Nestor Girolami dominates eventful qualifying

It is a 100% Honda and 100% Argentinian front row which will set off on Sunday in the streets of Pau. Nestor Girolami surprised everyone by stealing the best time from under his friend Esteban Guerrieri's nose. The South American signs his fourth pole position in the discipline. In third place in this qualification, we find the indestructible Yvan Muller (Lynk & Co) not necessarily satisfied with his pace since the start of the day, the Alsatian is fully satisfied with this place given the difficulties of overtaking on a track urban. Fourth in this session, Nathanaël Berthon (Audi Sport) who seemed on the verge of despair at the end of the free practice sessions. The Audi driver knew he had the potential to improve his times, this place in Q3 should give him confidence. Ma Qin Hua is also the nice surprise of this last part of qualifying, the TCR China 2021 champion will bravely defend his chances in the two Sunday races. 

Complicated qualification for outgoing champion Yann Erhlacher ©DPPI

The first qualifying session of the season is not without incidents and twists and turns. Thed Björk is one of the main victims. The Swede left the track violently after making a trajectory error at the last chicane of the circuit. The Nordic Lynk & Co 03 was then in a very delicate position, it was a miracle that his teammates Santiago Urrutia and Ma Qin Hua managed not to hit him head-on.

https://twitter.com/FIA_WTCR/status/1522976331264315392

the Uruguayan who was the leader of the free practice sessions did not manage to qualify for the last part of the session. He will start in 7th position in the main race just behind Yann Ehrlacher who had a very hectic session. The double winner of the World Cup (2020 and 2021) indeed made a mistake in Q1 at the Foch statue. His Lynk & Co 03 crashed into the tire wall, causing its driver to decelerate by more than 10 G! Incredibly, the Alsatian managed to complete the qualifying session. But in the final moments of Q2, Nathanaël Berthon ejects him from Q3. Particularly frustrated and unhappy, the Frenchman will have to work hard tomorrow to try to score as many points as possible. Hyundai also had a complicated qualification. Neither Azcona (8th in the session) and Michelisz managed to advance to Q3. The Hungarian can console himself for having taken pole in race 2 thanks to his 10th place in Q2. Eric Cayrolle (Comtoyou Team Audi Sport), invited for his home race, will start from last place in both races. 

The two WTCR races can be followed tomorrow at 13:10 p.m. for the first round, the second race will be contested late in the afternoon at 17:10 p.m.