Dan Lloyd’s grid position unclear following bizarre qualifying at Spa

Dan Lloyd has provisionally qualified third on the grid for this afternoon’s first race at Spa-Francorchamps, the closest threat to the two Audis of Gilles Magnus and Santiago Urrutia – but the Briton’s time is still under investigation as it’s believed he shouldn’t have been in Q2.

Lloyd was on a flying final lap in Q1, setting the best overall first sector in his Brutal Fish Racing Team Honda Civic TCR, but the red flags were then waved with 2:31 to go after Josh Files crashed out his Target Hyundai at Raidillon.

Lloyd’s time is believed to have been completed five seconds after the red flags came out, which would relegate the Briton to 18th on the grid.

Although only 12 cars took part in Q2, the car that was expected to be missing was the Team Clairet Sport Peugeot 308TCR of Teddy Clairet, who’d also crashed out at Raidillon at the start of Q1.

“They sent me out. They classed my lap, that’s why there were only 12 cars in Q2,” explained Lloyd.

Hopeful he’ll retain his third place, Lloyd added:

“I’m really happy with my lap. The car was mega and we’ve done a lot of work.

“We knew the pace was going to be good today – the Audis are mega-quick, but we knew we were going to be close to them – and behind us it’s another half a second.

“We’re good at the start, and we’re really strong in the mid-section – just keeping them behind at the straight is going to be a challenge.”