Luca Engstler loses race one pole at Vallelunga

Luca Engstler will face a huge battle to try and secure Touring Car Cup honours at the inaugural FIA Motorsport Games after mechanical woes left him at the back of the grid for both races.

The Team Germany driver had set the quickest lap in first qualifying at the wheel of his Hyundai i30 N TCR, but then saw his car grind to halt when he headed back out for his second run.

Engster’s time would remain unbeaten until the end of the session, but his team was then forced to change the engine – which automatically means he will drop to the back of the grid for race one.

The tight nature of the timetable also meant that Engstler was unable to take to the track in second qualifying, which means the Team Germany driver will also be at the back of the grid for Sunday’s second race.

Engstler’s race one penalty means that Klim Gavrilov now starts from pole ahead of Mat’o Homola, with Rory Butcher and Tom Coronel sharing row two because of an engine change penalty for Jim Ka To.