Mattias Ekström tops Pool Furious qualifying

Mattias Ekström of Cupra EKS set the fastest lap time in the Pool Furious FIA ETCR qualifying session, with the Swede going through to the first quarter final this afternoon at Pau-Ville.

The first part of the session ended abruptly when Cupra EKS driver Jordi Gené touched the barriers, leaving his Cupra e-Racer stranded in the middle of the track.

The second part of the session was delayed as the marshalls recovered Gené’s car.

Cupra driver Ekström and Hyundai’s Mikel Azcona were in a heated battle for the top spot as the session resumed.

The reigning champion prevailed with a lap time 1:21.282, 0.502 ahead of the Spaniard, with Romeo Ferrari’s Giovanni Venturini in third, 0.838 seconds off the pace.

Bruno Spengler was fourth with the second Giulia ETCR, 0.998 seconds behind Ekström, with Kevin Ceccon, driving the second Elantra N ETCR, 1.051 seconds off the pace in sixth.

The first three from this session will join with the top three of the Pool Fast qualifying session for the first quarter final, scheduled for 16:45 CEST.