Lestrup Racing Team endures frantic Gelleråsen weekend with positive glimpses
Lestrup Racing Team drivers Oliver Söderström, Mikael Karlsson and Robin Knutsson endured a frantic STCC TCR Scandinavia weekend at Gelleråsen Arena with plenty of ups and downs.
”This has not been a good weekend in terms of the results we achieved with the speed that we had. But we are bringing the positive parts with us, with Mikael qualifying on the front row, Robin taking another big step forward and Oliver’s podium,” said Fredrik Lestrup, co-owner of Lestrup Racing Team.
Oliver Söderström claimed a podium finish with third in the second race, but was involved in an incident in the first race and he stalled at the start of the third race due to a technical issue.
”It’s been a very tough weekend. We’ve had the pace all weekend but have just not been able to capitalise on it properly. It felt good to be on the podium but we deserved more than the overall result that we got. We need to bring the positive parts with us and reload for the next race,” said Oliver Söderström, who keeps fifth in the drivers’ standings.
Mikael Karlsson looked set for a podium finish in the first race as he crossed the finishing line in third, only to receive a penalty for contact with another driver, dropping him to fourth.
”We had the speed to fight for the podium, unfortunately I made terrible start in the first race and got a penalty that I don’t entirely agree with. But that’s racing sometimes. I had a technical issue in the final race and lost too much time. We’re bringing all of this with us to the next race where we will try to score as much points as possible,” said Mikael Karlsson.
Robin Knutsson took yet another leap forward, finishing fifth in the first race and chased down points leader Robert Dahlgren in the final race.
”I am incredibly pleased with the weekend. It’s so much more fun to be able to fight higher up the order and show that I can be part of the top fight further on. I’m really looking forward to Anderstorp where I am going to try and keep the momentum from here,” said Robin Knutsson.
Lestrup Racing Team by Volkswagen Stockholm keeps second place in the teams’ standings and Oliver Söderström keeps the lead of the junior championship ahead of the coming round at Anderstorp on September 4-5.
”It has been a tough weekend but we are going to keep fighting hard ahead of the next race at Anderstorp where we completed a very positive private test earlier this month,” said Fredrik Lestrup.
