Wiechers-Sport driver Stefano D’Aste didn’t take long adapting to the new-for-2011 qualifying system, securing the all important 10th place which gives the Italian provisional pole for race two.
D’Aste admits he’s still getting to grips with the new turbocharged BMW 320 TC, which has been driven so far this season by Swiss driver Urs Sonderegger.
“I have to learn a little sometimes, said D’Aste.
“Sometimes I forgot to turn the turbo-lag switch on and off, as usually I don’t have it.”
The Genovesi-driver was one of the most aggressive all day through the final chicane heading on the start/finish straight.
“I try to do the corner in many ways as I saw that the front-wheel (drive cars) are able to jump better on the kerbs. In the last corner you arrive very very fast from the corner before, you are in sixth gear and when you go and brake the car moves a lot and it is very difficult to find the right line.”
The 37-year-old has pole position for race two courtesy of the top ten from qualifying 1 being reversed, as long as the car doesn’t need work outside of the alloted 15 minute repair time on race day. It’ll be the first time D’Aste has started from pole position, the highest before being second on the grid in race two at Oschersleben in 2009, again with Wiechers.
“It’s very nice to start in first position, but I have to try and finish the race as I need to do kilometres with the car and it’s better to finish in tenth position than don’t finish and have problems.”
“I will attack, but I will try to have a good lap by lap. So for this reason, tomorrow morning in the warm-up we will try to find a set-up for the rhythm during the race. I have a new set of tyres for race two, so if we find a good set-up we can do a great race.”
