Arkiv: september 2021

Victory hunt for Lestrup Racing Team at Mantorp as STCC season nears end

STCC

Lestrup Racing Team heads to the penultimate STCC TCR Scandinavia round at Mantorp Park this weekend hunting victories, strengthened by a successful endurance race weekend in Germany.

The team is placed second overall in the teams’ standings, 121 points behind the leaders with 240 points left to be fought for this season.

”We head to Mantorp boosted by a return to endurance racing that went well above our expectations and the strong results of Anderstorp. As the drivers’ title is more or less out of reach for us this year, our focus is on scoring more victories and to close in on the team championship lead,” said Fredrik Lestrup, co-owner of Lestrup Racing Team.

Oliver Söderström climbed to fourth overall following two podium finishes in the previous round at Anderstorp.

”I’m excited to head for the final two rounds. I’m definitely aiming for my first win of the year and to close in on the drivers in front of me in the standings. We know that it will be tough, especially against the Cupras, but we will as always fight hard,” said Oliver Söderström.

Robin Knutsson is the most recent STCC race winner after scoring a sensational debut win in the final Anderstorp race.

”While my bar has been raised after Anderstorp, there is no concrete result target for this weekend in order to not focus on the wrong things,” said Robin Knutsson.

”That method has worked really well so far this season and I know that the speed and confidence is on top. I feel more and more comfortable in the car and other drivers start to consider me as a real threat. I think we can score well this weekend.”

Mikael Karlsson had a tough Anderstorp weekend with several incidents while showing promising speed.

”It feels like I’ve chased redemption all season, so right now it just feels like we’ll give it our best this weekend and we’ll see where that takes us,” said Mikael Karlsson.

”I like Mantorp and I had strong pace here last year, so I hope that we have taken as big of a step forward here as on other circuits.”

The STCC races at Mantorp Park are broadcast LIVE on: plus.stcc.se

Schedule Mantorp Park
Saturday 2/10
09:25 – Test 1
12:25 – Test 2
16:25 – Q1
16:50 – Q2

Sunday 3/10
10:45 – Race 1
13:20 – Race 2
15:29 – Race 3

Two podiums as Lestrup Racing Team returns to international endurance racing

Endurance

Lestrup Racing Team returned to the international endurance racing scene last weekend, claiming two class podium finishes in the NES500 at the Lausitzring in Germany.

”We’ve had an awesome race weekend after almost two years away from the endurance racing scene and our drivers performed really well in a competitive field of close to 40 cars,” said Fredrik Lestrup, co-owner of Lestrup Racing Team.

The team faced a technical issue at the start of the weekend, meaning the drivers missed the practice sessions and got their first run on the circuit during qualifying.

But Mats Olsson, Peter Fahlström and Stefan Nilsson quickly overcame the challenges and managed to secure second place in the TCR class of the first three-hour race and tenth position overall.

The second race saw the trio fighting their way to finish third in the TCR class and ninth overall with the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR of the team.

”It felt great to be back on track after nearly two years away. We had a frustrating first day with the technical issues and that meant a tentative qualifying and first race. But we made improvements and had okay speed. Considering the issues we had, we are really pleased with the result and the entire team made an amazing effort,” said Mats Olsson.

”I had not been in a race car for one and a half year which made it a bit nervous initially. A second place in the first race and third in the second was amazing considering that we all had driven so few laps. We had a good strategy and some luck in both races. I am really pleased with the result and we feel ready for the Dubai 24 Hours,” said Peter Fahlström.

”We had a great weekend with a great team. We aimed for a podium finish but reached two. The mechanics were incredible and helped us to two extraordinary races. The support from Fredrik and the engineers was just top class!” said Stefan Nilsson.

Lestrup Racing Team is currently on its way back to Sweden and the penultimate round of the STCC TCR Scandinavia season at Mantorp Park, held on October 2-3.

”This race weekend served both as preparation for the final STCC rounds and for the 2022 Dubai 24 Hours in January that we plan to take part in. And we do feel boosted by the results this weekend, our goal for Mantorp is definitely to fight for the victories,” said Fredrik Lestrup.

Results Race 1
Results Race 2

Lestrup Racing Team returns to endurance racing at the Lausitzring

STCC

Reigning STCC TCR Scandinavia champions Lestrup Racing Team are back on the endurance racing scene for the first time since the 2020 24 Hours of Dubai and are currently heading for the NES500 at the Lausitzring in Germany.

”We are very much looking forward to finally enter an endurance race again in Europe and we are confident of being able to deliver a strong result this weekend with our trio of drivers,” said Fredrik Lestrup, team co-owner.

The team is going to field a Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR SDG for two three-hour races this weekend with drivers Mats Olsson, Peter Fahlström and Stefan Nilsson.

”The endurance races are a key part of our team and the pandemic unfortunately put a temporary stop to that,” said Fredrik Lestrup.

”But we are delighted to be back back again and this race is primarily a warm-up for the 2022 Dubai 24 Hour race that we plan to enter.”

The team will face a field of close to 40 cars this weekend, mixed of both TCR and GT4 cars, before heading to the penultimate STCC TCR Scandinavia race of the weekend at Mantorp Park on October 2-3.

For more information about the NES500: nes500.de

Robin Knutsson claims sensational debut STCC win at Anderstorp

STCC

Lestrup Racing Team driver Robin Knutsson claimed a sensational debut STCC TCR Scandinavia victory at the former F1 circuit Anderstorp.

