Photo: CTCC

Rodolfo Avila scores pole position for Volkswagen at Tianma

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Macanese driver Rodolfo Avila has taken his first pole position of the season for the fourth round of the China Touring Car Championship at the Shanghai Tianma circuit, leading the two Changan Fords of Martin Cao and Andy Yan.

Avila was quick to set down the benchmark time of 1:05.659 in the 30-minute session in his SAIC VW333 Racing-run Volkswagen Lamando GTS and was never bettered, taking the team’s first pole position since the opening round of the championship at the Shanghai International Circuit by Rob Huff.

A late charge came from BAIC Senova’s Adam Morgan, filling in this weekend for Darryl O’Young with the Hong Kong driver committed to the Blancpain GT Asia series, with Morgan coming within four-tenths of Avila’s time, but the Briton dropped two spots in the final moments to the two Changan Fords of Cao and Yan.

Wang Rue, deputising for an injured Zheng Zhen Dong at Volkswagen, was fifth fastest ahead of team-mate Cai Yue, with Juan Carlos Zhu seventh fastest in the second-best of the Senova D50s.

Rainey He was the third fastest of the three-car Changan Ford entry, with their fourth car which was being driven by TCR China points leader Sunny Wong having been withdrawn after practice after an engine failure.

Martin Xie was quickest in a tough session for Kia with the ninth fastest time, with reigning champion David Zhu completing the top ten in his BAIC Senova.

The first race is scheduled for 13:53 local time (07:53 CET).