After a run of four races without a single win to his name, Carl Svedlund turned the tide in Nysum’s Race 1, climbing back to the top step of the podium.

Alex Antilla seemed poised to have done the hard part by securing the top spot in the intermediate standings for the second time this season. But the Finnish driver once again fell short of making the final Top 6, just as he had earlier this year at KymiRing.

That opened the door for Svedlund to seize the moment and swing Race 1 firmly in his favor. Third after the intermediate heats, the Swedish driver from JC Raceteknik delivered a flawless performance, winning his semifinal and then dominating the final ahead of championship leader Peetu Piira and Jonas Hegelund Nielsen—who celebrated his first podium of the season.

“My day started badly with a retirement in Q1, but I managed to bounce back with the third-fastest time in Q2 before setting the best time in Q3 and then holding on to that form all the way to the final. So yes, I can only be satisfied with the day,” Svedlund reflected.

Perhaps most importantly, the Swede ended Peetu Piira’s streak of four consecutive victories. Starting only 11th after qualifying, Piira pulled off an impressive comeback to finish second, but his championship lead has now shrunk to a single point over Svedlund.

A fact that wasn’t lost on the man of the hour.

“This win is exactly what I needed to approach the final rounds of the championship with confidence. I went through a tough period with engine issues that cost me points against Peetu Piira, but standing back on the top step feels incredible. Before this weekend, the team reminded me that the main goal was to score points for the championship, and I did my best to deliver. The gaps are extremely tight. I know nothing will be easy, but it’s always exciting to be in this position heading into the season finale.”