringcar Championship, where he crashed his regular Honda Accord heavily, forcing him to switch to the other chassis in the team.

The fastest driver in the top eight qualifying was Robert Dahlgren, while James Thompson claimed the runner-up spot. In the race, however, it did not last long for James Thompson to pass the Volvo driver to take a lead he held to the finish.

Behind the leading pair, however, several potential podium drivers were sidelined, when Richard Göransson made an overambitious overtaking attempt and rammed the driver in front of him. However, the incident caused more mayhem behind, as the incident saw the following pack get cramped into too little space with the consequence that Jens Møller -- third in race two at the venue in April -- got a puncture while Jan Magnussen suffered a broken suspension on his Chevrolet Lacetti.

Midway through the first race there was an intense battle for third place between Tommy Rustad and Richard Göransson, which eventually saw the pair collide and the Volvo driver gaining a penalty in the process. Richard Göransson claimed third from Casper Elgaard and Jason Watt, while Robert Schlunssen impressed by moving from 15th on the grid to 7th at the finishing line.

Eighth place in race one gave Thed Björk pole position for race two, where he led from Casper Elgaard, Robert Schlunssen and Richard Göransson. Both Robert Schlunssen and Richard Göransson managed to pass Casper Elgaard, but then the former Le Mans LMP2 winner managed to get past the Swedish BMW driver and briefly challenge Robert Schlunssen in second place before settling for third place.

In the Scandinavian Touring Car Cup the gap between Robert Dahlgren and Richard Göransson closed to just four points, while BMW drivers Richard Göransson and Casper Elgaard extended their leads in their respective national championships.

"I think it is a fantastic series," James Thompson said at the end of the weekend. "I really, really enjoyed the weekend, because with one mistake, you are at the bottom of the top ten. And this is how a championship should be, and I think it is fantastic, and I really, really enjoyed the weekend."

-source: dtc/stc