Photo: Tamara Aller

Sten-Dorian Piirimagi claims maiden TCR Spain pole at Valencia

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Sten-Dorian Piirimagi of ALM Motorsport claimed his first TCR Spain pole position in qualifying at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, host of the third round of the season.

Piirimagi (Honda) led the classification after the first round of flying laps of the Q2 session followed by rival Honda drivers Víctor Fernández and Mike Halder.

Michael Markussen sat in fourth place as the Danish driver had a lap cancelled due to track limits while improving.

Cupra driver Eric Gené did some evaluation laps, making his first attempt half way through the session to climb up to fifth position.

Piirimagi claimed the pole position with a lap time of 1:41.037 with Fernández in second place, 0.095 seconds behind, and Gené improving to third as the chequered flag waived, two-tenths off the pace.

Halder qualified in fourth place, 0.431 seconds behind the pole time, with Markussen in fifth and Jenson Brickley next, 0.555 seconds off the pace.

Guillaume Savoldelli (Audi) qualified in seventh, with Enric Bordás (Audi) right behind. Marco Aguilera (Hyundai) and Sebastien Thome (Audi) completed the top ten.

The TCR Spain field returns to the track at 14:05 CEST on Sunday afternoon for Race 1.