Last-minute dash gives Rydell pole
Rickard Rydell struck in the final minute of qualifying to land pole position in the Autotrader BTCC at Thruxton today
Earlier, Alain Menu set the pace slotting in a 1:16.914 to put the Ford Mondeo at the front of pack, shortly followed by Anthony Reid to make it a Ford front row.
This wasn't to last though as Nissan Newcomer Laurent Aiello planted his Primera at the front with a 1:16.046.
Jean-Christophe Boullion also put in a good lap half way through the session to place himself and the Renault Laguna third.
This is the way that it stayed until the last ten minutes of the session at which point a late running Rickard Rydell (Volvo) and Jason Plato (Renault) stole second and third respectively.
Not to be outone the Nissan boys struck back with Leslie taking honours on a 1:16.042 to make it a Nissan 1-2.
Honda had a less enjoyable time with James Thompson only managing 10th in the 1:17s and Peter Kox failing to stop at the weighbridge when he started.
In the last minute it was all stood on its head when Rydell pounded in a 1:15.798 to plant the Volvo on the front row and depose both of the Nissans.
Best of the Independents was Matt Neal (Nissan) who managed to secure eighth on the grid, but the other independent drivers were definitely struggling to find pace in the heat lapping in the 1:18s.
The 'one shot showdown' qualifying is scheduled for 14.25 an if it is half as tense as this morning it should be a good one.
Thruxton - Qualifying results in Autotrader British Touring Car Championship Rounds 5&6
Pos Driver Car Lap Time
1 Rickard Rydell (S) Volvo S40 1:15.798 111.897
2 David Leslie (GB) Nissan Primera GT 1:16.042 111.538
3 Laurent Aiello (F) Nissan Primera GT 1:16.046 111.532
4 Jason Plato (GB) Renault Laguna 1:16.539 110.814
5 Alain Menu (CH) Ford Mondeo 1:16.579 110.756
6 Vincent Radermecker (B) Volvo S40 1:16.783 110.462
7 Anthony Reid (GB) Ford Mondeo 1:16.896 110.300
8 Matt Neal (GB)* Nissan Primera GT 1:17.003 110.146
9 Jean-Christophe BoullionRenault Laguna 1:17.089 110.023
10 James Thompson (GB) Honda Accord 1:17.346 109.658
11 Yvan Muller (F) Vauxhall Vectra 1:17.361 109.637
12 John Cleland (GB) Vauxhall Vectra 1:17.536 109.389
13 Lee Brookes (GB) Honda Accord 1:18.462 108.098
14 Paula Cook (GB) Honda Accord LS 1:19.284 106.977
15 Russell Spence (GB) Renault Laguna 1:20.117 105.865
16 Mark Blair (GB) Vauxhall Vectra 1:20.649 105.167
17 Peter Kox (NL)* Honda Accord No Time 0.000
*Time disallowed for failing to stop on weighbridge.
Weather Conditions: Dry/Sunny
Track Length: 2.3560 Miles
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