Photo: ACI Sport

Klim Gavrilov tops Mugello qualifying but Enrico Bettera snares pole

Klim Gavrilov topped the times in qualifying for the latest rounds of the TCR Italy Championship at Mugello, although the Russian driver missed out on securing his first pole in the series.

The VRC Team driver had been the only driver in the session to dip below the 1:57s mark at the wheel of his Audi RS 3 LMS to edge fellow Audi driver Enrico Bettera out of pole position.

However, following the publication of the results it was then confirmed that Pit Lane Competizione driver Bettera will in fact start the opening race of the weekend from the front of the grid thanks to a ten place grid penalty for the polesitter.

That penalty dates back to the second race of the season-opening Monza race meeting, which was the last time Gavrilov appeared in the series.

Marco Pellegrini was third quickest in his Hyundai i30 N TCR but will now be promoted onto the front row of the grid, with Scuderia del Girasole’s championship leader Salvatore Tavano and Audi racer Jacopo Guidetti filling the second row.

Team Wimmer Werk’s Felix Wimmer was sixth fastest in his Cupra TCR but also takes a grid penalty after improving his lap time under yellow flags.

Scuderia del Girasole team-mates Matteo Greco and Eric Scalvini were next on the times, with Scalvini taking pole position for Race 2 due to the reverse grid rule.

The start of Race 1 is scheduled for Saturday at 17:30 CEST.

(NB: This article was updated following confirmation of Gavrilov’s penalty)