Robert Dahlgren takes his third title in TCR Scandinavia
Robert Dahlgren has clinched his third TCR Scandinavia championship after winning the first two races of the day at Mantorp Park; he secured the title in his PWR Racing CUPRA Leon Competición four races early, while teammate Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky strengthened her second place in the standings with victory in Race 3.
In the first race, Dahlgren was in control, leading from start-to-finish, with Tobias Brink trailing him throughout the race a safe distance behind. Mikael Karlsson had a great start and leapt from fifth to third ahead of Oliver Söderström. The Lestrup Racing teammates came under attack from Mattias Andersson whose Lynk & Co passed both Volkswagen cars and moved up to third. On lap 3, Andreas Bäckman went deep into the Mjölby curve, which gave Åhlin-Kottulinsky the opportunity to make a lunge up the inside. The two made contact, with Bäckman spinning around and rejoining at the back. Åhlin-Kottulinsky was handed a ten-second time penalty, which was rescinded after the race. With five laps to go, Andersson passed Brink to take second, with Brink left to defend against Karlsson to hold on to the final podium position.
Bäckman started from the pole in Race 2, but had a slow getaway and dropped to fourth, with Dahlgren taking the lead from P2 on the grid ahead of Söderström and Brink. At the end of the lap, Bäckman was passed by Andersson who later passed Brink for third; Brink was caught by Bäckman and Åhlin-Kottulinsky. Bäckman went wide at Mjölby on lap 7, sliding off and straight into the gravel trap, with the safety car deployed to recover his Audi. The race resumed on lap 11, but positions up front didn’t change, with Dahlgren crossing the line to take his tenth win of the season and secure the 2021 drivers’ championship.
The top eight reversed grid put Isac Aronsson on pole position for Race 3 ahead of Robin Knutsson. The two would hold station at the start, while Andersson made his way past Brink for third and soon despatched Knutsson for second. Aronsson and Andersson were engaged in a battle for the lead, with Andersson trying twice to get in front of Aronsson, but to no avail. At the end of lap two, as Andersson tried to pass Aronsson around the outside, Åhlin-Kottulinsky snuck up the inside and grabbed second place, before passing Aronsson to take the lead. Brink then ran into the back of Andersson at F2 curve, which allowed Dahlgren ahead of the pair of them and up to third. Dahlgren then overtook Aronsson a lap later, while Brink headed down the inside of Aronsson and took fourth. Andersson followed Brink through and finally made his way past Aronsson, but heading into Paris curve, Aronsson hit the back of Andersson’s car, spinning the Lynk & Co into the gravel trap. The safety car was deployed, with the race restarting on lap 10, with Åhlin-Kottulinsky leading the pack ahead of Dahlgren and Brink. Åhlin-Kottulinsky pulled away securing her first win of the season, as Dahlgren defended second against Brink.
The final event of the championship takes place at Ring Knutstorp next Saturday.
Mantorp Park – Race 1
1. Robert Dahlgren (PWR Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 14 laps
2. Mattias Andersson (MA:GP, Lyng & Co 03), 13.463
3. Tobias Brink (Brink Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 16.190
4. Mikael Karlsson (Lestrup Racing Team, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 16.462
5. Oliver Söderström (Lestrup Racing Team, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 18.395
Mantorp Park – Race 2
1. Robert Dahlgren (PWR Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 14 laps
2. Oliver Söderström (Lestrup Racing Team, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 1.688
3. Mattias Andersson (MA:GP, Lyng & Co 03), 3.879
4. Tobias Brink (Brink Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 4.603
5. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky (PWR Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 5.068
Mantorp Park – Race 3
1. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky (PWR Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 14 laps
2. Robert Dahlgren (PWR Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 3.745
3. Tobias Brink (Brink Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 4.127
4. Oliver Söderström (Lestrup Racing Team, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 5.225
5. Andreas Bäckman (Brink Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 5.652
Championship points
1. R. Dahlgren 297 pts.; 2. M. Åhlin-Kottulinsky 212; 3. T. Brink 201
Picture: TCR Scandinavia
