Photo: TCR Denmark

Mike Halder beats Kasper Jensen to controversial Race 3 win

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Mike Halder won the third and final race of the Padborg Park season opening TCR Denmark weekend, beating reigning champion Kasper Jensen to a controversial win.

GMB Motorsport driver Jensen started from pole, with TPR Motorsport driver Halder slotting into second.

A start crash that sent Honda driver Kenn Bach into the wall saw a lengthy safety car session.

The race resumed with eight minutes left, and as soon as the safety car went in, Halder made his move on Jensen.

Halder slipped past and opened up a gap to win the race by just over a second from Honda colleague Jensen.

The stewards issued a stop and go penalty to Halder for overtaking under yellow flags, but the replays seemed to indicate that the German driver passed the Dane after passing the green flags.

Halder never entered the pits to serve his penalty and crossed the line first, being confirmed as winner in the provisional results.

Gustav Birch made it a Honda 1-2-3 by claiming the final podium position, with Cupra driver Nicolai Sylvest finishing fourth.

Jacob Mathiassen finished fifth for Insight Racing, with Rene Povlsen rounding off the top six behind the wheel of his Audi RS 3 LMS Gen II.

Michael Markussen recovered to finish seventh, having served a penalty lane round for jumping the start.

The next TCR Denmark round takes place on May 28-29 at Ring Djursland.