Monteiro, Kristoffersson and Michelisz on pole at Suzuka

The seriousness implied by a commitment to motorsport does not rhyme with chance. However, the trajectory of Tiago Monteiro (Honda) in the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) in 2019 has all the makings of happy circumstances.

Winner in front of his supporters in Vila Real in July, the Portuguese took his first WTCR pole at Suzuka (Japan), the site of his return after a year of physical rehabilitation. The KCMG team driver had taken a long break after an accident during private testing in September 2017.

The former pilot of Formula 1 therefore played off the torrential rain in Qualification 1. "I'm so, so happy, he exclaimed. We have a car weighed down by the compensation system (60 kg. Ed.), but the rain helped us. I love this fairy tale. »

All smiles, Tiago Monteiro will also start in second place in Race 3, behind the double world champion rallycross (World RX), Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen). The Swede, only 15th overall for his learning season in WTCR, managed the drying Japanese track ideally.

Dans la course au titre, le leader du classement général Norbert Michelisz (Hyundai) a effectué la bonne opération. Le Hongrois, classé au 10e rang de la Q2, partira depuis la pole position de la Course 2 grâce au principe de la grille inversée. 

His closest rival, Esteban Guerrieri (Honda), suffered a scare by damaging the left front in Q2. Fortunately for the Argentinian, his Civic Type-R was solid and took him to the final Q3. 

Already third in Qualif 1, the former championship leader did more than save the furniture with the fourth best time in Q3. Enough to allow him to regain a point on Norbert Michelisz, the gap being reduced to nine points.

A contender for the coronation thanks to a perfect weekend in Ningbo (China), Yvan Muller (Lynk & Co) compromised his weekend. The record holder for world titles (4) did not fare well. Trapped by aquaplaning in Qualif 1, the Alsatian violently hit the tire wall, causing a red flag and the cancellation of his best time.

Rejected to 27th place for Race 1, the Frenchman tried to catch up during the second qualifying, without success. The Lynk & Co 03 only recorded the 17th time. 

The best French representative of this day is Jean-Karl Vernay (Audi). The 2017 TCR International Series champion, however, only recorded the 12th and 14th times this Friday. Yann Ehrlacher (Lynk & Co) and Aurélien Panis (Cupra) are also in the second half of the table. 

Race 1 will start on Saturday October 26 at 8 a.m. French time. 

WTCR Suzuka 2019 Qualifying 1 results:

WTCR Suzuka 2019 Qualifying 2 and 3 results: