Jan Nilsson
Encyclopedia
Jan "Flash" Nilsson is a Swedish racecar driver. He is most famous for his appearance in the Swedish Touring Car Championship
, having appeared in all fourteen seasons and for being the second most victorious driver (two championship wins and 33 race wins).
in 1983 before moving on to Formula 3. He became the Swedish F3 champion in 1989 and drove Formula 3 in Japan, Mexico and USA before moving to Clio Cup Scandinavia. He finished second in 1992 and moved up to Renault Spider Eurocup in 1993 after becoming champion in 1992. His first year in the Spider Eurocup saw him finishing in fourth place, as did the 1995 season. In 1996 he finished third, and the very same year he was the main force behind the creation of the Swedish Touring Car Championship.
After a somewhat tough 2004 season (only one race win during the whole season) Jan Nilsson sold Flash Engineering. The team changed its name to Polestar Racing
. Jan Nilsson started a new, smaller team from scratch for the 2005 season, also called Flash Engineering
. The team ran one BMW 320i E46 for Jan Nilsson, finishing 9th overall in STCC 2005.
Flash Engineering signed on several new sponsors, the Swedish mailservice "Posten" among others, for 2006 and dramatically increased their available funds. They also signed on double Swedish champion Richard Göransson and former Flash Engineering Volvo driver Edward Sandström. Göransson and Nilsson drove new BMW 320si E90 cars for the 2006 season, while Sandström drove the older BMW 320i E46. Richard Göransson finished second in the championship while Nilsson was 9th again. Sandström was involved in a major accident early in the season in which the car was completely destroyed, and Sandström had to sit out the remaining races.
After a couple of struggling years in STCC, 2005 to 2007, Jan Nilsson was back winning races in 2008, 2009 and 2010. "Flash" had a hard fight with previous team mate Richard Göransson for the most overall victories in STCC. The both switched places several times between the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons, with Göransson finally taking the top spot with 34 versus 33 victories at the end of the 2010 season.
"Flash" finished 5th in the STCC 2007, 6th in 2008 and 2009, and 9th in 2010.
Swedish Touring Car Championship
Swedish Touring Car Championship was a touring car racing series based in Sweden, but also with rounds in Norway. They began operating in 1996, heavily influenced by the British Touring Car Championship and the success of BTCC racing on Swedish television...
, having appeared in all fourteen seasons and for being the second most victorious driver (two championship wins and 33 race wins).
Early career
Jake Nilson started competing in Formula FordFormula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
in 1983 before moving on to Formula 3. He became the Swedish F3 champion in 1989 and drove Formula 3 in Japan, Mexico and USA before moving to Clio Cup Scandinavia. He finished second in 1992 and moved up to Renault Spider Eurocup in 1993 after becoming champion in 1992. His first year in the Spider Eurocup saw him finishing in fourth place, as did the 1995 season. In 1996 he finished third, and the very same year he was the main force behind the creation of the Swedish Touring Car Championship.
STCC
Jan Nilsson's own team, Flash Engineering, became the official Volvo team. He took the title in 1996 and 1997, both in a Volvo 850. and was second in 1998, this time in a Volvo S40. In 1999 he was 5th, and 6th in 2000. Some critics meant that he had lost his pace, but he proved them wrong with becoming second overall in the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons.After a somewhat tough 2004 season (only one race win during the whole season) Jan Nilsson sold Flash Engineering. The team changed its name to Polestar Racing
Polestar Racing
Polestar Racing is a Swedish motorsport team, affiliated with Volvo, currently competing in the Swedish Touring Car Championship and World Touring Car Championship. The team promotes environmentally friendly racing, and features ethanol engines and E85 fuel...
. Jan Nilsson started a new, smaller team from scratch for the 2005 season, also called Flash Engineering
Flash Engineering
Flash Engineering is a Swedish motorsport team based in Karlstad founded and owned by two-time Swedish Touring Car Championship winner Jan "Flash" Nilsson. The most recent time the team won the STCC-title was in 2008 with driver Richard Göransson...
. The team ran one BMW 320i E46 for Jan Nilsson, finishing 9th overall in STCC 2005.
Flash Engineering signed on several new sponsors, the Swedish mailservice "Posten" among others, for 2006 and dramatically increased their available funds. They also signed on double Swedish champion Richard Göransson and former Flash Engineering Volvo driver Edward Sandström. Göransson and Nilsson drove new BMW 320si E90 cars for the 2006 season, while Sandström drove the older BMW 320i E46. Richard Göransson finished second in the championship while Nilsson was 9th again. Sandström was involved in a major accident early in the season in which the car was completely destroyed, and Sandström had to sit out the remaining races.
After a couple of struggling years in STCC, 2005 to 2007, Jan Nilsson was back winning races in 2008, 2009 and 2010. "Flash" had a hard fight with previous team mate Richard Göransson for the most overall victories in STCC. The both switched places several times between the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons, with Göransson finally taking the top spot with 34 versus 33 victories at the end of the 2010 season.
"Flash" finished 5th in the STCC 2007, 6th in 2008 and 2009, and 9th in 2010.