Halder is the big winner in TCR Denmark at Jyllandsringen

The three TCR Denmark races at Jyllandsringen saw back-to-back victories for Mike Halder, making him the biggest winner of the day. The third race was won in dominant fashion by Kasper H. Jensen, helped by worsening weather conditions.

In Race 1, pole-sitter Halder took a lights-to-flag victory from championship leader Jensen in a Honda 1-2, with the CUPRA cars of Nicolai Sylvest and Michael Markussen finishing third and fourth. The race was largely processional, although a one-lap safety car period to allow debris to be cleared meant Halder had to manage attacks from a determined Jensen twice. Sylvest made up two places on the opening lap and then spent the remainder of the race fending off Markussen. 

The reversed-grid second race was far more entertaining. Halder started from tenth on the grid but gained two places on the opening lap and two more on the next. By the end of lap 3, Halder was up to P2, and then passed pole-sitter René Povlsen’s Audi on lap 5 to move into the lead, with Philip Lindberg’s Hyundai also passing Povlsen for second place. There was another short safety car period, but Halder once again managed the restart well and pulled clear of Lindberg to take his second win of the day. On the last lap, rain was falling, and Jensen passed Povlsen to snatch third place.

The day’s third race then saw Halder start from pole position once again. Heavy rain had fallen between the races, which made tyre choice difficult. Jensen started from P2 on the grid but was alongside Halder into Turn 1 and passed the German driver. Sylvest passed Lindberg, but their fight ended on Lap 3 when Sylvest ran wide at Turn 1. A three-way scrap between Halder, Lindberg and Gustav Birch then developed, with Birch diving up the inside of Lindberg for P3 on lap 6 and then passing Halder for P2 before Lindberg also passed Halder. Halder then began to drop back, but the battle between Birch and Lindberg was only resolved on the penultimate lap when Lindberg passed Birch for second.

Despite the two wins, Halder remains in second place in the standings and now trails Jensen by 37 points; Sylvest is in third place, a further 11 points behind.

The next event will take place at Copenhagen’s street-circuit on 5/7 August.

Jyllandsringen – Race 1
1. Mike Halder (TP Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R), 13 laps
2. Kasper H. Jensen (GMB Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R), 1.201
3. Nicolai Sylvest (Green Development, CUPRA Leon Competitión), 8.662

Jyllandsringen – Race 2
1. Mike Halder (TP Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R), 13 laps
2. Philip Lindberg (Outzen Motorsport, Hyundai i30 N), 2.015
3. Kasper H. Jensen (GMB Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R), 4.158

Jyllandsringen – Race 3
1. Kasper H. Jensen (GMB Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R), 12 laps
2. Philip Lindberg (Outzen Motorsport, Hyundai i30 N), 13,357
3. Gustav Birch (GMB Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R), 14.418

Championship points
1. KH. Jensen 198 pts; 2. M. Halder 161; 3. N. Sylvest 150

Picture: TCR Denmark