Markussen sets the pole in Copenhagen under pouring rain

Michael Markussen topped a very wet TCR Denmark’s Qualifying session in Copenhagen. The street circuit in Bellahøj Park was flooded by pouring rain, making the session very tricky; Markussen was able to choose the right time for making his attempt and completed a lap of 1:16.212 that nobody was able to beat.
Gustav Birch had clocked a provisional fastest lap of 1:19.174 in the early stages, but immediately afterwards he crashed into a wall and pitted for repairs.
Markussen benefited from a break in the rain to move on top of the timesheet with a 1:16.653 that he improved to 1:16.212 in the following lap. Soon afterwards, Kasper H. Jensen managed to post the second fastest lap of 1:16.285.
Midway through the session, the rain flooded the track, then it eased a bit towards the end, which helped Jan Magnussen to climb to third with a lap of 1:17.980, demoting Kenn Bach and Birch to fourth and fifth respectively.
Casper Elgaard, Magnussen’s closest rival in the title fight, who had been fastest in free practice, qualified in sixth position (1:19.444) ahead of championship’s returnee Louise Frost (1:20.476), Nicolai Sylvest (1:21.045) and Jacob Mathiassen (1:22.205). 
The first of three races will start this afternoon at 16:55 CEST.   

Copenhagen – Qualifying 
1:16.212 Michael Markussen (Markussen Racing, Peugeot 308)
1:16.285 Kasper H. Jensen (Massive Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FK7)
1:17.980 Jan Magnussen (LM Motorsport, CUPRA Leon Competición)
1:18.812 Kenn Bach (Massive Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FK7)
1:19.174 Gustav Birch (Brian Madsen Motorsport, Peugeot 308)

Championship points
1. J. Magnussen 147 pts; 2. C. Elgaard 93; 3. KH. Jensen 85 

Picture: TCR Denmark