First pole for Priaulx since 2006
Triple FIA World Touring Car Championship champion Andy Priaulx claimed his first pole position since 2006 today! The Brit lapped the French street track Pau in 1:22.452, a time that was only eleven thousands of a second faster than BMW colleague Augusto Farfus.
Tom Coronel took a surprising third on the grid while the factory turbo diesel SEAT’s were nowhere to be found at the top.
Fourth was Jörg Müller in the team Germany BMW 320si ahead of the first Chevrolet man Rob Huff. The Brit headed his two team mates that are going to start fifth and sixth tomorrow, with Alain Menu ahead of Nicola Larini.
Sergio Hernandez made it all factory BMW’s within top eight, though more than one second slower than pole man Priaulx.
Félix Porteiro was best independents driver in ninth ahead of Franz Engstler in tenth.
The factory SEAT’s were nowhere near getting to the final qualifying session. Best SEAT man was Rickard Rydell in 15th!
The two independent petrol powered SEAT’s of Marin Colak and Mehdi Bennani were both faster than all of the factory SEAT’s.
Jordi Gené claimed 16th, Gabriele Tarquini 17th and champion Yvan Muller only 18th.
According to our information the turbo boost rules could have played a big role in the fact that the SEAT’s were so far off pace. Stay tuned for more news on the subject!a
