Dahlgren: I could match Scott

V8 Supercars rookie Robert Dahlgren’s confidence in his adjustment to the Championship continues to grow after recording commendable times at Pukekohe last weekend. 

After a challenging debut in his first four rounds, the Swede was only 0.086s off the pace of ARMOR ALL Pole Position winner and teammate Scott McLaughlin in the first five minutes of Sunday’s single 20-minute qualifying session while on old tyres.  

Although the #34 driver was not able to maximise his new tyres and hold on to a top 10 grid position or finish during the weekend, the Volvo Valvoline driver qualified 21st, finishing ahead of big names Garth Tander and Russell Ingall, in a session that saw the field separated by just 0.58sec.  

Dahlgren felt his quick performance was reassuring with 10 events remaining in 2014.

“The car was a lot quicker than the results show,” he said after finishing 23rd in Sunday’s 200km run.

“During the race we had really good pace and I could match Scott in the end.  

“In that sense, I am going away with a lot more confidence than the results show. I just can't wait for the next round.” 

Dahlgren is no stranger to the front of the grid in race cars, successfully competing in the Swedish and Scandinavian Touring Car Championships while playing a key part in Volvo Racing’s Polestar division for 10 years. 

The accomplished Volvo driver’s struggles to adapt to the V8 Supercar series reflects those of previous international drivers who have tried their hand at the Championship, with the pilot of the Polestar S60 saying he can’t even rely upon his extensive racing history in his pursuit to tame the ‘blue beast’. 

“It's hard to even put words into how different it is against all the European cars I’ve been driving,” he said. 

“I have to brake differently, I have to go into the corners differently, how I put power down is different. 

“I need to re-learn a lot of things, and it feels a bit strange being 34 years old and needing to learn everything new again. It's a bit like learning to walk again, but I'm trying to do it really fast.” 

The Swede’s grapple with V8 Supercars was evident in Sunday’s race when his pace was jeopardised by a small error on the entry to the back straight. 

“I felt the car was really strong and I was trying to have a go up through the field,” he said. 

“I just tried to get a really good drive but I went early on the power and touched the inside kerb at the same time I went on the throttle. 

“I spun on my own so I basically ruined the race for us, and for myself.” 

Dahlgren currently sits 25th in the Championship standings, but is hopeful he can progress further up the field after gaining some headway with the Polestar S60 last weekend. 

“I have learnt heaps and got a grip of it a lot more than the past weekends,” he said. 

“I'm starting to understand how to drive these cars more and more.

“It might not mean that I'll be up higher but hopefully in the top 10 at least.”

The next Championship event, the Perth 400, runs from May 16-18 at Barbagallo Raceway. Dahlgren, ADVAM/GB Gal's Dale Wood and Heavy Haulage Australia Racing’s Nick Percat are the only drivers in the field who haven’t yet raced a main game V8 Supercar at the 2.42km circuit.