Michel Nykjær claims exciting pole!

It was a showdown of dimensions at the qualification for round three of the Danish Touring Car Championship Saturday afternoon. Michel Nykjær claimed pole, that that alone is not the full story. Off track excursions, crashes and troubles was another side of the story, and in the end Nykjær took the honours.
“The pole was not expected, “ Nykjær explains.

“We got 20 kilos in the car since the last round, and it was said that it should even up the competition. We did not agree, but we decided to fight on. In the practice sessions it looked promising.”

It was a sunny day at FDM Jyllandsringen, but with intense wind gushes making the day exciting on the straights. After just seven minutes, the Chevrolet driver Michel Nykjær set a time of 1.10,447, and then chose to pit.

It was the plan to go back out, but a defect in the steering made the team bet on safety, and keep the Lacetti in the pits.

The 30 minutes long session was after seven minutes shaped by Michel Nykjær in preliminary pole, followed by Jan Magnussen, James Thompson and the fastest privateer Per Poulsen in his Honda Accord. The two Hondas of Thompson on third and Poulsen on fourth, was split by a fast moving John Nielsen in his Team Telesikring BMW.

Jens Reno Møller had already had one off during the second practice session, and as luck would have it, he was destined for another off in the qualification. On the verge of the new track section, he collided with a fast-moving Jan Magnussen already on second spot, resulting in a off for both parties.

Magnussen was stuck in the gravel, while Jens Reno Møller escaped, getting a penalty for spreading dirt on track, after causing an avoidable collision.

Michel Nykjær was still stuck in the pits, hoping for good fortune and a pole position, which he in the end would get. The fastest privateer was Per Poulsen on fifth, while the quickest Invitation Only driver John Hansen in thirteenth spot.

The next DTC session will be the warm up at 10.35 Sunday morning.