Yvan Muller takes first pole position of 2008

The SEAT drivers have shown their true potential for the first time during the qualifying session for the first race of the World Touring Car Championship 2008 at Curitiba, Brasil. With three SEAT Léon TDI’s in the top four, the spanish make was very dominant in the first qualifying of the year. The only driver to split the SEAT drivers was local man Augusto Farfus. Frenchman Yvan Muller took pole position, followed closely by Rickard Rydell. Gabriele Tarquini took fourth place.

After 17 minutes into the session Swiss driver Alain Menu caused a red flag, after he crashed his Chevrolet into the tire walls in the last corner, coming on to the main straight. The crash was almost at the exact same place Menu crashed two years ago during the race. His car was heavily damaged and Menu could not continue the session, meaning he will have to start from eleventh on the grid tomorrow, if his car can be repaired.

His teammates were able to set a better time. Nicola Larini finished in 5th place, Robert Huff posted the 8th fastest time.

After qualifying had resumed it was obvious some drivers didn’t have the same concentration anymore or were pushing to hard. Several cars spun or went through the gravel traps, among them Jörg Müller, Yvan Muller and Sergio Hérnandez.