2006 STCC News & Rumours

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by JMeissner

Yes, I guess so with VAG and all, but that didnt stop SEAT and Audi competing against each other a couple of years ago in STCC.

Maybe money from SEAT Sweden is needed to keep Rickard Rydell in WTCC?

Don't know about VAG politics. If I am right the STCC Audis of KMS are developed with help from Audi Sport so I am curious if you were allowed to enter these Audis in WTCC. Or had KMS to sign a contract which forbid to enter the Audis in WTCC?

[kmchow]

Originally Posted by FIRE

If I am right the STCC Audis of KMS are developed with help from Audi Sport so I am curious if you were allowed to enter these Audis in WTCC. Or had KMS to sign a contract which forbid to enter the Audis in WTCC?

Last I recall, I thought the Audi was a local homologation so it doesn't have official FIA certification. I'm not sure if the WTCC will require that. OTOH, the WTCC can always give an exception?

[E46]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Maybe money from SEAT Sweden is needed to keep Rickard Rydell in WTCC?

I think Rydell doesn´t need money from SEAT Sweden. SEAT Sport should be paying the bills.

[E46]

Originally Posted by JMeissner

An official one with Podium Racing.

I didn´t remember Podium Racing, thanks.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Originally Posted by E46

I didn´t remember Podium Racing, thanks.

Didnt they get bankrupt some time ago? I remember they where quite a big team with some 4 cars in the GT class (three 996 GT3's and one Viper) and also some 2-3 cars in the S60 Challenge class and some other cars too in additional to the Seat's. The team boss's son was driving the yellow Viper in the GT class (cant remember his name) but I remember he wasn' very good and was running more in the graveltraps rather then on the black stuff where the other cars where running.

Anyway, Jan-Erik Berggren on Expressen.se reports that Joakim Frid (never heard of him) will drive an private enterd BMW next year (if its in the big class or in the Privateer class I donno) and also that Thed Björk will NOT drive in WCS after all and it's apparently down to him and Dahlgren for the 2nd Polestar seat.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Anyway, Jan-Erik Berggren on Expressen.se reports that Joakim Frid (never heard of him) will drive an private enterd BMW next year (if its in the big class or in the Privateer class I donno) and also that Thed Björk will NOT drive in WCS after all and it's apparently down to him and Dahlgren for the 2nd Polestar seat.

Joakim "Jocke" Frid is the first officially announced entry for the privateer class, yes, and there should be more announcements on the way before too long I think. I hope we get to see at least four or five entries for the privateer class, to boost the overall starting field to well over 20 cars.

Thed Björk leaving WCR wasn't exactly a shocker, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

In any case, great to finally get our first confirmed privateer cup entry, and things are getting a little clearer now even though there are still quite a few questionmarks to sort out.

Confirmed new drivers, either to the championship or in a new ride, marked in bold. * notes confirmed & finalized entries.

West Coast Racing, Robin Rudholm, BMW E46*
West Coast Racing, TBA, BMW E46
Polestar Racing, Alexander Storckenfeldt, Volvo S60*
Polestar Racing, TBA, Volvo S60
(Robert Dahlgren vs Thed Björk for the second seat?)
KMS, Fredrik Ekblom?, Audi A4
KMS, Tommy Kristofferson?, Audi A4
KMS, Roberto Colciago?, Audi A4
Engström Motorsport, Tomas Engström, Honda Accord*
Engström Motorsport, Jens Hellström?, Civic or Accord?
IPS Motorsport, Johan Sturesson, Peugeot 406*
IPS Motorsport, Petter Granlund?, Peugeot 406
(Supposedly being put together.)
Opel Team Sweden, Nicklas Karlsson?, Opel Astra (new 06 car)
Opel Team Sweden, ?, Opel Astra (old ex BTCC car)
Team Italienska Bil, Mattias Andersson, Alfa 156
Veidec Racing/Flash Engineering, Jan Nilsson, BMW E90*
Veidec Racing/Flash Engineering, Rickard Göransson, BMW E90*
Daniel Haglöf Motorsport ?, Daniel Haglöf, Honda Civic?
MB Sport, Tobias Johansson, Mercedes C200*
MB Sport, Hans Simonsson ?, Mercedes C200
Picko Troberg Racing, David Björk, BMW E46*

Privateer Cup entries
Jocke Frid, BMW
(Frid has bought the car Johan Nilsson used last year.)
Robban Kihlbom, BMW?
(Supposedly in the works, but it's been very quiet about this program as of late..)
JN Racing, Johan Nilsson, BMW?
(Has sold the BMW he used in 2005 to Jocke Frid - no word if Nilsson plans to race again in 2006.)

