Huff 2nd, Menu 4th and Muller 8th in a chaotic Q2 disrupted by a sudden shower
The three Chevrolet Cruzes will start from interestingpositions in rows 1, 2 and 4 in todays Race of Germany.
Rob Huff was second-fastest in Saturday's qualifying, while Alain Menu took fourth best time and Yvan Muller eighth.
The Cruzeproved competitive throughout the day in the very technical German track near Magdeburg andwill fight for another good team result and to retain leadership in both championships.
Saturday’s decisive Q2 session was disrupted by sudden heavy rain, which caused most drivers tovisit the grass beyond the track or have close encounters with the barriers. The rain also ruinedthe fastest laps of the three Chevrolet drivers, who, based on what was shown by the Cruzeduring the day, could have hoped for a better result. Still, the team were happy with the workdone and the form shown by the Cruze. There even was contact between Rob and Alain, whenthe Brit was rejoining the tarmac after an off-track and couldn’t see the incoming car of Menu,who couldn’t avoid contact because of the slippery track. The incident, luckily, did not have anymajor consequence.
• QUOTES
Rob Huff (2nd): “I am quite happy of getting a place in first row, but frankly, after finishing first inQ1, I thought I could get the pole. It’s unfortunate that the rain came so suddenly to ruin the Q2session. In my first fast lap, I did a small mistake at turn 12, then in my second attempt, I lost thecar in turn 7 and went off-track. I had just rejoined the track when I had a contact with Alain,which is unfortunate, but from where I was, I couldn’t possibly see him coming”.
Alain Menu (4th) : “It’s a shame that I did a little mistake in the very final corner of my first fastlap, because that could have been the pole, given that the rain became stronger and strongerafter the very initial minutes of the session. After that, the track was really treacherous and it wasimpossible to avoid hitting Rob when he came back on the track after going wide. I just hope thecar is not too damaged”.
Yvan Muller (8th): “Like last year, the rain came at the wrong moment in the decisive session. Insuch conditions, it is always a lottery and I was unlucky to be the leading driver when the showerbroke. That meant I was the first one to get into turn 12 when it was really very slippery and thefirst one to do a mistake and lose time. It’s a pity, because with the changes made in Q1, the carhad improved a lot and I could have aimed at first or second row. Tomorrow will be another storyand I will go for points in race 1 and try to be well placed for race 2”.
OSCHERSLEBEN QUALIFYING RESULTS1. A Farfus BMW 320si 1m38s0702. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze + 0s1063. A Priaulx BMW 320si + 0s1164. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze + 0s3755. N Michelisz SEAT León TDI + 0s5648. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze + 0s799
