Photo: WTCC Media

Alex MacDowall top placed rookie on the grid

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Alex MacDowall qualified eighth on the grid for his first race in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, and was the best placed of all of the new drivers this weekend to the Championship.

The 21-year-old worked together with 1998 BTCC champion and reigning STCC champion Rickard Rydell in qualifying to slipstream along behind the three works Chevrolets in order to get a good spot on the grid.

By qualifying eighth, MacDowall will start as the leading Chevrolet in race two from third place on the grid, with Norbert Michelisz’s BMW and Aleksei Dudukalo’s SEAT ahead of him.

“It’s been a good start but I am a little bit disappointed as I am sure I could’ve been a lot higher,” said MacDowall. “I made a mistake on my second attempt at a fast lap in Q2 so I didn’t get the best out of the tyres. Had that not happened I could’ve been up to about fifth and lead independent.”

“But I know I will be in the mix tomorrow. I know I’m certainly at the same level as Oriola and I’ve got a tasty little P3 start for the second race so it’s all to play for.”