DRIVER QUOTES AFTER THE QUALIFYING SESSION FOR THE FIA EUROPEAN
TOURING CAR CUP
SUPER 2000
Alessandro ZANARDI – BMW Team Italy-Spain,
pole position
“I wasn’t struggling in the earlier sessions;
it just looked that way because my new team-mate was so fast.
He had a little bit of an edge over everybody but sadly for
him he couldn’t use it in qualifying. I knew the battle
for pole would be between Félix (Porteiro) and I, but
I didn’t expect Ryan (Sharp) to be that fast. It’s
almost a miracle that I got ahead of those two guys because
it was so close. Last year the cup didn’t go to me despite
winning Race 1 with a 13 second gap. I learned long before
then that these things happen in racing and that’s why
it is a feeling of relief when you actually win and it can
never be taken by anyone else. I hope tomorrow I can celebrate
another championship. Félix is young and has a long
career head of him so he can let me have this one!”
Ryan SHARP – GR Asia, 2nd fastest
“I hoped to be so quick but I did not expect it. In
qualifying I was faster and things were closer than they have
been so far this weekend in the dry. In the wet we are as
quick as the BMWs but in the dry we struggled a little bit.
However, the team have worked to improve the car in the dry
and fortunately I got a clear lap in qualifying. The SEAT
León is a little trickier to drive than what I am used
to but it’s faster and it’s definitely a good
car. I’m finding new limits with it every time I go
out.”
Félix PORTEIRO – BMW Team Italy-Spain,
3rd fastest
“All weekend I have been one of the fastest and I hoped
to be in the same position in qualifying. It wasn’t
possible to be on the front row but third isn’t bad
because I think anything is possible in the races. The BMW
cars usually have a better start than the SEAT so I hope to
get to second position by the first corner. I have only had
six hours testing but it is thanks to Alessandro (Zanardi)
that I was competitive straight away because he has helped
me a lot and he knows the car perfectly. As for letting Alex
win this one because I am young… I don’t think
so!”
SUPER PRODUCTION
Andrey ROMANOV – Avtodom Racing, pole position
“The whole team has worked hard to make the necessary
changes to the car. This, along with testing and practice
has enabled me to drive well in a good car. Everything seemed
to come together in qualifying and that’s why I got
a good margin from the rest of the SP drivers. It’s
impossible to say whether this track is better for front wheel
or rear wheel drive cars because I only have experience in
a BMW and the weather is a factor. I can say I like the track
though!”
Alexander LVOV – Golden Motors, 2nd fastest
“I didn’t really know what to expect from qualifying
but I can say that even though we are improving, we have not
found the correct set-up yet. I think it will be better for
Race 1. As the Honda is a front wheel drive car I think it
would be easier for me to overtake if the conditions are wet
tomorrow. However, there is no way I am giving up the fight
even if it is dry.”
Raimo KULLI – Saksa Auto, 3rd fastest
“I am a little bit surprised to make it into the top
three in the SP category but it’s great. To be honest
after qualifying I think that I could have been second because
on my fastest lap there was a lot of traffic and without that
I would have been faster. The Škoda Octavia is on its
first racing season and needs some development. But when this
will be done I think it will be a very good, fast car.”
STOP PRESS
AMENDMENT – NO ENGINE CHANGE FOR ENGSTRÖM
Contrary to what was published in the previous release, no
engine change occurred on Tomas Engström’s Honda
Accord. Therefore the Swedish driver will start from the 8th
position of the grid, according to his qualifying result.
On the other hand an engine was changed on his fellow countryman
Carl Rosenblad’s BMW 320si. Rosenblad, who had set the
7th fastest lap today will be dropped 10 positions on the
grid for tomorrow’s Race 1.
RADERMECKER’S CHEVROLET UNDERWEIGHT
The Maurer Motorsport Chevrolet Lacetti car of Vincent Radermecker
was excluded from the results of today’s qualifying
after it was found to be underweight during the technical
checks.
The team admitted they made a mistake not re-checking the
weight of the car after it took part in the WTCC meeting at
Valencia, in which all the Cheverolet Lacetti cars were allowed
to run 10 kg lighter due to a waiver of the Touring Car Bureau.
Radermecker, who had qualified 9th will be demoted to the
back of the grid.
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