Nykjær wins his first race of 2008
2008 has been a barren year for reigning Danish Touringcar Champion and last year’s FIA European Touring Car Cup winner Michel Nykjær. But at Padborg Park on Sunday the Dane claimed his first race win for 11 months and his first in the DTC series for 15 months, when he crossed the finishing line first in front of Henrik Lundgaard and Jan Magnussen.
He had qualified second for the first of the three heats, but at the start a very determined Henrik Lundgaard moved past him to follow team mate Michael Outzen for the rest of the race to claim a 1-2 victory that at the end of the day would prove crucial in Chevrolet Motorsport Danmark’s claiming the teams’ title. Behind the Chevrolets Michel Nykjær was holding third place from Jan Magnussen, but when an anti roll bar broke on his the car, he had to let Jan Magnussen by into third place.
Behind the leading quartet Jens Møller took fifth place ahead of Jason Watt, while the battle for seventh and eighth position ended in tears, when Peugeot driver Robert Schlünssen shoved Le Mans Porsche RS Spyder driver Casper Elgaard off the circuit, the former triple champion having a one-off outing in the Honda Accord normally driven by James Thompson.
As Robert Schlünssen was penalized for the incident, eight place and pole position for the second race was given to Tom Pedersen, who managed to lead from Jason Watt and Michel Nykjær until the very last lap. Jason Watt was the latest of the late brakers this Sunday, and as soon as he found a way past Tom Pedersen’s BMW he went on to take the lead and the race win – his first since June 2004.
Michel Nykjær finished second in this race, and the added result of the two opening races gave the reigning DTC champion pole position for the final. Here the BMW driver timed the start to perfection, slowing the cars behind him down, and then instantly opening up a gap of two or three cars, when he went on the gas. Henrik Lundgaard and Jan Magnussen were running nose to tail in second and third place, but as both were in with a shot of the title, none of them wanted to risk anything. Jason Watt followed up his brilliant race win to take fourth, while privateer Honda driver Jens Møller completed his best race weekend for years by taking three top six race results.
With Sunday’s win in the final Michel Nykjær made sure that he is still in with a chance – albeit very slim – of keeping his title, which is fought out between five drivers with just one round to go at Jyllandsringen on October 12th.
