PCC Scandinavia: Isabell Rustad recovers to double top-eight finish at Karlskoga
- RACERS
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Isabell Rustad enjoyed strong recovery drives at Karlskoga Motorstadion as the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia continued its 2026 campaign, securing a pair of top-eight finishes to bounce back after a tricky start to the season.
Isabell Rustad enjoyed strong recovery drives at Karlskoga Motorstadion as the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia continued its 2026 campaign, securing a pair of top-eight finishes to bounce back after a tricky start to the season.
The Fragus Motorsport driver arrived at Gelleråsen Arena looking to rebuild momentum after a challenging opening part of the championship. Rustad currently sits 11th in the overall standings with 59 points, below the position she had targeted for the season, but the Karlskoga weekend provided several encouraging signs ahead of the final two rounds.
Rustad's qualifying performance was shaped by a five-place grid penalty carried over from the previous round in Denmark, where she had been penalised after making contact with another competitor. With the penalty already affecting her starting position for Race 1, the team opted to conserve tyres rather than complete a full qualifying attack.
“We chose to do only three push laps to save tyres for the race, because I had a five-place grid penalty after the previous race in Denmark,” Rustad explained.
She nevertheless remained within striking distance of the front, finishing 0.753 seconds away from pole position. Her best effort placed her 10th overall, meaning the grid penalty required her to start Race 1 from the back of the field.
That setback did little to prevent Rustad from producing one of her strongest drives of the season.
Starting at the rear, Rustad immediately found herself in the middle of the action as the opening laps produced several incidents. The Norwegian managed to avoid trouble and capitalise on the opportunities ahead, steadily working her way through the field.
By the chequered flag, she had climbed all the way to seventh place, completing a particularly effective recovery drive from the back of the grid.
Her race pace was also significantly more competitive than earlier in the season, allowing her to challenge for sixth place during the closing stages. Rustad ultimately could not find a way past the car ahead, but seventh represented an important result after starting from the back of the pack.
The second qualifying session was disrupted by changing weather. After two or three laps, light rain began to fall, preventing the drivers from improving their times as the circuit became progressively wetter. Rustad therefore again qualified 10th.
Her Race 2 start was considerably more straightforward than her qualifying result suggested. Rustad made an excellent launch and immediately gained four positions, moving from 10th to sixth by the end of the opening lap.
She eventually slipped back to eighth, but remained in the fight throughout the race. The final 20 minutes proved particularly demanding, as she came under sustained pressure from former World Rallycross Champion Timmy Hansen. Rustad managed to keep Hansen behind until the chequered flag, securing eighth place and completing a second consecutive top-eight finish.
The result gave her a second solid points haul of the weekend and, perhaps more importantly, confirmed the improved race pace that had been visible in the opening race.
After a difficult opening half of the season, the Karlskoga weekend represented a significant step forward for Rustad and Fragus Motorsport. A seventh-place finish from the back of the grid in Race 1 was followed by an eighth in Race 2, while her ability to fight at the front of the midfield and defend successfully in the second race provided further encouragement.
“It was a good weekend for me,” Rustad said. “I’m actually quite happy with the weekend. I’m taking the positive things with me, and it is always special to drive at Karlskoga.”
She also praised the work of her Fragus Motorsport team, adding: “The competition is extremely tough, and Fragus Motorsport is doing a fantastic job. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
While Rustad remains 11th in the championship, the weekend's results offer an opportunity to build momentum with just two rounds remaining. Attention now turns to the Porsche Festival at Rudskogen Motorsenter on August 28–29, where the Norwegian will enjoy a home event and the opportunity to welcome sponsors, family and supporters.
