Rob Austin: “One of the best laps of my career”

Rob Austin hailed his Oulton Park qualifying lap as “one of the best of my career” despite it only securing him 16th on the grid for the first race today.

Austin’s best time of 1m26.580s in his Audi A4 was nearly half a second below the 1.27 mark, a target the driver had previously thought was impossible.

Austin is now hoping the superior tyre wear of his rear-wheel drive machine will help him make forward progress in the races.

He said: “That was properly on the edge all the way round the lap – we’re talking seriously committed on a track where there is zero margin for error. And while I had hoped we’d be better placed here with a rear-wheel-drive car I am still very proud of that lap.

“In fact it is one of the best laps of my career and possibly the best qualifying lap that I’ve done in a touring car. The set-up wasn’t too bad but to be just over a second off pole position with how the car was today… even I’m impressed with myself!

“What I’m hoping for tomorrow is scorching hot weather and for the front-wheel-drive opposition to eat their tyres in the three races. It sounds clichéd but we are always stronger in race trim and it’s come to us in the past at Oulton. I’ll be fighting for every position and point as always.”