SEAT more than satisfied with result

SEAT Sport drivers have occupied the first five spots of tomorrow’s grid, getting their selves the best possible starting point for the first race in Curitiba. As a result, the mood in the Spanish manufacturer’s garage could be nothing but upbeat, as the drivers’ comments show.

Muller is of course happy with the pole, but is cautious about tomorrow’s races: “Of course I’m very happy for the way the season has started. Pole position is always good, but we have to see tomorrow what happens in the races. I found the new qualifying system very exciting. Afer my first lap in Q2 I said myself: wow! This could be good for the pole. But I was not sure until the end.”

Jordi Genè came second and, like Yvan Muller, is excited with the new qualifying system, which he describes as tricky but more thrilling:“The new qualifying system has changed everything. You don’t have time to work on the set up now. You have to go and try to find a clear lap straight away and twice: first in Q1 and then in Q2. It is much more stressing than it was before.”

Gabriele Tarquini was at risk of not making it to the top ten until the very last seconds of Q1, but in the end things went his way and the Italian was able to take part in Q2:“Q1 was thrilling for me, because I had to do my best to make the top ten on the last attempt. It worked, because we have practiced a lot to fine-tune the team work in qualfying. We ran altogether in a close group. It is risky, but if we don’t make mistakes, like today, it pays off.”

Jaime Puig, SEAT Sport director, explains how the qualifying strategy of the Spanish manufacturer led to this afternoon’s result: “All team members know that our big aim is the manufacturers’ championship and therefore we quickly agreed to let all drivers onto the track in several organised series so each of them would have at least one chance to get a good result. And we did it, so we are well positioned to fight for the victory in the first race tomorrow.”