Nicky Catsburg heads Hyundai 1-2 in first qualifying
Nicky Catsburg followed up his pace-setting performance in second practice by leading the way in qualifying for the opening World Touring Car Cup race of the weekend at the Slovakiaring.
The Dutch driver emerged on top of a tight battle for top spot with fellow Hyundai driver Norbert Michelisz to secure the five bonus points on offer for pole as the pair proved to be the class of the field in the 30 minute long session, which determines the grid for Sunday’s opening race.
Michelisz had been the first man to top the times as he immediately set the fastest lap of the weekend so far in the early stages of the session, becoming the first driver to dip below the 2:10 mark in his i30 N TCR.
However, as drivers started to work together in the latter stages to benefit from a tow, Catsburg was able to get down to a 2:09.498 which allowed him to sneak into top spot despite Michelisz also bettering his time.
Come the end of the session, the pair would be split by just 0.030 as the BRC Racing squad locked out the front row; albeit with drivers from different sides of the garage.
The Mulsanne Racing Alfa Romeo continued to impress, with Chinese driver Ma Qing Hua producing the best qualifying performance of the season to date for the revised car as he went third quickest, despite running without the benefit of tow. Daniel Haglof and Tom Coronel followed behind in their Cupra TCRs, with the second Alfa Romeo of Kevin Ceccon in sixth – the leading positions being dominated by drivers currently sitting further down the championship order.
Jean-Karl Vernay was best Audi in seventh ahead of the Honda of Esteban Guerrieri, with Frederic Vervisch and Mehdi Bennani rounding out the top ten; the latter producing the strongest showing of the weekend to date for the Volkswagen drivers. Current points leader Nestor Girolami just missed out on the top ten and will start from eleventh spot.
Elsewhere, defending champion Gabriele Tarquini was 13th quickest but will take a five place penalty on the grid, with wildcard driver Luca Engstler in 20th.
It would prove to be a tricky session once again for the Lynk & Co drivers however, with Yvan Muller the only one of the four drivers to make it into the top 20. Thed Bjork, Yann Ehrlacher and Andy Priaulx filled the final three spots on the grid, just behind Rob Huff’s Volkswagen as the Briton continued to endure a challenging weekend on track.
