Preview: the inaugural TCR Denmark season starts this weekend
FDM Jyllandsringen will host the inaugural TCR Denmark series race weekend, with 14 drivers and seven manufacturers represented on the grid, as the first major European touring car series to kick off following the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, teams and drivers completed the official pre-season test at Jyllandsringen, with Kasper H. Jensen of Massive Motorsport as the fastest driver, lapping the circuit in 1:09.068.
The Danish Honda driver was a good three tenths faster than Martin Andersen in his Hyundai i30 N TCR of Andersen Motorsport.
Jensen, who has secured the past two Danish Thundersport Championship titles, has his eyes set on another trophy and is happy with the change of car.
“It’s great fun to try something new after five years in the same car. This is different and definitely requires some adapting although it is really forgiving,” Jensen said to TouringCarTimes.
The latest addition to the grid is Jacob Mathiassen who joins Norwegian Kristian Moe Sætheren in a pair of Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR’s run by Insight Racing.
The former British GT driver returns to home soil with high aspirations and looking at the lap times put down during the two test days, he could challenge for the top positions.
The LM Racing duo of Jan Magnussen and Nicolai Sylvest struggled during the test days, not getting the most out of their Volkswagen Golf GTI TCRs. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that Magnussen and Sylvest will be front runners as soon as they get up to speed with the new cars.
Female Le Mans driver Michelle Gatting will join the grid at Jyllandsringen in a Peugeot 308TCR supported by Peugeot Sport and could surprise the front runners. The other three Peugeots will be raced by Michael Markussen, Michael Carlsen and Johnny Vejlebo.
The Swedish team TPR Motorsport that had entered a Honda for Casper Elgaard is missing from the grid this weekend, reportedly due to insurance complications regarding travel across the border to Denmark.
According to weather forecasts for the area, both Saturdays practice and qualifying sessions may be held in wet conditions. This could make for an interesting starting grid for the first race on Sunday morning.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, no spectators or guests will allowed during the race weekends. Teams are also limited to only bring four team members plus the driver for each car. Fortunately, the race will be available to watch on national TV-channel 6, as well as the Dplay streaming service.
2020 TCR Denmark series entry list
Jan Magnussen – LM Racing – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
Nicolai Sylvest – LM Racing – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
Kim Lund Johansen – Madbull Racing – Cupra TCR
René Povlsen – Meteor Racing – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
Allan Örgaard Kristensen – Meteor Racing – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
Casper Elgaard – TPR Motorsport – Honda Civic Type-R TCR
Mikael Kildevæld – Kildevæld Racing – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
Kasper H. Jensen – Massive Motorsport – Honda Civic Type-R TCR
Kenn Bach – Massive Motorsport – Honda Civic Type-R TCR
Michelle Gatting – Peugeot Sport – Peugeot 308TCR
Michael Carlsen – Carlsen Motorsport – Peugeot 308TCR
Michael Markussen – Markussen Racing – Peugeot 308TCR
Jonas Lindhard – Lindhard Motorsport – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
Martin Andersen – Andersen Motorsport – Hyundai i30 N TCR
Jacob Mathiassen – Insight Racing – Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR
Kristian Moe Sætheren – Insight Racing – Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR
Johnny Vejlebo – Insight Racing – Peugeot 308TCR
