Josh Buchan: “Pole position for Sunday it’s quite nice”

HMO Hyundai driver Josh Buchan finished his first ever Macau qualifying session for the FIA TCR World Tour in tenth place, securing the reverse grid pole position for Race 2.

“It was the most intense qualifying session in my life, for sure,” Buchan told TouringCarTimes.

“Very happy it’s over and very happy it’s the only session today.

The Q1 session saw the TCR Australia champion finishing ninth.

“In the first session, I didn’t do a very good job to pull my lap together, but was still P9, so quite strong for the first time,” said Buchan.

“My ideal would have been P6 or P7, that would have been really cool.”

Buchan dropped one place in the Q2 session which handed him the reversed grid pole.

“And then, in the second session, for whatever reason, I didn’t feel very strong, the car didn’t respond to the new tyre, and I only had one set in that session, so I didn’t get a second go,” said Buchan.

“But it was good enough for tenth in the end, so yes, pole position for the Guia Race, I wasn’t planning on that. It would have been nice seventh or eighth, but pole for Sunday is quite amazing.”

Most drivers feel the pressure when racing against the FIA TCR World Tour regular drivers, but Buchan remains unfazed and focussed in doing his part.

“To be honest, anywhere other than here I’m an equal to these guys, I don’t care whom I’m racing, it’s just a sticker on the door,” Buchan added.

“I can only control what I do and, if it’s good enough, good, if not, fair point. I think this weekend has been quite positive, Sunday, I leave it in the hands of Macau.”