Alessandro Zanardi on pole!

Alessandro Zanardi took the European Touring Car Cup pole position at Estoril as many predicted. Ryan Sharp came very close to clinching the pole. He was only 0.05 seconds behind Zanardi. Félix Porteiro took third position with Emmet O’Brien fourth and Robin Rudholm fifth.

The top three held a class of their own. Fourth placed Emmet O’Brien was half a second slower than Zanardi. Drivers in places four to ten were very close in some sort of division two. Robin Rudholm in fifth place commented his laps:

“We are quite happy with our position. I was very quick right from the start of the qualifying session. I’m suffering from some oversteering still with the new Yokohama tyres, but we’re getting there,” Rudholm said and continued.

“Fifth is ok, but we should have been fourth. I was out on a quicker lap when I caught up with Zanardi who was on his warm up lap. I flashed my lights on him, but he wasn’t interested in moving over which ruined my lap. But we are focusing on the race tomorrow and especially the start with two FWD SEAT’s ahead of me. The race will be great fun tomorrow!”

The Russian Andrey Romanov took the Super Production pole position ahead of Alexander Lvov and Raimo Kulli.