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Alain Menu takes pole for Volkswagen Scirocco Masters

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Alain Menu has secured pole position for this weekend’s Volkswagen Scirocco Masters race at Macau ahead of Duncan Huisman and Mike Conway, with Stefan Johansson and Steve Soper coming together causing a red flag.

The Swiss driver set a best lap of 2:46.736 just over half way into the session after the top spot had previously been swapped between Nicola Larini, Mike Conway and Duncan Huisman.

Husiman’s time of 2:47.057 will see him start second for the event with Conway third, both within half a second of Menu’s time.

The yellow flags were out after Jin Ling Bao crashed out at the R Bend in the third sector, hampering everyone’s progress until the last five minutes when the flags were withdrawn.

Menu was able to improve further, setting a time of 2:46.282 before there was further drama, as Stefan Johansson lost control of his Scirocco coming out of the R Bend, and with Steve Soper right behind him in the tow, the British driver ran right into the back of the Swede, with both cars damaged. Soper drove back into the pits while Johanssson’s car was stranded on track, bringing out the red flag with the session not resumed.

Menu will therefore start from pole for tomorrow’s race at 11:20 CST, with Huisman second and Conway third.

Nicola Larini was fourth fastest ahead of Emanuele Pirro and David Brabham. Thomas Fjordbach, Tim Harvey, Steve Soper and Martin Donnelly completed the top ten.