Mike Halder charges to important win in Jyllandsringen opener

Mike Halder claimed an important win in the first TCR Denmark race of the weekend at Jyllandsringen to boost his title aspirations, beating championship rival Kasper Jensen and pole sitter Dennis Lind.

The German driver slotted into second place as the lights went out behind fellow Honda driver Lind.

The TPR Motorsport driver made the process short with his team-mate and was able to snatch the lead from Lind before the end of the first lap, a lead he kept throughout the race.

TCR Denmark newcomer Lind had a tough first couple of laps and was passed by Jensen on the second lap, seemingly struggling to get heat into his tyres.

The main battle of the race was instead for fourth place as the top three pulled away.

Philip Lindberg initially held fourth but was handed a penalty round for contact with another driver, dropping him down to ninth.

As Lindberg slowed down to take his penalty, Gustav Birch was able to snatch fourth from Matle Ebdrup. But Ebdrup fought back and was able to take fourth from Birch with four minutes left of the race.

Halder won the race four seconds ahead of Jensen who another four seconds ahead of Lind.

The Honda driver occupied the top six places with Edbrup fourth, Birch fifth and René Povlsen sixth.

Michael Markussen was once again the best non-Honda driver in seventh place with his Cupra Léon VZ TCR.

The second race of the weekend starts at 14:20 CEST.