ROUNDS 3 & 4 PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING
Magny-Cours
Weather: cloudy with a cold wind and 5°C in the early
morning; the weather improved later, with patches of blue
sky and warmer temperatures; track was dry.
PRACTICE 1: TERTING POSTS FASTEST LAP
The fastest lap of the opening practice session at Magny-Cours
was set by the young German, Peter Terting in his SEAT León.
His time of 1:49.855 was 0.060 of a second better than Jörg
Müller’s quickest run for BMW Team Germany with
the third best time being set by Terting’s team-mate
Rickard Rydell.
All six of the SEAT Sport drivers were in the top ten. Championship
leader Yvan Muller, Gabriele Tarquini and James Thompson were
5th, 6th and 7th fastest respectively with Gené 9th.
Dirk Müller posted a time of 1:50.169 placing him 4th
on the time sheet while Andy Priaulx was further down in 8th.
The top ten was completed by a Chevrolet, driven by Rob Huff
with a time of 1:51.053.
Alfa Romeo struggled with the pace as Gianni Morbidelli,
the quickest of the N.technology team of three, achieved only
the 16th best time overall. Tom Coronel set the fastest time
of the independent field, a 1:51.083 in his GR Asia SEAT Toledo
Cupra; he was classified 11th fastest overall.
Alessandro Zanardi had a broken wire in his driving aid system
and therefore had to stop the session with 5 minutes remaining.
PRACTICE 2: JÖRG MÜLLER TOPS TIMES
He was second fastest this morning but in the second practice
session Jörg Müller, winner of both WTCC races here
in Magny-Cours last year, completed the fastest lap in his
BMW Team Germany 320si with a time of 1:50.190.
Tom Coronel of independent team GR Asia put in a storming
lap of 1:50.360 which was the second fastest of the entire
field. Again, SEAT Sport’s Rickard Rydell occupied third
spot, 0.265 seconds off the pace. Behind him in 4th, 5th and
6th was a trio of his team companions, Gabriele Tarquini,
Yvan Muller and James Thompson with only Dirk Müller
in his BMW separating them from Peter Terting who was 8th
quickest. Alessandro Zanardi’s electrical problem had
been solved and he posted a time of 1:51.293, placing him
10th – one position below Andy Priaulx.
Nicola Larini of Chevrolet drove his Lacetti around the track
in the 12th quickest time of 1:51.720. The N.technology Alfas
still appear to have some work to do as Augusto Farfus posted
the teams best time which was 18th overall.
TARQUINI AND SEAT ON POLE POSITION
SEAT Sport have secured the whole front row for tomorrow’s
Race 1. Gabriele Tarquini was the fastest man after setting
a 1:49.306 which is a new S2000 lap record for the French
track. Alongside him when the lights go out will be teammate
Rickard Rydell who stole second position from BMW Team Germany’s
Jörg Müller on his very last lap and by the tiny
margin of just 0.001 seconds. Jörg, who set the previous
lap record in 2004 not only has SEATs in front of him, but
alongside and behind. Jordi Gené set a time of 1:49.798
placing in 4th on the grid while Peter Terting will line up
5th.
Dirk Müller of BMW Team Germany and Alessandro Zanardi
of BMW Team Italy- Spain qualified 6th and 7th respectively
while reigning champion Priaulx will begin Race 1 from position
nine.
Continuing his presence among the works drivers was GR Asia
man Tom Coronel. His time of 1:50.053 was the fastest of the
independents and 8th best of the entire field. Drivers’
championship leader, Yvan Muller completed the 12th quickest
lap in his SEAT León.
The N.technology team were headed by Salvatore Tavano who
achieved a lap in 1:50.795 placing him 19th. Farfus and Morbidelli
occupy 22nd and 23rd respectively, the former spinning into
the gravel trap at the Grande Courbe in the final minutes
of the session.
Naspetti of GDL Racing (provisionally qualified 17th) and
Marchetti of DB Motorsport (provisionally qualified 27th)
will be dropped 10 places on the grid due to engine changes.
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