At Valencia, Mike Halder scores yet another win in TCR Spain

Mike Halder continued his domination in the TCR Spain championship and took his eighth victory from ten races in Valencia. After setting pole position in a close Qualifying beating Fernando Navarrete and Sergio López by three and four tenths respectively, the German driver led from the start, consistently increasing his advantage. His sister Michelle won a thrilling sprint for the second place, beating Navarrete and Alejandro Cutillas by inches.
Mike Halder took a perfect start from the pole, while Navarrete nearly stalled his car on P2 and so Michelle Halder moved into second. As the field negotiated Turn 1, Alba Cano and López made contact, Cano spun off and rejoined behind all the slower cars of the CET class.
During the first lap, Navarrete passed Michelle Halder and retook second, while his teammate Cutillas was also chasing the German lady driver. López and Cano soon elbowed their way through the CET field and started fighting for P5.
Up front, Mike Halder pulled away from Navarrete who followed a couple of seconds behind. In lap 5, Cano passed López for fifth.
In the final part of the race, the pair of Michelle Halder and Cutillas closed in on Navarrete and in a final sprint, Michelle edged out the two Spaniards Navarrete by two tenths to grab second. However, after the race Michelle Halder and Navarrete were handed penalties (2 and 7 seconds respectively) for track limit infringements that dropped them to third and fourth behind Cutillas.
Races 2 and 3 will take place tomorrow at 10:45 and 13:55 (CEST); live streaming at www.tcr-series.com. 

Valencia – Race 1
1. Mike Halder (Halder Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 13 laps
2. Alejandro Cutillas (SMC Motorsport, Peugeot 308), 4.538
3. Michelle Halder (Halder Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 6.097
4. Fernando Navarrete (SMC Motorsport, Peugeot 308), 11.314
5. Alba Cano (Monlau Competición, CUPRA Leon Competición), 21.408

Championship points
1. Mk. Halder 414 pts; 2. A. Cutillas 281; 3. F. Navarrete 279 

Picture: RFEdeA