Audi drivers Fredrik Ekblom and Tommy Kristoffersson finished in fifth and sixth positions respectively in the Swedish Touring Car Championship (STCC) season opener at Knutstorp. During the debut of the reworked Audi A4 STCC, which now features the single-frame radiator grille, Fredrik Ekblom got to know the subtleties of the new race format. "Lots” are drawn for the starting positions for the first of the two qualification races – and Ekblom drew eleventh place. The 2003 Champion fought his way up to seventh place, was second in the second qualification race and, following a ‘coming together’ at the start of the final race, finished fifth ahead of Tommy Kristoffersson in the other Audi A4 STCC.

Knutstorp (S), 22 May, Swedish Touring Car Championship (STCC) round 1

1 Thed Björk (BMW) 18 laps in 19m 09.197s 2 Richard Göransson (BMW) + 0.145s 3 Tommy Rustad (Opel) + 8.499s 4 Edward Sandström (Volvo) + 8.905s 5 Fredrik Ekblom (Audi A4 STCC) + 9.304s 6 Tommy Kristoffersson (Audi A4 STCC) + 11.440s Positions after 1 of 8 rounds: 1 Björk, 24 points; 2 Rustad, 20; 3 Göransson, 18; 4 Sandström, 16; 5 Ekblom, 12; 6 Kristoffersson, 7.