Nicky Catsburg aiming for no mistakes with front row start in Motegi

Lada’s Nicky Catsburg was the fastest driver in qualifying on Saturday at Twin Ring Motegi, but courtesy of an engine change penalty he will start last for race one, but hopes to be able to convert second on the grid for race two into a first podium on Sunday.

Catsburg will be joined by Honda’s Tiago Monteiro at the back of the grid, which means new team-mate Nicolas Lapierre will start ninth for his WTCC debut on Sunday.

With the engine change penalty ruling out qualifying in a good position in race one, both Monteiro and Catsburg put their focus on the race two top ten reversed grid in qualifying.

“After the crash in Vila Real we had to change the whole car, as well as the engine, so we had to start at the back for race one,” said Catsburg to TouringCarTimes. “So we knew it was all about race two and focussing on P10, but it’s so tight you cannot guess or play around (to be exactly P10). We got the P10, but then I heard (Tom) Chilton had his lap time deleted so we now will start P2 (for race two), but it’s still a front row.

“It was quite close with Lapierre but I’m happy to be first Lada, and that’s something you are always aiming for, and after Vila Real I’m aiming to make a comeback without any mistakes or any damage.”

Campos Racing’s Hugo Valente collected the pole for race two as a result of Chilton’s penalty, while Honda’s Tiago Monteiro and Citroën’s Yvan Muller, arguably the two cars on form at Motegi, will start on row two for the reversed grid behind Valente and Catsburg.

“It’s going to be tough,” he said. “In the race I think we will struggle a lot with the problem we have all season, which is lack of traction, we cannot get on the power as well as the other guys, but we’ll try our best to keep everyone behind, but first we need to make sure we get away well from the line. No matter where I qualify, I always seem to add two places because of the start.”