2011 is now officially part of the history and we take this opportunity to look back at the year and summarize WestCoast Racing’s 2011 motorsportseason. A season that in many ways was an eventful season for the team with highs and lows.

WestCoast Racing was once again a two car team in STCC entering two BMW. Here verything is prepared for the very first pre-season test.

Martin Öhlin left Carrera Cup and took the step up to STCC and together with Richard Göransson he prepared for his very first STCC-season. Richard Göransson had to adjust from the rally driving he did in the winter back to racing again. He finished a sensational second overall in PWRC in Rally Sweden.

WestCoast Racing didn’t only do touring cars this year. Besides STCC the team also entered it’s first full GT-season with the BMW Z4 GT3. Fredrik Lestrup joined the team to be the main driver in the GT-programme that included a full season in Swedish GT and selected races in German ADAC GT Masters.

The STCC-season started in Denmark and everything looked great to begin with. Richard Göransson had a commanding lead of 10 seconds in the first race on the penultimate lap. But a rear brake failure entering the last lap led to a huge crash. Richard went off in the barrier and hurt his back badly. A truly shocking start to the season for the whole team.

WestCoast Racing was now back to just one car for the second race weekend two weeks later at Ring Knutstorp. Martin Öhlin was the sole driver in the team and made an heroic effort having third place in the first race when he was turned around by Johan Stureson just two laps before the finish.

The team’s first victory for the season came in the GT-race at Mantorp Park. Fredrik Lestrup together with Lars Stugemo won an exciting one hour long race. Fredrik Lestrup continued to win all the remaning races in the championship together with Fredrik Larsson.

 

STCC also went to Mantorp. Martin Öhlin was out for revenge after Knutstorp and qualified as the best BMW-driver. But this time he got pushed off in the first corner of the first lap.

Richard Göransson was badly hurt but surprised everyone by returning after just three race weekends off. He made his comeback in Gothenburg City Race and he didn’t wait around and won the race. The final lap in Denmark was now completed.

His comeback was the start of an intensive period with a lot of interest and pressure from media. Richard Göransson relaxes himself and the back between driving and interviews in the pit garage at Falkenberg. He claimed another podium here but more was to come ….
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The summer was a busy period for the team with races every weekend. STCC, Swedish GT and GT Masters. In July WestCoast Racing entered it’s first race in the competitive GT Masters, Nürburgring was the place for the debut. A lot to learn but Fredrik Lestrup proved the team has the speed by setting the fifth fastest lap in one of the two races. WestCoast Racing entered another three races in the championship after this.

Back home in STCC Richard Göransson returned as the king of STCC. He won everything, both races, during a fantastic race weekend in Karlskoga where he was unbeatable. No. 1 was back and against all odds he was actually an outside candidate for the title now.

WestCoast Racing also had time for more than racing. Together with Champion Watches we also released a WestCoast Racing watch.

STCC returned to Denmark and Jyllandsringen after the summer break. Not the team’s favourite place but after having been close many times Martin Öhlin finally managed to claim his first podium in STCC. The Denmark chapter could finally be closed.

Back home in Sweden WestCoast Racing continued to dominate the Swedish GT Championship. Here is from Falkenberg which was hit with heavy rain all weekend. Fredrik Lestrup and Fredrik Larsson was unstoppable.

After having won all races in the championship Fredrik Lestrup won the drivers championship at the final round at Knutstorp and became the Swedish GT-champion. Together with Fredrik Larsson the pair also secured the team title to the team.

And so it was time to finish the STCC-season. After two weekends with few points in Denmark and Knutstorp WestCoast Racing came to the final round at Mantorp without a shot at the title for the first time in ages. WestCoast Racing proved the pace was there but this was just simply a season when it just didn’t happen.

This was also the last race in the team’s STCC-career. An extraordinary success story which has made WestCoast Racing the most succesful team in the championship’s history with five championship titles, four times in second place overall and third place overall respectively. Ricahrd Göransson is the most succesful driver with four titles, three of which with WestCoast Racing, and 37 race victories of which a majority won with WestCoast Racing. The cars are now up for sale.

The next challenge is TTA. WestCoast Racing is one of the four founding teams of a new Swedish championship. During the summer and autumn the testing of the prototype which will form the basis for the new car started.

Besides a large programme in TTA WestCoast Racing also plans an increased GT-programme with compeition both in Sweden and Germany. 2012 will be another intensive and busy year for WestCoast Racing.

 

We would like to take the opportunity to thank all partners, all guests that have joined us at the races, our fans, colleagues and competitors for support this year. We promise to return with exciting news for 2012 during the next few months.

Pictures:

STCC – Mediaempire.se
GT – Martin Palm, Martin Öberg, Thomas Granbacka, Mikael Teng, Christoffer Ahlin