Mehdi Bennani elated to score first pole for SLR at Losail

Sébastien Loeb Racing driver Mehdi Bennani is overjoyed with his first pole position, scored at his second “home race” in the middle east, outqualifying the Volvo of Thed Björk by just 36-thousandths of a second.

The Moroccan triumphed in the top-five shootout after being the first driver to set a time. Norbert Michelisz crashed his Honda on the following lap, which saw a delay before the final three drivers ran, all making mistakes at Turn 15 and losing time, with Bennani scoring pole with a time over half a second slower than José María López had achieved in Qualifying 1.

“It’s my first pole position, and it’s very nice for me to have this at my second home race,” said Bennani.

“My lap was magic. The first and second sectors were key. I think my engineer helped me a lot, as he said now I had nothing to lose and nothing to win…some drivers made some mistakes and we’re on pole as we were able to benefit from these mistakes.”

Bennani returned to the pits and watched his rivals try lap after lap to beat his time, celebrating as gradually each one failed to improve on his time.

“I was more stressed watching the other laps than I was inside the car, as the lap of Volvo was very, very close…I don’t know what happened with the lap of José (María López), he was faster everywhere and was about three-tenths in front of me, it’s just great luck”.