The 19-year-old driver headed the final reversed grid race from lights to flag.

”That was awesome! The race felt like a marathon, I just wanted it to end and it was fantastic when the chequered flag finally fell. We’ve made improvements for each race this year and we were finally able to utilise the reversed grid to claim a win – a huge thanks to the team,” said Robin Knutsson.

Oliver Söderström further underlined the strong weekend for the team with two third place finishes in the first two races.

”It’s been a good weekend with two podiums and we’ve shown strong pace. We haven’t got the straight line speed unfortunately. But we will continue fighting on for the next race, my goal is as always set for a victory,” said Oliver Söderström.

Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR driver Mikael Karlsson had a tough weekend with incidents and a seventh place finish in the first race from the back of the grid as his highlight.

”We fought hard and made a lot of overtaking moves. I was unfortunately turned around in the second race and had to start all over again. The speed is there, it’s just a shame that we can’t show it properly,” said Mikael Karlsson.

Oliver Söderström has climbed to fourth position in the standings while Lestrup Racing Team keeps second place in the teams’ championship, 121 points from leading team PWR Racing.

”We are super proud of Robin who made an astonishing final race, withstanding the pressure of leading a race this early in his STCC career. To leave Anderstorp with a win and two podium finishes is a solid result. This is the level we need to keep delivering at and that we aim to improve even further in the next race,” said Fredrik Lestrup, team co-owner.

The next STCC TCR Scandinavia race takes place at Mantorp Park on October 2-3.

Anderstorp results
Championship standings

Lestrup Racing Team in top three fight of close Anderstorp qualifying

STCC

Lestrup Racing Team driver Oliver Söderström fought for the top three positions in the STCC TCR Scandinavia qualifying session at Anderstorp, with team-mate Robin Knutsson securing two top six positions.

”Oliver put in two solid results and Robin continues to impress us, especially on a track like Anderstorp which is really different to what we usually race on. We are still a bit behind the pole position time, but we have historically always done better in the races and the goal is obviously to gain further positions tomorrow,” said Fredrik Lestrup, co-owner of Lestrup Racing Team.

Oliver Söderström finished third and fourth in the two qualifying sessions, just three thousands of a second from second place in Q1.

”I have mixed feelings after qualifying. Third in Q1 is good, but I feel that there is more left in my driving. But it’s so tight at the top, so if you can’t put together the perfect lap, you will drop a couple of places. But I will start on the inside line for the first race and I will try to fight hard, I know that we have a good race setup,” said Oliver Söderström.

STCC newcomer Robin Knutsson had another strong qualifying result and finished fifth in Q1 and sixth in Q2, further underlining his impressive progress.

”I’m incredibly pleased! The goal was Q2 and I had some hopes of the top five that we succeeded with. It’s great to have the Betsafe colours on the car as well, I think our partnership will work really well and I’m pleased to show them that the speed is there for the top. I’ve got high expectations for the races tomorrow,” said Robin Knutsson.

Mikael Karlsson meanwhile left qualifying unhappy after going off track in the first session, meaning that he will have to start the first two races from 13th on the grid.

”I feel empty after my off, especially as the data showed that I had the speed to fight for the top. We have to think this over, the only positive thing is that we have fresh tyres for the races tomorrow,” said Mikael Karlsson.

Next up is the three races of tomorrow, the first one starting at 11:20 CEST and all are broadcast live on: plus.stcc.se

Results – Q1
Results – Q2
Championship standings

Lestrup Racing Team prepared for new challenge at Anderstorp

STCC

Lestrup Racing Team is heading well prepared to the fourth STCC TCR Scandinavia round of 2021 at Anderstorp this weekend, having completed a test at the former F1 circuit earlier this summer.

”We did not capitalise on our potential during the previous race and we need to turn that around this weekend. We had a productive test day at Anderstorp last month that I think will prove vital for us and our sights are set on nothing but the top fight,” said Fredrik Lestrup, co-owner of Lestrup Racing Team.

Oliver Söderström is placed fifth overall in the standings and had a frustrating race weekend two weeks ago at Gelleråsen with promising pace that did not materialise in outright results.

”While Anderstorp might not be a Volkswagen track on paper, I think we can surprise the others. I feel fast and comfortable there after the test we had earlier. We’ve passed half of the season and I’m not where I hoped to be in the standings. I’ve kind of given up the title hope and I’m focussing solely on winning races. I want to show that both myself and the team belong at the top and can perform at least as strongly as the top drivers,” said Oliver Söderström.

Team-mate Mikael Karlsson had a similar weekend at Gelleråsen, qualifying second on the grid for the first race but dropped down to finish fourth after a post-race penalty.

”It’s going to be great to get behind the wheel again and we had some bad luck last weekend, still showing that we have the speed for the top. I think our competitors will be stronger at Anderstorp, but we are going to fight hard to score as many points as possible,” said Mikael Karlsson.

Robin Knutsson secured his best-ever STCC result at Gelleråsen with a top five finish and is hoping to improve further this weekend.

”I’m really looking forward to Anderstorp where I am going to try and keep the momentum from Karlskoga. It will be my first time racing there, but I feel ready after the productive test we had there earlier,” said Robin Knutsson.

The STCC races at Anderstorp are broadcast LIVE on: plus.stcc.se

Saturday 4/9
09:00 – Test 1
13:15 – Test 2
16:20 – Qualifying Q1
16:45 – Qualifying Q2

Sunday 5/9
10:50 – Race 1
14:00 – Race 2
16:25 – Race 3