Malte Ebdrup wins twice on the streets of Copenhagen

Malte Ebdrup won two of the three TCR Denmark races on the streets around Bellahøj Park within the frame of the Copenhagen Grand Prix. After finishing third in Race 1 behind Mike Halder and his own teammate Kasper H. Jensen, Ebdrup was victorious in both the following races capitalising on Halder’s mistake in Race 2 and completing a superb overtaking manoeuvre in Race 3.

These results, added to a wheel issue that dropped Halder in the last race, meant that Ebdrup has reduced his gap in the standing to just five points behind the German driver, while the reigning champion Jensen lies in third position, 20 points off Halder.   

Race 1 – Halder had claimed the pole beating Ebdrup by 22 thousandths, while Jensen and Magnussen were third and fourth. Halder led at the start from Ebdrup who was passed by Jensen during the opening lap. Throughout the race, Jensen and Ebdrup chased Halder, with Jensen reducing the gap to six tenths, however he couldn’t get close enough to try an overtaking move. Magnussen finished a distant fourth.

Race 2 – René Povlsen and Lars Højris filled the front row of the grid, Povlsen led at the start from Magnussen who was third on the grid. During the first lap Halder, Ebdrup and Jensen – started from P6, P4 and P5 respectively – all overtook Magnussen and then Povlsen. At the beginning of lap 2, Halder went wide into T2 and dropped behind the pair of Ebdrup and Jensen. In lap 5, Marco Dahl’s Hyundai i30 N hit a wall and stopped in a chicane, blocking the track. The red flag was waved and racing resumed behind the safety car with Halder immediately overtaking Jensen for second. Up front, Ebdrup had built a 2.5-second lead and remained ahead the end; behind him Halder kept Jensen at bay, while Magnussen overtook René Povlsen for the fourth place.

Race 3 – Halder was on pole, having achieved the highest score, with Ebdrup and Jensen in P2 and P3. Halder made a good start, but at the beginning of lap 2, Ebdrup took to the inside at T1, their cars touched and Ebdrup moved into the lead. In the following laps, Halder had to defend the second place from Jensen, but damage to the bodywork following the contact with Ebdrup resulted in the right fender brushing against the front wheel. Halder went straight in a chicane, rejoined in fourth position and eventually pitted, losing four laps for repairs. Ebdrup cruised to another win ahead of Jensen and Magnussen.

TCR Denmark will resume in two weeks at Jyllandsringen.

Race 1

1. Mike Halder (TPR Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 15 laps
2. Kasper H. Jensen (Race Group, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 0.873
3. Malte Ebdrup (Race Group, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 1.478

Race 2

1. Malte Ebdrup (Race Group, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 10 laps
2. Mike Halder (TPR Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 0.825
3. Kasper H. Jensen (Race Group, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 1.065

Race 3

1. Malte Ebdrup (Race Group, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 16 laps
2. Kasper H. Jensen (Race Group, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 11.482
3. Jan Magnussen (DM Racing, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 23,048

Championship points

1. M. Halder, 342 pts; 2. M. Ebdrup, 337; 3. K.H. Jensen, 322

Picture: TCR Denmark/Stumpphoto