Andreas Bäckman says that the decision to race in the TCR UK series this weekend ‘was an easy decision’ even though the calendar clash with the STCC meant that he had to make a car switch for it to happen.
Bäckman is racing in North Yorkshire at the wheel of Sean Walkinshaw Racing’s Honda Civic FK2, after his car was required in Norway for STCC driver Fredrik Ekblom.
But the 22-year-old and WestCoast Racing took the decision to compete in the UK as he has a better chance of securing a higher championship position at the end of the year – with Bäckman currently third overall in the drivers’ standings.
A late deal with SWR meant Bäckman would have the opportunity to continue in the series at Croft, albeit in different machinery.
“It was quite an easy decision to make,” Bäckman told TouringCars.Net. “In Sweden I am 14th in the championship and I am fourth in the Junior championship, but I feel like I have a better chance here to have a good result.
“Here I am third overall and it’s still possible to get second, so that made the decision quite easy. It was still difficult for sure, because I still had an opportunity to be third in the Swedish Junior series, but I felt that his would be more fun.
“I have been quite fast in this series, whilst in Sweden I am struggling a bit more with the car and getting to grips with the tyres, whereas here it has been much easier for me.
“I think it was a good decision to race here. Although there are not so many cars here, and the level in Sweden is very high with 20 cars, the top level here is also very good.
“There are more cars in Sweden, and both series are fun, but I really like the tracks here in the UK which are very challenging for the drivers.”
WestCoast Racing Team Manager James Nixon explained how the team had made a late decision last week to race in the UK when they realised that their sponsors were flexible and that there was potentially a car available from SWR.
“We were trying to see if we could find a car, because we originally thought we were going to have to keep our Golfs in Sweden,” said Nixon to TouringCars.Net. “But then it became apparent that our sponsors didn’t mind if we only went with one car to Rudskogen.
“That meant that Jessica could keep her Volkswagen. Then we thought it would be good for Andreas to drive the Honda, as it’s good on the compensation weight and it’s a good, strong car anyway, so we contacted Ken [Page] at Sean Walkinshaw Racing and we decided to put it together so the guys from SWR are running the car with some support from us.
“Fredrik Ekblom is driving Andreas’ regular car in STCC this weekend. In the UK there is an engine change penalty, so we decided to keep Dan [Lloyd] in his usual car so there is no penalty, whilst Jessica is in her usual car. Here you can change car with no penalty.
“It wasn’t so easy to sort everything – it’s been a lot of work for the mechanics and for me and the drivers to get everything sorted on the logistics, with the trucks coming from Sweden to Immingham and splitting the parts to get to Norway, so it’s been a busy week or so for all of us involved.
“Hopefully it goes well in qualifying and hopefully we get some sunshine for tomorrow!”