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

rustyfan: I really hope you are wrong about the coverage this year, have they said anything about that they will only show highlight program of the races? I mean, nowdays tehy have like 4-5 channels to air it on, so why wouldnt they show it live on SVT24 that is pretty much a sport channel already?

To re-answer this earlier question of yours, I have now gotten word that the races will be shown in the RACE magazine on monday after each race weekend at 10:30pm CET.

In other words pretty much as lousy as I was afraid it would be. Oh well, I guess we can relish the fact that we at least for one year had professional tv-coverage of the STCC.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

To re-answer this earlier question of yours, I have now gotten word that the races will be shown in the RACE magazine on monday after each race weekend at 10:30pm CET.

In other words pretty much as lousy as I was afraid it would be. Oh well, I guess we can relish the fact that we at least for one year had professional tv-coverage of the STCC.

Yeah, even tho I wasnt able to see it live last year, and now I personally will get better coverage, it's still bad news.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Yeah, even tho I wasnt able to see it live last year, and now I personally will get better coverage, it's still bad news.

Didn't TV3 air same-day recaps last year? But perhaps you don't have TV3 either (in which case I can understand why it'll be an improvement this year)?

[PorscheFanNo1]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

Didn't TV3 air same-day recaps last year? But perhaps you don't have TV3 either (in which case I can understand why it'll be an improvement this year)?

Yeah I have TV3, but they didnt show STCC, I think it was in 2004 they showed it? Last year I could only see it on ZTV, one hour recap but it was most talking and no action, only like 10-15 min in total was from the actual races and the rest 40 min was crap. On the other hand, I watched the 1 hour recaps taht was aired on Viasat1 also a couple of times, and those was much much better, they showed almost the whole races (both qual and final), so I dont get it why they had such crap version on ZTV.

[rustyfan]

Hottest rumour right now, according to STCC.se, is that KMS Audi will indeed expand to a three-car operation with increased backing from Audi Germany who apparently have taken an interest in the new & improved STCC. It seems it won't be Roberto Colciago in the third car, however, but rather Thed Björk who recently left West Coast Racing (as reported earlier).

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Yeah I have TV3, but they didnt show STCC, I think it was in 2004 they showed it? Last year I could only see it on ZTV, one hour recap but it was most talking and no action, only like 10-15 min in total was from the actual races and the rest 40 min was crap. On the other hand, I watched the 1 hour recaps taht was aired on Viasat1 also a couple of times, and those was much much better, they showed almost the whole races (both qual and final), so I dont get it why they had such crap version on ZTV.

Ah ok, that explains it.

[rustyfan]

There is still a chance the IPS Motorsport team will field a second Peugeot 407 in this years' STCC - Johan Stureson has told sportinformation.com that the second car is currently in Denmark and nearly race ready, but also that they won't fully race-prep it until the proper funding is in place. He also mentioned several drivers have been in touch with them about the second car but that no one so far has been able to bring enough sponsorship to seal the deal.

The deadline in order to get the second car fully ready and tested before the season starts is set to the end of next week, so there is still a chance someone might step forward with enough sponsorship.

I reckon this also means the program Petter Granlund was hoping to put together has fallen apart, as Johan Stureson also mentioned that two drivers have been close to finalizing the deal but failed to secure enough funding at the last moment (which has me believe the two are Robin Rudholm and Petter Granlund).

Here's hoping someone does indeed secure enough sponsorship for IPS Motorsport to enter the second car

[rustyfan]

Looks right now like Engström Motorsports won't field a second car, and come to think of it I seem to remember reading that they would focus their efforts on the Accord for this season. The reason I post this now? STCC.se has posted a list of cars up for sale, cars that would be eligible for the STCC Privateer Cup. They are as follows:

Engström Motorsports
Two Honda Civic that were raced in the STCC last year
(Hm, does this then include the car Daniel Haglöf raced?)

