Driver comments from DTC premiere

There was no stopping Jan Magnussen in the first Danish Touring Car Championship race of 2008. The Dane won the final race of the weekend ahead of Henrik Lundgaard and Tom Pedersen, who held pole position. James Thompson finished fourth in his first ever DTC race. Here follow comments from the drivers of the premiere.

Jan Magnussen – BMW 320si
”Tom did a splendid first heat and didn’t do anything, I wouldn’t have done. He closed the door nice and firmly, when there was a possibility for me to go by, and if I should have gone past, I should have muscled my way past, which involved certain risks which are too early to take at this time of the season.”

Tom Pedersen – BMW 320si
“It was a hard battle, but Magnussen was very fair. It was great fun, but also hard, but they should not try and intimidate me. I just don’t let anybody get past, just because they are called Magnussen.”

James Thompson – Honda Accord
“I am very pleased to get some points and finish all three races, because historically the team has not been strong at this track. There are definitively some tough competitors out there, and I enjoyed the cut and thrust of it and look forward to the next race.”

Jason Watt – SEAT Léon
“From a sporting point of view it has been great to go from being number 21st and to end up as seventh in the final. This underlines the fact that I am feeling well in the car.”

Michel Nykjær – BMW 320si
“I am very dissatisfied with the incident with Robert Schlünssen. After having seen it on a video recording, I think the jury should also take a look at some of the others cars. We are riding wheel to wheel, but not running into each other.”

Jens Edman – Peugeot 407
“I held fifth position and had a good gap to the car behind me. Then I got a puncture. I tried to drive the car over the finish line but lost a lot of places and ended up in 16th position. It was really sad with such a end to the weekend, but at the same time we are happy that we have the speed to be in the top.”