Nicky Catsburg doubles qualifying lead in Slovakia

Already author of the pole at the end of the first qualifications, Nicky Catsburg (Hyundai i30 – BRC Hyundai Lukoil) did not tremble in the second session of the day in Slovakia, counting for the third race of the meeting, to offer itself a new first place, after a renewed duel with Norbert Michelisz.

The Dutchman finally took the lead in 2'09″639 in Q3, a time sufficient to push back the Hungarian from BRC Hyundai Squadra Corse to 107 thousandths. Behind the duo racing on the decidedly very lively i30s, Ma Qing Hua (Alfa Romeo – Mulsanne) is rejected by more than four tenths and is ahead of Daniel Haglof (Cupra Leon – PWR Racing) and Esteban Guerrieri (Honda Civic – Münnich Motorsport).

On the French side, Aurélien Panis (Cupra Leon – Comtoyou Racing) finished eighth, while Jean-Karl Vernay (Audi RS 3 – Audi Sport Team Leopard Racing) and Yvan Muller (Lynk&Co 03 – Cyan Racing) could not do better than 19th and 20th. Worse for Yann Ehrlacher (Lynk&Co 03 – Cyan Performance) only 25th.

For the second race of the weekend, Rob Huff (Volkswagen Golf – Sébastien Loeb Racing) will start on pole under the reverse grid rule.