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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

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 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 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

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.

Results
Race 1
Race 2
Race 3

Championship standings

Mikael Karlsson claimed his so far best STCC TCR Scandinavia qualifying result with second position at Gelleråsen Arena, just 96 thousands of a second from pole sitter Robert Dahlgren.

”My lap was really good and I thought it was enough for pole, but unfortunately Dahlgren went a bit quicker. But this was my so far best result, so we’re moving forward and the team has done a great job. My goal for the races is still set on the podium,” said Mikael Karlsson.

Team-mate Oliver Söderström was fourth fastest in the first qualifying session (Q1) and improved to third for the second session.

”I’m a bit frustrated, I thought we would have more pace. But we had some understeer as we didn’t know how the car would react on new tyres after running on older tyres during testing. We made some improvements for Q2 and the car felt better. But we have a strong race car and I hope to be able to climb,” said Oliver Söderström.

Robin Knutsson also claimed a new personal best qualifying result with seventh in both sessions, making it onto the second qualifying session for the first time ever.

”I felt really confident in the car and it feels great to have made it to Q2. What I’m most excited about is that I finally have the same speed as the mid-field drivers, so that I can fight with them. It’s going to be really interesting tomorrow,” said Robin Knutsson.

The first race of the STCC weekend at Gelleråsen Arena starts at 10:50 CEST tomorrow and is broadcast LIVE on: plus.stcc.se

Results – Q1
Results – Q2

Lestrup Racing Team heads for the third STCC TCR Scandinavia round at Gelleråsen Arena this weekend, strengthened by a successful summer test at the same circuit and an additional test at Anderstorp. The goal is firmly set to catch and pass the competitors in the standings.

Oliver Söderström, currently placed fifth overall, was just 29 thousands of a second from the top time during the test and is keen to gain lost ground.

”The fight back up the order starts now,” said Oliver Söderström.

”I think we are looking strong ahead of Gelleråsen, especially after the successful test we had there. I won a race here last year and that’s my goal for this weekend, although I know it will be very tough.”

Mikael Karlsson was even closer to the top during the summer test, lapping just 0.006 seconds slower than the fastest time.

And the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR driver is keen to do well during his home race.

”I want to beat my personal best STCC result and claim a podium finish this weekend,” said Mikael Karlsson.

”We got plenty of laps done during the test and got a lot of answers to questions that we had. I have a good feeling ahead of the race weekend.”

Robin Knutsson is continuing his hard work forward in what is his first-ever STCC season and comes boosted by a strong test.

”The test at Gelleråsen was my best so far, we found a lot of time and we were much closer to our competitors than before,” said Robin Knutsson.

”My confidence has increased a lot and I think we have a good shot at challenging for the top six this weekend.”

Lestrup Racing Team, the reigning STCC champion team, is currently placed second overall in the team championship standings, 66 points from leading team PWR Racing.

”We have a lot of hard work ahead of us to gain on our competitors and we come strengthened by two successful tests last week,” said Fredrik Lestrup, co-owner of Lestrup Racing Team.

”Gelleråsen is a circuit where we have scored strongly in the past and if we play our cards right this weekend, there is no reason we cannot keep delivering at the very top.”

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

Schedule Gelleråsen Arena
Saturday 21/8
09:35 – Test 1
13:35 – Test 2
16:25 – Q1
16:50 – Q2

Sunday 22/8
10:50 – Race 1
14:00 – Race 2
16:15 – Race 3