Huff takes pole for Race 1 ahead of Menu, with Muller fourth

Chevrolet pit wall staff will enjoy having to wear a golden bow tie this Sunday, as the team tradition wants it every time the pole is secured onSaturday. This happened again in Zolder, thanks to Rob Huff, who signed his second pole in two events so far this season. The Brit will share the all-blue front row with team-mate Alain Menu, who was second-fastest, while reigning World Champion Yvan Muller won’t befar away, having been fourth-fastest.

This, of course, is valid for the grid of Race 1. The grid of Race 2, which is based on the ten best times of Q1 but in reverse order, will see Rob, Alain and Yvan starting from positions 5, 6 and 7, respectively. The Cruzes are therefore well-placed for both races tomorrow andwill do their utmost to take their first win in Belgium and to keep the lead in both Championships.

Warm conditions continued to reign over the Belgian track today, adding some extra parameters to the challenge of finding an ideal balance, something already not easy in a circuit which is extremely technical and very demanding for tires and brakes.

• QUOTESRob Huff (1st) : «I am very pleased with this pole, and also a bit surprised, as neither mytwo lap attempts weren’t perfect. In the first one, I was a little bit too cautious in the firstsector, had a very good second sector and an even better third sector. In my second try, itwas exactly the opposite: I started better than I finished. But, apparently, my first fast lapwas good enough to ensure the pole. It was a tough qualifying, as it was very warm insidethe cars and the minutes spent in the pit lane under the sun because of the red flag periodmade it even hotter”.

Alain Menu (2nd): “It’s a little bit of a surprise to find myself on the first row, as myimpression from behind the wheel was that I wasn’t particularly fast! I had a lot of oversteeringand had to be cautious not to lose the rear of the car at every corner. In addition, Ialso had strange vibrations on the steering wheel. All that obliged me to take a rathersquare line in the chicanes, but it looks like it did not affect my lap times”.

Yvan Muller (4th): “I am not very satisfied of my qualifying, as things didn’t go as theyshould have. On my first attempt, I was off for a very good time, then I think the tires justwent, and I locked a wheel while braking; on the second attempt, I maybe pushed a little bittoo hard and lost again some tenths”.

Eric Nève: “It was an excellent qualifying and I am sure that tomorrow, our 900 guests willappreciate the welcome presents: a blue sky and a blue front row!”