Season review of DTC 2008 – Part 1

Critics said ahead of the Danish Touring Car Championship 2008-season that the title was a give away to Jan Magnussen in the BMW 320si. But the story turned out to be a completely different story. Rule changes favouring the front wheel drive cars, new tires and new race formats with three races each round meant that the championship was close and open until the very last round.

The season saw a number of changes in teams and drivers. Former champions Team Essex had gone, reigning champion Michel Nykjær had no support from SEAT in Denmark and swapped to BMW at the Poulsen Motorsport outfit. Martin Jensen got a drive in the BMW of Team Den Blå Avis, while his replacement in the Accord of Honda team Hartmann Racing was no other than former BTCC champ James Thompson. The WTCC-driver had his workload doubled in 2008, as he was campaigning Hondas in both WTCC and DTC. Former Team Den Blå Avis driver Jason Watt found himself as both team boss and driver, racing a new SEAT Leon.

Favourites at front in round one

The first round of DTC took place at Jyllandsringen as usual. Qualifying put Tom Pedersen in the new Team Telesikring outfit at pole position in front of Jan Magnussen. The pole man took the victory in front of the Team Den Blå Avis driver, who countered in race two with a win from an inspiring race from seventh on the grid. The final race saw a lights to flag victory for Magnussen. Behind him, both James Thompson and Henrik Lundgaard had a good race weekend with Lundgaard finishing second. Thompson had to let Tom Pedersen slip away with third spot after the pair rubbed fenders, but the brit secured a great deal of points.

Chevrolet domination at Ring Djursland

Frontrunners Jan Magnussen and James Thompson had to sit out the return to the curvy Ring Djursland circuit due to obligations in ALMS and WTCC. The Chevrolet pair of Henrik Lundgaard and Outzen had shone in the test leading up to race weekend and continued the form in the races. Lundgaard won a dominant race one, Jens Edman the second race, partly thanks to the reversed grid rules, having passed leader Jason Watt in the SEAT.

The finale saw Michael Outzen take his first victory in a finale in DTC. Behind him were Michel Nykjær and Martin Jensen, who had a mixed weekend with two podium finishes and a clash with Lundgaard in the second race. It was a clash leading to harsh criticism of the competitors from the Chevrolet team, reminding the fans of the days of the controversial Essex team. The results meant that Michael Outzen took the series lead from the absent Jan Magnussen, on this occasion substituted by VW Polo Cup champion Jacob Ludvigsen.

Big Mag back in style

The third round of DTC saw a return to the Jyllandsringen track outside Silkeborg in Jutland. It also marked the return of both Jan Magnussen and James Thompson, who had to miss out on the second round due to obligations in the ALMS and WTCC. Due to the regulations, each drive had to detract the three worst results at the end of the championship, meaning the superstars of touringcar racing were still in with a shot at the DTC crown.

Magnussen took race one from pole position with former teammate Henrik Lundgaard behind him. A bit further adrift was James Thompson in the Accord ahead of new series leader Tom Pedersen. Second race saw Jason Watt in a popular pole position. The SEAT man could not withstand pressure from Tom Pedersen and German Robert Schlünssen in the Peugeot 407 and had to settle with third ahead of Jan Magnussen in what turned out to be the battle of the race weekend.

The final race of the day looked an easy win for Magnussen who lead away from the front. Lundgaard was once again second with Tom Pedersen on the lower step of the podium. Privateer Schlünssen came in in a stong fourth position with Thompson fifth despite a last minute manoeuvre from Martin Jensen. The results meant that Tom Pedersen was in front ahead of Magnussen and Lundgaard with former front man Outzen back in fourth.

James Thompson in focus

The Padborg Park track near the German border was the venue for the fourth round of the championship. The track has been known for favouring front wheel drive cars, and qualifying proved, that the Chevrolets, Hondas and Peugeots in DTC could take the honours this weekend. Lacetti man Lundgaard took pole position ahead of Hondas James Thompson. The Brit overtook Lundgaard at the start and stormed away to his first win in the DTC.

The Chevrolet pair of Lundgaard and Outzen was followed by Magnussen and Watt in the SEAT. Tom Pedersen had a difficult race, but finished eighth to claim pole position for race two. James Thompson showed good form again moving from eighth on the grid to third behind privateer Schlünssen. Reigning champ Michel Nykjær took fourth, Jason Watt battled again with Magnussen and came out fifth with Outzen sixth, Magnussen seventh and Lundgaard eighth.

The results meant that James Thompson would be on pole position for the final ahead of the privateer Robert Schlünssen. Known for his on occasional erratic driving, the two clashed on several occasions on the first lap, leading to a stand still further down the field. That cost the race of Nykjær and Martin Jensen, among others. At the front, Thompson put Sclünssen into the gravel, costing him a stop and go. Thompson eventually came away with a single point from the race. Michael Outzen instead inherited the win in a DTC final ahead of team mate Lundgaard.

Looked set for third, but contact with Jason Watt cost him a stop and go penalty, and championship rival Magnussen could take the final step on the podium. Privateer and WTCC regular Kristian Poulsen took fourth ahead of Sweden’s Jens Edman in the Peugeot 407.