DTC: Watts wins round six at Jyllands-ring

The Danish racing spectators at the Jyllands-Ring went mad on Sunday, when Jason Watt crossed the finishing line as the winner of the sixth round of the Danish Touringcar Challenge, which was held at the country's top meeting, the Duckhams Danish Grand Prix. The former Formula 3000 driver, who was paralysed in a motorcycle accident last October, took his first victory in the DTC series following a hard and close fight with his team mate from the Peugeot Sport Team, Pierre Legarth, and later from Volkswagen Golf driver, Michael Schröter.

"With this win I have proved that with me hands I am capable of doing 99 per cent of what I previously did by using both hands and feet," a jubilant Watt said after the win.

"For me it was something big to win. When I sat in my Peugeot 306 for the first time back in June, I knew that I could win on the right day. But for me personally it was also important for me to win, as it is important to be accepted as an even-worthy driver, and that people don't pay special attention to me because of my situation."

In the qualification race Jason Watt was somewhat off the pace. During the 12 lapper he only managed to gain one place to finish seventh, but when the grid was formed for the final, Watt was moved up two places on the grid. During the qualification race Team Brask driver Klaus Madsen and championship leader Michael Carlsen had passed John Nielsen under the yellow and both were duly moved to the back of the grid.

"I did not see the yellow flag, and if I had seen it, I would not have made the move," a disappointed Carlsen said afterwards. "John stopped driving, and Klaus and I simply passed him on either side. But if I had passed during yellow flags, then I off course accept to be excluded."

Jason Watt got away from the start in fourth place after Pierre Legarth, Mike Legarth and John Nielsen, but as the two latter drivers collided at the end of the opening lap, Watt suddenly found himself behind his leading team mate, Pierre Legarth.

"Pierre was driving very defensively, as he had used his front tyres too quickly. But he was very fair in his driving, and he could see that I was faster and he let me by," Jason said. Towards the end of the final Michael Schröter closed the gap to Watt, but even though he managed to get the gap down to just 0,4 secs, he did not manage to find a way past Watt.

Having won the qualification race Pierre Legarth fell back to third place, which he looked set to hold, until he was passed by reigning champion Jesper Sylvest. Privateer Johnny V. Nielsen caused the surprise of the race by bringing his Peugeot 306 home in fifth place.

Despite being excluded from the qualification race Michael Carlsen managed to extend his lead in the Danish Touringcar Challenge, as he moved his way up to seventh place just behind Thorkild Thyrring, who also used the final to make up lost ground. Carlsen's case was helped by his rival John Nielsen not scoring any points in the final, as he choose to retire following a collision later in the race with Klaus Madsen.

<pre> Result - Round 6 - Qualification race - 12 laps of 1.475 kms:

1. Pierre Legarth               Peugeot Sport Team              Peugeot 406 Coupé       11.20,395
2. John Nielsen                 McDonald's Nissan Racing        Nissan Primera          11.22,259
3. Mike Legarth                 Legarth Racing                  BMW 320i                11.23,439
4. Jesper Sylvest               Sylvest Motorsport              Citroën Xsara Coupé VTS 11.23,737
5. Jason Watt                   Peugeot Sport Team              Peugeot 306 GTI         11.24,364
6. Michael Schröter        Michael Schröter           Volkswagen Golf GTI     11.25,195
7. Casper Elgaard               Renault Motorsport Danmark      Renault Megane St.car   11.25,740 
8. Peter Rasmussen              VHA Trim Racing                 Fiat Coupé              11.26,954
9. Jørgen Weinreich             Valvoline Racing                Seat Cordoba 2,0 16V    11.28,045
10. Thorkild Thyrring           McDonald's Nissan Racing        Nissan Primera          11.28,449 

Fastest lap: Michael Carlsen, 50,542s (105,061 km/h).

Result - Round 6 - Final - 20 laps of 1.475 kms:

1. Jason Watt                   Peugeot Sport Team              Peugeot 306 GTI         17.09,041
2. Michael Schröter        Michael Schröter           VW Golf GTI             17.10,477 
3. Jesper Sylvest               Sylvest Motorsport              Citroën Xsara Coupé VTS 17.19,345
4. Pierre Legarth               Peugeot Sport Team              Peugeot 406 Coupé       17.21,647
5. Johnny V. Nielsen            J.V. Nielsen Racing             Peugeot 306 GTI         17.22,954 
6. Thorkild Thyrring            McDonald's Nissan Racing        Nissan Primera          17.27,627
7. Michael Carlsen              Michael Carlsen Motorsport      Peugeot 306 GTI         17.28,617
8. Jørgen Weinreich             Valvoline Racing                Seat Cordoba 2,0 16V    17.35,341
9. Klaus Madsen                 Team Brask Racing               Peugeot 306 GTI         17.38,086 
10. Jens Andersen               S40 Racing                      Volvo S40               17.40,834

Fastest lap: Michael Schröter, 50,227s (105,720 km/h).

Championship positions - drivers:

1. Michael Carlsen              Michael Carlsen Motorsport      Peugeot 306 GTI         115,0 p.
2. John Nielsen                 McDonald's Nissan Racing        Nissan Primera           85,0 p.
3. Michael Schröter        Michael Schröter           VW Golf GTI              78,0 p.
4. Jesper Sylvest               Sylvest Motorsport              Citroën Xsara Coupé VTS  77,5 p.
5. Pierre Legarth               Peugeot Sport Team              Peugeot 406 Coupé        69,0 p.
6. Jason Watt                   Peugeot Sport Team              Peugeot 306 GTI          57,0 p.
7. Klaus Madsen                 Team Brask Racing               Peugeot 306 GTI          56,5 p.
8. Thorkild Thyrring            McDonald's Nissan Racing        Nissan Primera           44,5 p.
9. Mike Legarth                 Legarth Racing                  BMW 320i                 40,5 p.
10. Casper Elgaard              Renault Motorsport DanmarkRenault Megane St.car          18,5 p.
11. Carsten Leveau              Team Brask Racing               Peugeot 306 GTI          18,0 p.
12. Peter Rasmussen             VHA Trim Racing                 Fiat Coupé               13,0 p.
13. Johnny V. Nielsen           J.V. Nielsen Racing             Peugeot 306 GTI          10,0 p. 
14. Kurt Thiim                  Hohenester Motorsport           Volkswagen Beetle         8,5 p.
15. Jørgen Weinreich            Valvoline Racing                Seat Cordoba 2,0 16V      8,0 p.
16. Jørgen Poulsen              S40 Racing                      Volvo S40                 7,5 p.
17. Gunnar Kristensen           Team Brask Racing               Peugeot 306 GTI           5,0 p.
      Jens Andersen             S40 Racing                      Volvo S40                 5,0 p.
19. Kristian Kolby              Renault Motorsport DenmarkRenault Megane St. Car          4,0 p.
20. Allan Bjerregaard           Allan Bjerregaard               Ford Focus                3,5 p.
21. Brian Mikkelsen             Hyundai Motorsport              Hyundai Coupé             2,0 p.
22. Kent Bo Steffensen          S40 Racing                      Volvo S40                 1,0 p.

Championship positions - makes:

1. Peugeot               162,0 p.
2. Nissan                109,0 p.
3. Volkswagen             82,0 p.
4. Citroën                77,5 p.
5. BMW                    40,5 p.
6. Renault                22,5 p.
7. Fiat                   13,0 p.
8. Volvo                  12,5 p.
9. Seat                     8,0 p.
10. Ford                    3,5 p.
11. Hyundai                 2,0 p.