ALAIN MENU JUST 0.002 SECS FROM BRANDS POLE

Rob Huff In 3rd; Nicola Larini In 7th

In one of the closest fought qualifying sessions in WTCC history, double Brands Hatch winner, Alain Menu missed out on pole position yesterday by the smallest of margins.

The Swiss, Chevrolet's most successful WTCC driver, set the second fastest time, just 0.002 seconds slower than pole sitter Augusto Farfus, after dominating the two free practice sessions. Chevrolet's championship leader, Rob Huff, qualified in third despite carrying a boot full of success ballast, while Nicola Larini set the seventh time.

While Menu and Huff will try to go for glory in today's  first race, Larini will concentrate on finishing the first race in function of the second, i.e. in eighth position in order to be able to start from pole in the second.

QUOTES

Alain Menu (2nd):

"I would have liked to have won the pole, of course, but 0.002 seconds is nothing, so I can't be too disappointed. For some reason the first two sets of tyres didn't quite work the way they should, but the third one did the job. I went for another fast lap on that set but then a car went off in the last corner in the dying seconds of the session, so that was it. Brands Hatch is a track I like very much, so I'm quite looking forward to the challenge, especially since the Chevrolet Lacetti is very quick here."

Rob Huff (3rd):

"I'm quite surprised to be right up there with 46 kilos of ballast. We made a few changes before qualifying and that worked. As for the race, we'll have to wait and see how it develops. You can have as many plans as you like but at Brands Hatch they rarely work. So the main mission will be to stay out of trouble in Paddock Hill bend at the start and take it from there."

Nicola Larini (7th):

"Considering it didn't quite go the way I wanted in this morning's free practice sessions I'm quite happy to be where I am. I'm driving the heaviest of the Chevrolets but the car clearly likes this track. I lost some time due to another competitor on my second set of tyres, if not I might have finished a place or so higher up. But I'm nevertheless happy, as my seventh place starting position will allow me to drive race 1 in function of the second one, so finishing in eighth in the first race will be my target."

BRANDS HATCH QUALIFYING RESULTS

1. A Farfus BMW 320si 1m32s7942. A Menu Chevrolet Lacetti +0s0023. R Huff Chevrolet Lacetti +0s3064. A Priaulx BMW 320si +0s5135. J Müller BMW 320si +0s5667. N Larini Chevrolet Lacetti +0s748