Giacomo Altoè and Nicola Baldan share pole positions for Monza finale
Target Competition’s Giacomo Altoè and Pit Lane Competizioni’s Nicola Baldan shared pole positions in today’s qualifying at Monza for the TCR Italy season finale. The SEAT driver collects another crucial point towards the championship as title rival Eric Scalvini struggled in his MM Motorsport Honda Civic.
In Q1 Altoè’s Audi was fastest ahead of Stefano Comini’s Subaru WRX STI. Baldan was as little as 0.016s slower than the Swiss, and will line up alongside Luigi Ferrara in his Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR. Max Mugelli will start fifth in his Pit Lane Competizioni Audi RS 3 LMS, sharing the third row with Opel’s Kevin Giacon.
Jordi Gené seemed to struggle during the session, the Spaniard going no further than seventh, one second off the pace. The SEAT driver will have Honda’s Davide Nardilli alongside him. Team-mate Eric Scalvini was as low as ninth, with Massimiliano Gagliano completing the top ten in his Pit Lane Competizioni Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR.
In Q2 Baldan took a crucial pole position, the Veneto-based driver emerging fastest just under the flag when the session was over. Team-mate Max Mugelli will share the front row with him, relegating Comini to third by 0.016s.
Race 1 pole sitter Altoè was fourth ahead of a much more competitive Jordi Gené, with Tommaso Mosca a remarkable sixth in his first outing in the Giulietta TCR. Scalvini seemed to struggle again, only managing to improve to seventh on the grid ahead of Ferrara, Giacon and Nardilli.
Baldan, who was also fastest in the single free practice session, now holds at 29-point lead over Scalvini. If he manages to finish ahead of his rival in tomorrow’s first race, which starts at 11:00 local time, he will be crowned champion.
