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The Nürburgring Nordschleife, known as The Green Hell, threw an endless stream of challenges at Polestar Cyan Racing drivers Thed Björk and Fredrik Ekblom at the fifth race meeting of the 2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), on Saturday 28 May. The Volvo duo fought hard, with three-time STCC champion Björk challenging for the lead in the first race.
Björk started the first race of the weekend from third on the grid, made his way into second place on the opening lap and caught race leader Tiago Monteiro at the end of lap one – but an oil leak put his race to an end.
“I had the pace with Tiago and we were without doubt in with a shot for at least a podium finish. Unfortunately the car started to leak oil and I had to retire. This is all just part of our learning process but the important thing is that I was in a fight for the lead in only our fifth race of this all-new programme,” said Björk.
Meanwhile, teammate Ekblom continued the charge, climbing from 17th on the grid to finish eighth in race one – despite having had to replace his engine after problems during the free practice sessions and starting at the back of the grid as a consequence.
“I am happy with this result after the dreadful start I got to the weekend. We were able to overcome the issues and the car was so much better in the races, enabling me to make my way up through the field. But what this weekend has really been about is building a solid foundation for the race here next year and we have done just that,” said Ekblom.
The engine issue for Björk in the first race had the team racing against the clock in the pits to fix the car with just 20 minutes available for repairs. The Polestar Cyan Racing mechanics provided both drivers with strong cars for the second race where the Volvo duo climbed through the field to finish seventh and eighth from further down the grid.
“I just can’t thank the team enough; they gave me a really strong car, fast enough to set the third-fastest lap of the race. This is something everyone in the team can be really proud of,” continued Björk.
Thunderstorms, punctures, technical issues and bumper-to-bumper racing made the WTCC weekend in Germany the toughest one so far of the WTCC season for Polestar Cyan Racing.
“Thed’s oil leak denied us a podium finish and potentially a win. But at the end of the day, it’s our first time at the ‘Ring with these cars and we are very pleased with their speed. We are progressing well according to our plans; Polestar Cyan Racing is doing a really good job,” said Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Head of Motorsport at Polestar.
Next up is the WTCC race of Russia in Moscow on June 12th.
WTCC Race of Germany
Circuit: Nürburgring Nordschleife
Length: 25, 278 km
Lap record (WTCC): 8:40.688 (López)
Results
Race 1 – Top 5
1 José María López Citroën C-Elysée 3 laps
2 Tom Chilton Citroën C-Elysée +0.526
3 Norbert Michelisz Honda Civic +6.653
4 Rob Huff Honda Civic +7.971
5 Mehdi Bennani Citroën C-Elysée +10.126
…
8 Fredrik Ekblom Volvo S60 12.983
DNF Thed Björk Volvo S60
Race 2 – Top 5
1 José María López Citroën C-Elysée 3 laps
2 Norbert Michelisz Honda Civic +0.435
3 Tom Chilton Citroën C-Elysée +0.915
4 Rob Huff Honda Civic +1.908
5 Mehdi Bennani Citroën C-Elysée +2.431
…
7 Fredrik Ekblom Volvo S60 +6.072
8 Thed Björk Volvo S60 +8.008
Championship standings
Drivers
1 José María López Citroën C-Elysée 193 pts
2 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic 124 (-69)
3 Rob Huff Honda Civic 122 (-71)
4 Norbert Michelisz Honda Civic 120 (-73)
5 Mehdi Bennani Citroën C-Elysée 103 (-90)
…
12 Fredrik Ekblom Volvo S60 30 (-163)
13 Thed Björk Volvo S60 23 (-170)
