FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING
ROUNDS 1 & 2
 PRACTICE
AND QUALIFYING
Weather: cloudy with a threat of reain, but the track remained
dry.
PRACTICE 1 - JÖRG MÜLLER BEGINS HOSTILITIES
In the first practice session of the season Jörg
Müller (BMW Team Germany) posted the fastest time of
2:00.787 in his BMW 320si. The field was closely packed behind
him however, with the top 12 times being within 1 second.
Salvatore Tavano set the second fastest lap at the wheel
of his N.technology Alfa Romeo 156 while the top three were
completed by a SEAT León, driven by Briton James Thompson.
Behind was his team-mate Yvan Muller, 0.512 of a second off
the pace, while Rickard Rydell posted the 6th best time.
Reigning champion, Andy Priaulx set the 5 th best lap.
The fastest of the Chevrolet team of three was Robert Huff,
15th overall. Nicola Larini did not take part in the session
due to an exhaust problem.
In the Independents’ category it was Tom Coronel who
completed the best lap of 2:01.751 to place him 12th overall.
He was closely followed by Emanuele Naspetti who was 13th
quickest.
PRACTICE 2 – ANDY PRIAULX IS THE FASTEST
Andy Priaulx was the hottest of the field in the
second free practice session for more than one reason. He
set the fastest lap of 2:01.367 but suddenly stopped on the
track after the chequered flag when a short circuit caused
a fire inside his car.
Yvan Muller and Rickard Rydell ensured SEAT’s presence
in the top times by setting the 2nd and 4th quickest laps
overall. They were 0.170 and 0.296 seconds behind Priaulx
respectively.
However Alfa Romeo’s Augusto Farfus managed to squeeze
between them in third position with a lap in 2:01.653. While
Alessandro Zanardi set the 5th fastest time, 0.344 off the
pace.
Nicola Larini was out on the track after missing the earlier
session and headed the Chevrolet team with a time of 2:01.759
securing the 7th position overall. Tom Coronel once again
set the best lap time of the independent competitors despite
joining the session with just 9 minutes remaining.
The session was even closer than the first one, with 19 drivers
covered by only one second.
PRIAULX STEALS POLE FROM YVAN MULLER
The reigning World Touring Car champion will begin the new
season from pole position. Andy Priaulx (BMW Team UK), with
a lap of 2:00.254 secured prime position on the grid with
just two minutes left on the clock. Alongside him on the front
row will be Yvan Muller for SEAT Sport who had posted a time
0.106 seconds slower off the pace in the early stages of the
session.
The third best time of 2:00.561 was set by Augusto Farfus
in his N.technology Alfa Romeo 156 with just 19 thousandths
of a second denying him a spot alongside Priaulx on the front
row.
Alessandro Zanardi (BMW Team Italy-Spain) emerged as the
fastest of the Italian drivers, setting the 5th fastest lap
in 2:00.751, immediately behind Dirk Müller (BMW Team
Germany) 2:00.561.
The best result from the Chevrolet men was 16th position
set by Robert Huff. Nicola Larini will line up in 17th while
Alain Menu achieved the 19th best time. Emanuele Naspetti
(GDL Racing BMW 320i) and Tom Coronel (GR Asia SEAT Toledo)
had a battle to be the best independent. It was the former
Italian Supertouring champion who eventually set the best
time out of the two securing 14th position. There is no room
for complacency however as the Dutchman’s time of 2:01.206
places him 15th.
In fact, the top fifteen times out of the 35-car field were
all within 9 tenths of a second indicating the potential for
two breathtaking opening races for the 2006 season.
Peter Terting of SEAT Sport qualified on the last spot, due
to an engine failure that stopped him during his first flying
lap.
Monza
Qualifying Results
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