The qualifying session for the first race of the WTCC, to be staged tomorrow on the British Brands Hatch racetrack, did not bring favourable grid positions for the SEAT Sport drivers. Yvan Muller was the fastest of them, qualifying sixth, whilst Tiago Monteiro finished eleventh. For Gené (14th), Rydell (16th) and Tarquini (18th) tomorrow’s race can only be a fight to recover positions.
We should however not forget that the SEAT drivers are facing the race in Brands Hatch with a major handicap, since the FIA insists in reducing the weight for Honda, BMW and Chevrolet. Therefore, the characteristic ups and downs of the Kent county racetrack have turned out to be extremely hard for the heavy SEAT León TDIs. The effect of the ballast was clearly felt by the drivers, both during the free practice and the qualifying sessions, just as had been predicted by the team technicians.
However, Yvan Muller had a spectacular performance, keeping himself among the top five drivers until the final part of the session. Jordi Gené found a busy track during his last try, while Rydell and Tarquini had little run-offs while trying to improve their times during the last minutes.
Tom Coronel, with the SEAT León WTCC of the Sun Red team qualified 9th, while Lourenço Beirao da Veiga, who is having his debut in the WTCC after his Eurocup victory in Estoril finished 23rd, also at the wheel of a SEAT León WTCC.
Classification
1. A.Farfus (BMW), 1’32’794
2. A.Menu (Chevrolet), 1’32’796
3. R.Huff (Chevrolet), 1’33’100
4. A.Priaulx (BMW), 1’33’307
6. Y. Muller (SEAT TDI), 1’33’530
9. T.Coronel (SEAT), 1’33’692
11. T. Monteiro (SEAT TDI), 1’33’744
14. J. Gené (SEAT TDI), 1’33’863
16. P.Y.Corthals (SEAT), 1’33’913
17. R.Rydell (SEAT TDI), 1’33’962
18. G.Tarquini (SEAT TDI), 1’34’010
23. L.Beirao (SEAT), 1’34’880
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