Photo: ACI Sport

Nicola Baldan takes pole position at Paul Ricard

Nicola Baldan claimed pole position for the first race of the second round of the TCR Italy series at Paul Ricard.

Baldan set a best lap time of 2:13.668, 0.493 seconds ahead of fellow Hyundai driver Eric Scalvini. Salvatore Tavano was third in his SEAT León TCR, 0.803 seconds behind.

Jürgen Schmarl was the fastest of the Honda Civic TCRs in fourth, a second off the pace, followed by Jose Rodrigues with a second Civic.

Andrea Larini was sixth at the wheel of his Cupra, followed by Marco Pellegrini Anatrella in a Honda Civic TCR, 1.434 seconds off the pace. Massimiliano Mugelli was eighth in his Honda.

Federico Paolino followed in a Hyundai i30 N TCR, with Luigi Ferrara completing the top ten in the sole Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR on the grid – 1.8 seconds away from pole position.

The start of the first race is scheduled for 15:40 CET. The grid positions for the second race, taking place tomorrow, will be based on the results of the first heat, with the top eight places reversed.