WestCoast Racing
One 2002 BMW that Peo Norén raced in STCC Challenge last year

Eje Elgh Motorsports
One 2002 BMW raced in the STCC by Carl Rosenblad

Kari Mäkinen
One 2002 Alfa Romeo

Denmark
Two Peugeot 307 previously raced in the DTC

[PorscheFanNo1]

Thats cool, shame Engstöm will only race one car. Was hoping for two competetive Accords, that would have been fun. So what will Hellstöm and Haglöf do this season then if both there cars are up for sale?

[Frederich]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

Thats cool, shame Engstöm will only race one car.

Yes.... However nice to se 2 Accords in Denmark ....

[rustyfan]

STCC.se has posted an interview with Pontus Mörth in which he says things are looking good this year to make a comeback to either the STCC or DTC. Last year he stepped aside when Volvo Denmark wanted a Danish driver for the DTC, and during his year off he drove some Porsche Carrera Cup races to stay in touch.

He mentions he would love to give the other drivers in the STCC a fight this year, especially considering the number of top talents that will be on the grid this season, but also that no deal has been finalized for either series yet.

One has to believe DTC is the more likely destination though, considering Kent Bo Steffensen, boss of Volvo Motorsport Denmark, has officially said he would like to get Pontus Mörth back to drive for the Volvo factory team there, but as usual we will have to wait and see how it plays out.

[Frederich]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

STCC.se has posted an interview with Pontus Mörth in which he says things are looking good this year to make a comeback to either the STCC or DTC. Last year he stepped aside when Volvo Denmark wanted a Danish driver for the DTC, and during his year off he drove some Porsche Carrera Cup races to stay in touch.

He mentions he would love to give the other drivers in the STCC a fight this year, especially considering the number of top talents that will be on the grid this season, but also that no deal has been finalized for either series yet.

One has to believe DTC is the more likely destination though, considering Kent Bo Steffensen, boss of Volvo Motorsport Denmark, has officially said he would like to get Pontus Mörth back to drive for the Volvo factory team there, but as usual we will have to wait and see how it plays out.

Due to lack of results Volvo have pulled out of the Danish team, so it is not a factory team any more, the team is now kown as "Sport A Racing". But the team still wants Pontus.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by Frederich

Due to lack of results Volvo have pulled out of the Danish team, so it is not a factory team any more, the team is now kown as "Sport A Racing". But the team still wants Pontus.

Did not know that, so thanks for the info - I wonder if Volvo removing its factory support from the DTC team is going to be a factor in where Mörth decides to go.

[rustyfan]

Sportinformation.com reports that Team caWalli, which for the last two years have fielded teams in the JTCC, Swedish SuperStock 600 and Swedish Radical Championship, might be looking at fielding a car in the STCC this year.

Team boss Joakim Wiedesheim admits Team caWalli is taking a serious look at starting up a STCC program, and that they have a car and driver ready to go if they chose to do so. It is, however, early days yet, and there has not been a final decision as of yet.

Here's hoping they indeed join the fray

[PorscheFanNo1]

So if the have both car and driver, and are already one of the biggest teams in the paddock and one of the biggest names in Swedish motorsport right now and surely cant have any problems with sponsors, why on earth are they hesitating on entering? That doesnt make any sence at all to me.

Anyway, Mörth in STCC would be awsome, been a fan of him since he started driving STCC in late 90s and he's always fast.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

So if the have both car and driver, and are already one of the biggest teams in the paddock and one of the biggest names in Swedish motorsport right now and surely cant have any problems with sponsors, why on earth are they hesitating on entering? That doesnt make any sence at all to me.

One has to remember that they are still a rather young organisation and taking the step up into STCC is a pretty big one (especially now that the entrance fee has gotten a bit more expensive).

As for having no problems finding sponsors, it's still Sweden we're talking about here

[Bezzen]

Sportinformation.com are reporting that Daniel Haglöf could be the man for the open WCR slot. Now that would be something.

[Bezzen]

Mörth will be in DTC with Volvo this year.

http://www.teknikensvarld.se/motorsp...orth/index.xml

[JMeissner]

Duncan Huisman will drive for WCR!