Photo: TCR Series

Gordon Shedden leads Team WRT 1-2 in Dubai qualifying

Gordon Shedden has claimed pole position ahead of team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay in a close qualifying session at the Dubai Autodrome, with the three-time BTCC champion securing pole on his first appearance in the series.

The British driver left his best performance until the vital second part of qualifying, with the Volkswagen driver setting a quick benchmark of 1:28.055, which he soon bettered to 1:27.849 to secure pole ahead of championship leader Jean-Karl Vernay, with the Frenchman two-tenths behind.

In third place, completing an all-Volkswagen top three was another TCR International Series newcomer, Benjamin Leuchter, with the WestCoast Racing driver just under a tenth behind Vernay’s Golf GTI.

Pepe Oriola was fourth quickest in the Craft-Bamboo Racing SEAT, with Gianni Morbidelli fifth fastest in the Volkswagen.

Vernay’s closest championship rival Attila Tassi put his focus on the top ten reversed grid, and placed his M1RA Honda in tenth, where he’ll start ahead of the Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS of Stefano Comini, who’s also In outside contention for the championship in the second race.

Denis Dupont showed strong pace throughout qualifying in the Comtoyou SEAT topping Q1 ahead of the Hyundai of Gabriele Tarquini, but the Belgian stopped on his final lap in Q2, and ended up down in sixth in the classification.

Attila Tassi was the only Honda in Q2, with new team-mate Josh Files just missing the cut, while Roberto Colciago was 18th, with his championship chances all but over, now 50 points behind Vernay with 50 remaining, meaning he’d have to win both races.

The first race is scheduled for 11:10 GST (8:10 CET) on Sunday.