It was the first time that the TCR Scandinavia hit the racetrack this season at Gelleråsen Arena, and the Swedish PWR Racing driver Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinksy was fastest in both the afternoon session and the one-lap shootout collective test.
July and the return to racing concerned the TCR Scandinavia as well, as the series held its collective pre-season testing. In the morning session of test day the drivers hit the track at Gelleråsen Arena in Sweden. Joining the field it was Swedish racing driver Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, who drove for PWR Racing during the last two years of the STCC and collected a 1st place at Knutstorp and a 6th place in the overall standings.
After Covid-19 and the long racing break, it was around 7 months since most of the drivers were away from the racetracks for real world motorsport.
"Excited and happy to be back on track and work with the team, however due to COVID related issues it was just possible to receive one new CUPRA LEON Competitión for this weeks testing [...]"
The morning session was the first time all the drivers were on track this season and it was Tobias Brink to top the timesheets right away, ahead of last year's champion Robert Dahlgren. Åhlin-Kottulinsky finished her first test session in the 8th slot.
In the afternoon session, it was her time to shine: Mikaela was fastest with Brink and Hannes Morin behind her.
In the one-lap shootout session, Kottulinsky started last due to the reverse starting order from both test sessions and she was fastest again. With a gap of just four tenths of a second, she won against Mattias Andersson (in his 20th STCC season), who finished in second place.
In the last corner, Morin lost his Audi and drove through the gravel, losing 5 seconds. It was the only noted incident of the tests.
Kottulinsky drove last-year's car, while her teammate Robert Dahlgren tested the new Cupra Leon Competitión that will be employed in the 2020 season. The first race will take place from 15th-16th August at Gelleråsen Arena in Sweden.
"P1 at STCC official testing and shootout yesterday 😃💥 Great to be back on track and with the crew, got some valuable info from the testing to put on the new car."