Jean-Karl Vernay eases to Monza pole position
Jean-Karl Vernay took pole position in his WRT Audi RS 3 LMS. The Frenchman was also fastest in Q1, ahead of new championship leader Mikel Azcona in his Cupra, the only driver who looked able to mildly challenge the Audi. Attila Tassi was third in his Honda Civic to complete the top three.
Q1 was briefly red-flagged when Cosimo Barberini went off at Turn 6 in his Subaru WRX STi TCR. Josh Files will start fourth in his Honda, ahead of Maxime Potty’s Volkswagen Golf. Former championship leader Dusan Borkovic was sixth fastest, ahead of three Honda drivers, with Stefano Comini seventh ahead of Jens Reno Møller and Benjamin Lessennes. Francisco Abreu was tenth in his Peugeot308 TCR and will be on pole position in the reversed-grid second race.
TCR Italy championship leader Salvatore Tavano had looked set for a top-ten starting position, but went no better than 11th in his Cupra, ahead of Peter Terting’s Hyundai i30 N TCR.
Out of Q2 were some high-profile names, including 2017 TCR Italy champion Nicola Baldan, 14th in his Hyundai and Cupra driver Stian Paulsen, who will start 17th ahead of Target Competition team-mates Reece Barr and Kris Richard. TCR UK regular Ollie Taylor went no further than 20th ahead of Team Mulsanne’s Fabrizio Giovanardi, who lamented traffic issues.
Azcona scored four points today in qualifying, which puts him in the championship lead, two points clear of title rival Borkovic.
The first race will start at 17:35 CEST.
