Johansson secures FR1.6 title in close season finale at Mantorp

Photo: STCC

16-year-old Erik Johansson has narrowly edged Martin Rump out to take the Formula Renault 1.6 Sweden title in the series finale at Mantorp Park.

Johansson, who entered Mantorp with a 12-point lead in the championship, was ousted from the top of the standings after race one, in which title rival Rump took a dominant victory from pole. The Estonian finished four seconds ahead of second-placed Paul Blomqvist, whilst Kimmy Larsson completed the podium.

Having started in fourth, Johansson soon fell prey to a charging Pontus Fredricsson, which forced the Team Tido driver to settle for fifth, putting him three points down on Rump ahead of the final race.

The second heat saw Rump get another smooth start from pole. However, the Estonian’s title bid came undone on lap two, when he lost a number of crucial positions after a visit to the gravel trap.

With Rump’s mistake, series debutant Robin Hansson, who recently won the Formula BMW Talent Cup title, inherited the lead. Despite subsequent pressure from Blomqvist, who then exited the race on lap 12, Hansson held on to the win, crossing the line three seconds ahead of nearest rival Larsson.

Having to defend his position in the closing stages of the race, Johansson narrowly kept Lukas Sundahl at bay to take third, securing the title by two points as Rump wound up finishing only fifth.

Championship standings