Photo: TCR Spa 500

Jaap van Lagen claims TCR Spa 500 pole position

Jaap van Lagen has claimed the TCR Spa 500 pole position in difficult weather conditions at Spa-Francorchamps for NKPP Racing by Bas Koeten Racing. The Dutchman beat fellow Cupra driver Rik Breukers of Red Camel-Jordans.nl by 1,1 seconds.

Finnish Audi RS 3 LMS driver Rory Penttinen made a late improvement to claim third position on the grid for GDL Team Australia, 1,8 seconds from pole.

Fourth position on the grid was claimed by Charles Espenlaub in the Vmax Engineering-prepared Opel Astra TCR, half a second ahead of former BTCC driver Vincent Radermecker in fifth position for AC Motorsport.

Constantin Schöll was sixth fastest in his Cupra TCR DSG for Wimmer Werk Motorsport, while TCR Germany championship front-runner Antti Buri claimed the seventh fastest time for Topcar Sport with Bas Koeten Racing.

Julien Briché was eighth fastest in the official Peugeot entry, lapping the Spa circuit in 2:40.812 in his Peugeot 308TCR. Lestrup Racing driver Marcus Fluch and Burton Racing driver Pierre-Yves Corthals rounded off the top ten.

There was a number of incidents during the session as the track dried up, most notably Teamwork Huff Motorsport driver Sunny Wong who went into the barriers hard at Les Combes, leaving the team with plenty of repair work ahead of the race.

A total of 17 cars took part in the qualifying session.

The race starts at 16:00 CET.