TAKES POLE POSITION ON VERY LAST LAP
Nicola Larini In 5th; Alain Menu In 8th
Rob Huff stormed to his first-ever WTCC pole position for today’s Oschersleben WTCC race when he was the last to take the checkered flag of the session. In an all-out effort he bettered his previous time which was already good for a front row position, despite having to lift off because of a stationary car in the second sector.
The other Chevrolet Lacetti drivers, Alain and Nicola Larini, were equally fast but couldn’t capitalize on their fast cars through external factors. Menu got badly baulked by some privateers while he was already over a tenth of a second faster that the provisional pole time, while Larini as well got hindered by a privateer going slow on the racing line. Still, their respective starting positions will allow them to play the strategic game for today’s second race.
QUOTES
Rob Huff (Pole): “I had a fantastic car today and a perfect last qualifying lap, bar for turn 10 where I had to lift for the yellows. In the past we haven’t always qualified well here, but we had a great test here earlier this year, so we knew we’d be competitive. That last lap was an all-or-nothing lap, since I was already on the first row anyway. I used every inch of tarmac available and was helped by the fact that the track got grippier and grippier by the end of the session. I’m now going for a win at every place we possibly can, success ballast permitting.”
Nicola Larini (5th): “I’m happy for Rob and the team. As for myself I am a little bit disappointed because on my last and fastest set of tyres I was really quick but I got held up by one of the turquoise blue privateer BMWs who was just cruising on the racing line. Without that I’m sure I would have been up front with Rob as the car was really good all weekend. I have rarely felt this comfortable on this track as I did today and the team did a great job in getting me there.”
Alain Menu (8th): “On my last set of tyres I was really flying to the point of being already 0.185 seconds faster after the second sector. Then in the last sector I got baulked by the Bulgarian privateer who wasn’t going anywhere, so that put paid to a possible front row starting position, which would have been excellent considering the extra weight I’m carrying. Now I’m eighth so I’ll have to play it smart in the first race to be on the front row for the second race.”
OSCHERSLEBEN QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. R Huff Chevrolet Lacetti 1m35s6752. G Tarquini SEAT Leon TDI +0s1913. T Monteiro SEAT Leon TDI +0s2614. T Coronel SEAT Leon +0s3015. N Larini Chevrolet Lacetti +0s3178. A Menu Chevrolet Lacetti +0s528
