René Rast takes last gasp pole position at Assen
Audi Sport Team Rosberg driver René Rast claimed his second pole position of the year, beating fellow Audi driver Loïc Duval at the last moment of the qualifying session by just 0.029 seconds.
Championship leader Nico Müller could only manage fourth place, his first qualifying finish outside of the top three this season.
Despite a possibility of rain forecasted for Sunday, the field took to a dry and sunny track.
BMW Team RMR’s Lucas Auer went wide twice during his first attempt but was able to continue back to the pits.
Saturday’s pole sitter Duval of Audi Sport Team Phoenix claimed the top spot with one minute left on the clock.
But it would be Team Rosberg driver Rast who would pip the Frenchman by just 0.029 seconds on his last lap to take the pole position with a time of 1:22.976.
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline drivers Robin Frijns and Nico Müller claimed positions three and four.
Team Phoenix’s Mike Rockenfeller was fifth, followed by BMW Team RMR driver Jonathan Aberdein, four-tenths behind Rast.
Habsburg managed to break into the top ten of qualifying with seventh place, followed by BMW Team RMG driver Timo Glock. Harrison Newey finished ninth, with ART Grand Prix driver Robert Kubica completing a solid session in tenth place, 0.775 seconds off the pace.
Rast said after the session: “It’s difficult to say what’s going to happen, as yesterday we struggled in the second stint with the tyre, so we still have to understand what we can do to make the tyre last longer. But it might also rain, so let’s see how things go.”
The start of Race 2 is scheduled for 13:30 CEST today.
