Enrico Bettera takes pole position at Imola as Nicola Baldan crashes hard
Enrico Bettera took his first pole position of the year at the wheel of his Audi RS 3 LMS. The Pit Lane Competizioni driver made full use of the strengths of his car, finishing a comfortable four-tenths clear from V-Action’s Luigi Ferrara, who will share the front row with his in his Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR.
Max Mugelli will line up third in his Honda Civic TCR prepared by MM Motorsport, Federico Paolino adding even more to the variety of manufacturers by ending up fourth in his Hyundai i30 N TCR. Championship leader Salvatore Tavano was fifth in his Cupra, making it five different cars in the top 5 positions.
Mugello race winner Edoardo Cappello continued his strong form by putting in the sixth-fastest time in his Otto Motorsport Alfa Romeo, with Andrea Larini a blink of an eye behind him in his Pit Lane Competizioni Cupra. José Rodrigues will start eighth, just ahead of fellow Honda driver Jürgen Schmarl. Matteo Greco completed the top ten in his DSG-equipped Cupra, also scoring pole position in the DSG Trophy.
Series returnée Luca Rangoni was a remarkable 11th in his Top Run Subaru WRX STi.
Defending champion Nicola Baldan crashed hard even before setting a timed lap. The Pit Lane Competizioni driver seemed to have a misunderstanding with fellow Hyundai driver Eric Scalvini on the warm-up lap. As the Veneto-based driver tried to overtake his stable-mate on the straight, Scalvini probably didn’t see him whilst warming up his tyres and the pair made contact, sending Baldan hard into the wall and inflicting major damage to the red i30 N TCR.
TouringCarTimes understands the driver is undergoing medical checks at the circuit’s facilities, but is said to be OK. Although it hasn’t been confirmed, the extent of the damage puts his further participation in the weekend in serious doubt.
