With three victories at Rudskogen Motorsenter, Ola Nilsson climbed from fourth to second place in the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia. Ahead of the final at Mantorp Park, he is therefore only 13 points behind championship leader Lukas Sundahl – and a title candidate. - Things can change quickly, but to be honest, I didn't believe in this development when I went here. At the time, it felt as if there was too much of a point-wise gap up to Lukas, Nilsson admits.

Ola Nilsson has been stable at a high level in his comeback season in Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia. Before the competition in Norway, the Skåne had been on the podium three times in the Mtech Competition. But never at the top. “We have picked up points steadily during the season but haven't had the real peaks. So it was perfect timing to take this”.
Nilsson, who turned 35 last Thursday, dominated qualifying and secured pole position in all three races. “From the first square I got two good starts and one a little worse, but managed to get through the first curve in first place in all three races”.

It was in the last heat that he didn't get it to one hundred percent and was challenged by Lukas Sundahl from grid two. The Smålander tried to go inside, but there Nilsson closed the door. “I absolutely closed, but when he folded in and behind, there was still room on the inside, so I hadn't closed the hatch completely”, he says. Lukas Sundahl did not quite share that view. He thought that Nilsson should have been better aware of the rear-view mirror.

Disappointed Sundahl
If Ola Nilsson was super happy with his best weekend ever in the Porsche Carrera Cup, the four-time champion was disappointed. Sundahl was second, fourth and third in the race. A conclusion many would have been satisfied with, but Sundahl had obviously hoped for more. He won all three heats at Rudskogen Motorsenter last year and could have decided the championship with an equally strong effort this time. Now he lost part of his lead and must try to decide the championship in his favor at Mantorp Park instead.

Before the decision, Sundahl tops the table ahead of Ola Nilsson. Remaining in third place is Hampus Ericsson who was tied in terms of placement with Sundal (4-3-2).
”In the last race we had really good speed and got something to build on before Mantorp Park, a track that I really enjoy”, says Ericsson.
There also awaits a real prestige meeting for the Kumla son. The guest driver in the final will be this year's Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson, Hampu's older brother.

Persson lost
Fourth in the table is Emil Persson, who after a less than good qualification had to settle for the positions 6-6-5. He lost his third place in the table, but is only one point ahead of Ericsson before the decider. Fifth-placed Marcus Annervi answered for another strong performance. The victory at Gelleråsen Arena most recently – his first in the Porsche Carrera Cup – he followed up with two new podium places in Norway.

Tough fight
In the Porsche Approved Cup, the class of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (991 II) drivers' championship, Andreas Ahlberg came to Rudskogen with a 13-point lead over main competitor Hannes Morin. He lost three, but the valley man has ten left until Mantorp Park in two weeks. Both Ahlberg and Morin were on the podium after all races and won one heat each. Ahlberg triumphed in the end after a really spectacular and tough fight for the class victory with Morin in particular. The decision came on the last lap where Ahlberg managed to overtake the talent from Umeå.

”We gave away some points in both races one and two, so before the third I felt that it was all in”. Nevertheless, he was second in class before the last lap. ”Morin's tires were bad, mine were bad, but I knew I was strong out of Slaktarsvängen so I went on the outside, we collided and then he missed a bit in the next corner and I was able to get past there”, says Ahlberg, who going for two titles at Mantorp Park. Together with Lukas Sundahl, he has brought Micke Kågered Racing to an almost certain victory in the team championship.

Race Two Results

Nilsson took the lead from pole position, but it was not championship leader Lukas Sundahl who followed him closest. Sundahl didn't get off to a good start from grid two and was only fourth out on the first lap. Marcus Annervi took the start as second and third was Hampus Ericsson. Annervi tried to hook this weekend's hit man, but didn't quite have the speed to challenge. However, he was a superior second and stood on the podium in his third race in a row. “I tried to get a hold of Ola but after two track limit warnings I didn't dare anymore”, said a satisfied Annervi, who however expects a tough finish at Rudskogen. He was to start the third heat only from the eighth grid.

1. Ola Nilsson, Mtech Competition, 22:32.119
2. Marcus Annervi, Race Team Gelleråsen – By AFR, +3.368
3. Hampus Ericsson, Fragus Motorsport, +7.317
4. Lukas Sundahl, Micke Kågered Racing, +7.635
5. Dennis Hauger, Porsche Experience Racing, +8.016
6. Emil Persson, Kristoffersson Motorsport, +12.362
7. Edvin Hellsten, Fragus Motorsport, +13.149
8. Jan Magnussen, Porsche Experience Racing, +13.506
9. Hannes Morin (A), Steber Racing, +33.488
10. Oscar Löfquist, Kjellin Motorsports, +34.233
11. Andreas Ahlberg (A), Micke Kågered Racing, +35.252
12. Kjelle Lejonkrans (A), Fragus Motorsport, +36.177
13. Thomas Karlsson, Mtech Competition, +37.326
14. Hampus Hedin, Fragus Motorsport, +46.119
15. Robin Knutsson, WestCoast Racing, +46.396
16. Ole William Nærsnes (A), Jaffa Racing, +50.244
17. Albin Wärnelöv (A), Micke Kågered Racing, +52.312
18. Franck Århage (A), Arhage Motorsport, +52.622
19. Christoffer Bergström (A), Team Pampas, +56.702
20. Markus Lönnroth (A), Steber Racing, +1 Lap
21. Nermin Sipkar (A), Sipkar Motorsport, +1 Lap
DNF. Erlend Juan Olsen (A), Jaffa Racing, DNF

Race One Results

After a strong qualifying, Ola Nilsson managed pole position and took his first win of the season. He led from the first to the last meter, but had all-time championship leader Lukas Sundahl right behind him. “It was a tough race. Lukas is fast so it's important not to make any mistakes”, said Nilsson. “He didn't either”. The Mtceh Competition driver kept a cool head and was allowed to step up to the top of the podium after the finish. Thanks to full points, Ola Nilsson advanced to third place in the championship.

1. Ola Nilsson, Mtech Competition, 22:34.064
2. Lukas Sundahl, Micke Kågered Racing, +1.199
3. Marcus Annervi, Race Team Gelleråsen – By AFR, +4.354
4. Hampus Ericsson , Fragus Motorsport, +7,612
5. Dennis Hauger, Porsche Experience Racing, +8,012
6. Emil Persson, Kristoffersson Motorsport, +8,566
7. Edvin Hellsten, Fragus Motorsport, +9,795
8. Jan Magnussen, Porsche Experience Racing, +10,874
9. Robin Knutsson, WestCoast Racing, +24.506
10. Christoffer Bergström (A), Team Pampas, +36.311
11. Andreas Ahlberg (A), Micke Kågered Racing, +38.350
12. Hannes Morin (A), Steber Racing, +40.494
13. Oscar Löfquist, Kjellin Motorsports, +43.146
14. Thomas Karlsson, Mtech Competition, +44.243
15. Erlend Juan Olsen (A), Jaffa Racing, +45.587
16. Hampus Hedin, Fragus Motorsport, +48.497
17. Albin Wärnelöv (A), Micke Kågered Racing, +59.992
18. Franck Århage (A), Arhage Motorsport, +1:00.555
19. Markus Lönnroth (A), Steber Racing, +1: 06.972
20. Ole William Nærsnes (A), Jaffa Racing, +1:15.688
21. Nermin Sipkar (A), Sipkar Motorsport, +1 lap
Kjelle Lejonkrans (A), Fragus Motorsport, broke