Qualifying pace-setter Harald Proczyk says Salzburg “too dangerous” in the wet

Despite setting the fastest time in qualifying, before a two-place penalty dropped him to third on the grid, WestCoast Racing’s Harald Proczyk hopes the races on Sunday will be dry, declaring the Salzburgring circuit as “dangerous” in the wet.

The 40-year-old sportscar veteran took a surprise pole on his TCR International Series debut, adapting to the Sadev sequential gearbox-equipped Honda Civic TCR from his HP Racing-run SEAT León Cup Racer from the TCR Germany series, but an error in qualifying by the team copped the Austrian a two-place penalty for the race.

“We were out at the right moment when the conditions were the best, as I tried later on and improving wasn’t possible,” said Proczyk after qualifying.

“In Free Practice 1 and 2 we were on used tyres. The Honda is a strong car for sure, but it took a few sessions before I got comfortable with the car. In the rain, I was really sideways about five times,” he said.

On his hopes for dry or wet weather on Sunday, the Austrian was quick to respond:

“When it’s raining, it’s dangerous at Salzburg. I hope it’s dry tomorrow.

“If it’s raining like this you cannot start the race.”