Jan Magnussen wins Race 3 to be the first points leader
Kasper H. Jensen, Kevin Engman and Jan Magnussen took a win apiece at the opening round of TCR Denmark at Jyllandsringen, with Magnussen leaving the circuit with a one-point lead over his new teammate Engman in the standings.
Jensen and teammate Gustav Birch led the way in qualifying, putting their GMB Motorsport Honda cars on the front row ahead of Magnussen.
Race 1 - Magnussen made a good start and was threatening for second place into Turn 1, before Birch managed to dive back down the inside and reclaimed the spot at the exit. From there, Birch drove a strong and defensive race, holding back Magnussen’s CUPRA for 14 laps, while teammate Jensen romped to a relatively easy victory. Right across the line behind the three drivers were Nicolai Sylvest and the Halder siblings, with Mike’s Audi leading sister Michelle’s Honda.
Race 2 - The top ten were reversed for Race 2, which gave Lars Højris’ CUPRA pole position ahead of Kevin Brandsborg’s Honda, but it was Swedish driver Engman who made the best start, grabbing the lead from third on the grid and went on to control the race to victory. Brandsborg drove a steady race to finish second, while Michael Markussen finished third ahead of Mike Halder. Race 1 winner Jensen was the first retirement of the race, after getting involved in contact in the mid-field at the start and breaking a steering arm.
Race 3 - Engman started the final race from pole ahead of Birch and Magnussen. Birch made a bad getaway, which allowed Magnussen as well as Mike Halder straight past him, but Birch was able to get back ahead of Halder before Turn 3 on the opening lap. Up front, the Auto Lounge teammates were pulling away, while Birch was now battling to hold back Halder. The safety car was called on lap four when Højris stopped on track with a broken front-right upright. At the restart, Jensen, whose steering had been repaired in the short interval between races, passed Markussen’s CUPRA for fifth and joined the battle for third between Birch and Halder. With two laps to go, the Auto Lounge teammates swapped positions, with Magnussen passing Engman for the lead and going on to win the final race of the day, while just behind Markussen tagged the rear of Jensen’s Honda, causing him to slide and drop to seventh behind Markussen and Brandsborg.
The second event will be on June 17/18 at Djursland.
Jyllandsringen – Race 1
1. Kasper H. Jensen (GMB Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 14 laps
2. Gustav Birch (GMB Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 2.184
3. Jan Magnussen (Auto Lounge Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 2.464
Jyllandsringen – Race 2
1. Kevin Engman (Auto Lounge Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS II), 13 laps
2. Kevin Brandsborg (TPR Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 5.966
3. Michael Markussen (Markussen Motorsport, CUPRA Leon Competición), 7.628
Jyllandsringen – Race 3
1. Jan Magnussen (Auto Lounge Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 12 laps
2. Kevin Engman (Auto Lounge Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS II), 1.311
3. Gustav Birch (GMB Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 5.427
Championship points
1. J. Magnussen, 57 pts; 2. K. Engman, 56; 3. G. Birch, 49
Picture: TCR Denmark/Stump Photo
