Dahlgren increases his leadership in TCR Scandinavia standings

Robert Dahlgren made another crucial step in retaking the TCR Scandinavia crown as he won two races in the third weekend of the season at Karlskoga’s Gelleråsen Arena. Dahlgren has now won six races from nine and built a healthy lead in the standings of 49 points over his teammate Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky.
Today’s third race was won by Kevin Engman on his maiden appearance in the series at the wheel of a Brink Motorsport Audi.
Dahlgren won the first race, leading home teammate Åhlin-Kottulinsky to score a CUPRA 1-2. He shot away from the pole, while Åhlin-Kottulinsky launched from third to second, passing Mikael Karlsson into Turn 1. Karlsson would soon lose two more spots, as he was passed by both Mattias Andersson and Oliver Söderström but retook the spot at the end of the lap. The two CUPRA cars pulled away, while Söderström passed Karlsson and attacked Andersson until they made contact in lap 15. Andersson was out of the race while Söderström rejoined with damage to his bodywork and Karlsson moved into third. Söderström was trying to wrestle his car to the finish but found himself mugged by the closing pack on the final lap. Nerman grabbed fourth and Robin Knutsson sneaked through into fifth. Andreas Ahlberg ended up sixth, while Tobias Brink recovered to seventh from tenth on the grid, just ahead of his new teammate Engman. After the race, Karlsson was dropped to fourth by a 7.4-second penalty for causing a collision.
In a processional Race 2, Dahlgren claimed his sixth win of the season. He started from pole with Åhlin-Kottulinsky alongside, and while she went side-by-side with him through Turn 1, she settled in behind him at the exit of the corner. Söderström started from third and held station, while teammate Karlsson dropped one spot behind the repaired Lynk & Co of Andersson. From there, the field spread out, with Dahlgren leading ahead of Åhlin-Kottulinsky, though CUPRA cars didn’t break away from the field, with Söderström remaining close enough to apply pressure to Åhlin-Kottulinsky, but he wasn’t able to get close enough to make an overtaking manoeuvre. On the final lap, Brink managed to pass Ahlberg for eighth place and therefore claimed the reversed grid pole position for Race 3.
It didn’t help, as Brink took a bad start and was led by Engman and Hugo Nerman into Turn 1, while at the back of the field Rasmus Hedberg spun and rejoined. Top positions did not change until lap 5, when Åhlin-Kottulinsky passed Andersson for P5 and then advanced to fourth when Karlsson slowed down with a technical issue. Andersson dropped to seventh in lap 9 as he was passed by Dahlgren and Knutsson.
Engman continued to lead while Brink and Åhlin-Kottulinsky passed Nerman moving up to second and third, which is the way they finished.
The championship will resume at Anderstorp, September 4/5.

Karlskoga – Race 1
1. Robert Dahlgren (PWR Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 17 laps
2. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky (PWR Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 0.480
3. Hugo Nerman (Micke Kågered Racing, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 20.207
4. Mikael Karlsson (Lestrup Racing Team, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 20.217
5. Robin Knutsson (Lestrup Racing Team Volkswagen Golf GTI), 20.604

Karlskoga – Race 2
1. Robert Dahlgren (PWR Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 17 laps
2. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky (PWR Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 3.986
3. Oliver Söderström (Lestrup Racing Team, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 4.641
4. Mattias Andersson (MA:GP, Lynk & Co 03), 12.423
5. Mikael Karlsson (Lestrup Racing Team, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 12.689

Karlskoga – Race 3
1. Kevin Engman (Brink Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 17 laps
2. Tobias Brink (Brink Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 1.202
3. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky (PWR Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 2.367
4. Hugo Nerman (Micke Kågered Racing, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 2.684
5. Robert Dahlgren (PWR Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 3.253

Championship points
1. R. Dahlgren 178 pts.; 2. M. Åhlin-Kottulinsky 129; 3. T. Brink 117

Picture: TCR Scandinavia