Lundgaard leads Magnussen in practice

The first official practice session of the 2009 Danish Touring Car Championship premiere at FDM Jyllandsringen was eventful, and the usual suspects were in the front. Lundgaard led Magnussen, Honda newcomer Poulsen and Michel Nykjær.

The conditions were very windy, and the asphalt temperature was dropping all through the session. The newcomers in the class had a difficult day, and Magnussen´s new E85 BMW had its share of trouble before hitting the top of the board.

Magnussen and teammate Martin Jensen has launched a new E85 assault on DTC, and his team has had his fair share of challenges.

A small engine fire last weekend at the DTC test weekend and in this first practice session at round one his green BMW loomed at the bottom of the sheets. Only in the closing rounds of the session he rocketed to the top of the lap chart.

Several teams were concentrating on long runs, especially Team Telesikring youngster Joachim Stephansen on 13th spot. He had to sit out his first DTC test last weekend, due to pneumonia, making this session the first real test for him in the BMW 320i E90. Kim Morgan Jensen had his debut in the DTC, making sure to work on his steep learning curve.

Per Poulsen has to be named the surprise of the season so far, moving up from Clio Cup to DTC driver, keeping the pace of teammate James Thompson. Best Invitation-Only driver was Jens Ole Mathiesen in his BMW M3 E46. John Hansen will stay out this Saturday altogether, changing a broken gearbox in his Seat Leon Supercopa.

Next session will be practice session 2 at 13.55.