Néstor Girolami beats Mikel Azcona to Vallelunga pole position
Néstor Girolami managed to convert Honda’s strong form in the FIA World Touring Car Cup weekend at Vallelunga to pole position.
The Argentinian lapped the Vallelunga track under the 1:15 barrier, as Hyundai’s Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz finished second and third respectively.
In Q1, after the initial runs Honda’s Attila Tassi led the way from Azcona and Michelisz, while the Audis looked strong with Magnus fourth ahead of Tom Coronel.
Despite leading his team-mate for tow, Azcona set the fastest time in the second runs, ahead of erstwhile leader Néstor Girolami and Mehdi Bennani. However, Esteban Guerrieri snatched the fastest time with four minutes to go, keeping the lead ahead of Tassi and Azcona under the flag.
Out from the top 12 were a furious Yvan Muller, Rob Huff, Thed Björk and Tiago Monteiro, who was announced to be under investigation for an alleged breach of the sporting regulations concerning pit lane behaviour along with team-mate Tassi, who already has a grid drop penalty to his name.
Girolami led the way in Q2, ahead of team-mate Guerrieri.
Azcona, Michelisz and Berthon made it to Q3, while the final run of Magnus, Bennani and Coronel were all ruined as the three appeared to scrap over the same piece of tarmac and slipstream, resulting in the Moroccan overtaking the Belgian at Semaforo and ruining their laps.
Yann Ehrlacher finished tenth ahead of team-mate Santiago Urrutia, and will make up the front row of the reversed grid Race 2.
No notable incidents happened in Q3, with Girolami struggling a little in the first sector but making up more than enough to secure pole, despite lifting off at the line. Azcona looked slightly uncomfortable in the scorching Italian heat, whereas Michelisz missed the apex at Cimini 1.
Nathanaël Berthon will line up fourth in his Audi RS 3 LMS ahead of Guerrieri, who seemed to struggle in his Q3 run.
The first race of the weekend starts at 11:15 CEST tomorrow.
