Andreas Ahlberg joins Micke Kågered Racing
Andreas Ahlberg joins Micke Kågered Racing in Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia. There, the 31-year-old from Avesta will drive Lukas Sundahl's four-time championship-winning Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (991 II). "I have competed in most top-level classes in Sweden and am really looking forward to testing the Porsche Carrera Cup," says Ahlberg.
Ever since 2013, Andreas "Adde" Ahlberg has represented Linköping-based Micke Kågered Racing. It started in V8 Thunder Cars 2013-2016 and continued in STCC 2017-2021. Now, as the team makes the step to Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia, Ahlberg joins us. This is the tenth season Andreas is driving for me," says team manager Micke Kågered, who believes in a successful debut season for the Dalkarlen.
"I think Andreas can surprise me in Porsche. Sure, it's a long learning experience – you don't get in a car like this and win right away – but I still have a good feeling about the season, he says.
Andreas Ahlberg clearly points out that he enters the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia with a good deal of humility. He has great respect for the experience of car and championships that many of his competitors in approved cup have. Yet the goal is high.
"The idea is that we should be challenging for the title," he says, adding: "I have been both second and third in championships, but so far I have never won. With the approach we are in the process of getting to, I feel that the opportunity for victory exists, both individually and team-wise. The chance to win a championship is also a big part of the motivation in this venture.
As a new friend in Micke Kågered Racing, Ahlberg gets four-time Porsche Carrera Cup champion Lukas Sundahl. Sundahl's winning car Ahlberg will also drive in the Porsche Approved Cup, the class in the class for drivers who drive the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (991 II).
"To have the opportunity to collaborate with the team that has won the championship the last four seasons obviously means a lot. Lukas and his father Per have an incredible amount of experience and knowledge. The help they can contribute should make my journey into class somewhat less complicated," says Ahlberg. Furthermore, the fact that the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (991 II) drives on the rear wheels is not a disadvantage. Quite the opposite. At least according to team manager Kågered.
"Andreas gets to come back to rear-wheel drive again, which I think he's always been better at than front-wheel drive," he says. Ahlberg agrees: "Well, that's the way it is, even though I've done well in front-wheel drive cars as well. I'm really looking forward to testing my new Porsche. I think it's going to suit me.
Micke Kågered Racing's collaboration with the Sundahl family also means that Lukas drives the team's new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992). Of course with the goal of winning a fifth driver's title and defending the team gold from last year, what Lukas drove home with Christoffer Bergström.
In addition to Lukas Sundahl and Andreas Ahlberg, Micke Kågered Racing's 2022 venture will include another car in Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia. Who will drive it will be revealed later.
Andreas Ahlberg has a fairly long and successful career behind him. Like so many others, he started in go-karts at a young age, but already at the age of 15 he made his debut in racing. Ahlberg started his career in the Renault Junior Cup (2005-2006) and has since competed in JTCC (2007-2009), Camaro Cup (2010-2011), V8 Thunder Cars (2013-2016) and STCC (2012, 2017-2021).
Dalkarlen has placed high up in all the series he has competed in. Among other things, he has a silver place in JTCC and two bronzes from V8 Thunder Cars on the track record. Ahlberg has also been fourth in the STCC. The latter success came in 2019. After two race victories and a total of six podiums, he had only the trio Robert Dahlgren, Tobias Brink and Andreas Wernersson ahead of him in the table.
"Our strength historically has been championships. Despite being a fairly small team with limited resources, we have reached many good overall positions, although there has not been any championship gold yet. We've often had a really high minimum level and that's going to be an important key factor in the Porsche Carrera Cup as well. To reach a good position overall, it is important to drive smart and take many points. "All the time," Ahlberg said.
31-year-old Ahlberg, who works as a fire officer at the Rescue Service in Sala, has been racing since he was 15 years old. What does he hope to develop as a driver now that he is giving his into a whole new class?
My analytical ability, evaluate and refine my driving to be faster. I will also put a lot of focus on understanding how such a car, and not least the tyres, work over distance," he says, adding: "When it comes to the tracks, I have a big advantage. I have not been anywhere else and competed than in Sweden and have ridden extremely much on the tracks in the calendar. This means that I will be able to put all the focus on driving.