Yann Ehrlacher: “Second attempt would have been too risky”

Yann Ehrlacher has admitted that the fact he didn’t head out onto the Nordschleife for a second run in qualifying for the second round of the World Touring Car Cup had been a deliberate move, despite it meaning he missed out on pole position.

The French driver had held provisional pole after the first timed runs at the Nürburgring having gone below the previous qualifying lap record held by Thed Björk, before a lengthy Code 60 to allow the Renault of Jack Young to be removed from the gravel left little more than five minutes left on the clock.

As others headed off to try and improve on their earlier times, Ehrlacher was seen swerving to warm his tyres on the Grand Prix loop and failed to make it round to start a timed lap before the chequered flag flew in what looked like being a miscalculation by the team.

However, the points leaded insisted that a second run in the fading light would have been “too risky” and that he was pleased to have still secured a front row start after Nestor Girolami managed to beat him to pole.

“I wanted that pole and I gave everything I could,” he said. “My lap was really on the edge and to go for a quicker attempt would be too risky without a tow. But second is a good position to start from and I am pleased with the performance. Eight points in the bag is good, we need to keep delivering consistently.”

Yvan Muller in the sister car running under the Cyan Racing Lynk & Co banner endured a more trying session however, and will start both races outside the top ten having posted the eleventh quickest time.

“We didn’t get it right and I’m obviously not happy,” he said. “It’s not easy to overtake at this circuit but we will of course fight hard tomorrow.”