Michel Nykjær says that the Salzburgring is “a very special place” for him, after the Dane won race two of the TCR International Series around the circuit to continue a streak of winning every time he races there.
Having had to pit in race one due to damage on his SEAT León, Nykjær started the second race from the front row of the grid, immediately getting in to the lead thanks to a better start than pole man Igor Skuz.
Nykjær then led the entire race, withstanding pressure from Target Competition team-mate Andrea Belicchi, who later succumbed to a patch of oil on the circuit.
Victory means that the Dane has won on every occasion he has raced on the Salzburgring, which includes victory in the World Touring Car Championship in 2013 and the European Touring Car Cup in 2008.
“It’s great to win my second race of the year and to do it here at the Salzburgring, which seems to be a very special place for me,” said Nykjær. “I have won here every time I came, regardless of the championship, and I really like the track.
“Race one was spoiled by a contact and I preferred to stop not to risk further damage for race two. My start wasn’t the best of all, but still I could keep the advantage at first corner. My team mate Belicchi was behind me and he pushed hard, but always in a sporting manner, then he got surprised by oil on the track, which was unlucky for him but gave me breathing space.”
Nykjær’s win, his second of the season, keeps him in seventh position in the championship, but moves him to 35 points adrift of team-mate Belicchi.