The Swiss and the Brit will share front row for Race 1, Muller unlucky
The Cruzes continue to be unbeaten in qualifying this season, as Alain Menu took pole position for Race 1, his fourth of the season, and Rob Huff will share the front row with the Swiss. The inaugural WTCC race in mainland China will therefore see an all blue front row tomorrow, something that will please the many Chevrolet fans that are expected at Tianma Circuit, located on the outskirts of Shanghai.
Rob Huff will start from the front row in Race 2 as well, as he achieved P1 for the grid during the first qualifying session. These two good results are, of course, lifting the hopes of the British driver to reduce the gap with respect to championship leader Yvan Muller in this penultimate round of the exciting battle for the Drivers' title. The Frenchman had an unlucky day today, as he couldn't make the best use of his last set of new tires. He will start from seventh in Race 1 and from fourth in Race 2, where Alain Menu will be in the eighth spot on the grid.
On a short, twisty and narrow track such as Tianma, starting positions can play a key role and so could the humid and hot weather conditions.
QUOTESAlain Menu (1st): “I am very happy with how this Asian tour is going for me so far. Anotherpole after the one at Suzuka is excellent news and I will try to stay in front tomorrow andbring home another win. The car was perfect today and being ahead is definitely anadvantage on this track.”Rob Huff (2nd): “I am, of course, very happy with today’s results. If there was a place and amoment where I really needed two first row starts, this is here and now! Q1 was completelyhectic, with positions changing all the time and I was very lucky to get P10 which means thepole for Race 2. I have to thank my engineer, Duncan Laycock, who was perfect in keepingme updated via radio. The car went very well in Q2 as well, I did my time pretty early andeven thought it could have been the pole, but obviously Alain was faster!”Yvan Muller (7th): “It was a difficult session and I am not very happy with the results. Today,we were not very successful in managing the sets of new tires. In Q2, I had to abort myquick lap attempt and then the tires were gone. Tomorrow, I’ll try to bring home as manypoints as possible, but it is going to be difficult to climb positions on such a short and narrowtrack.”
SHANGHAI TIANMA QUALIFYING RESULTS (RACE 1 GRID)1. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze 1m16s6082. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze + 0s1453. C Turkington BMW 320 TC + 0s1574. N Michelisz BMW 320 TC + 0s1835. G Tarquini SEAT SR León 1.6T + 0s1887. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze + 0s365
SHANGHAI TIANMA RACE 2 GRID POSITIONS1. R Huff Chevrolet Cruze (1m07s331)2. G Tarquini SEAT León SR 1.6T (1m07s287)3. F Barth SEAT León SR 1.6T (1m07s180)4. Y Muller Chevrolet Cruze (1m07s168)5. T Monteiro SEAT SR León 1.6T (1m07s018)8. A Menu Chevrolet Cruze (1m06s854)
