Jorg Muller Fastest but Not on Pole
Jorg Muller did all he could by qualifying on pole position for the first World Touring Car race at Oschersleben tomorrow, but he will have to start eleventh because of a penalty from the last round at Spa
The German driver was docked ten grid places after a final lap accident with August Farfus Jr. The latter was excluded for his part in the incident, but his appeal will be heard after Oschersleben.
Jorg Muller, carrying 45kg less ballast than his teammate following a bad round at Spa, was more than a tenth quicker than reigning British Touring Car Champion James Thompson who inherits the pole position.
Thompson's Alfa Romeo teammate Augusto Farfus Jr qualified third, ahead of Andy Priaulx's BMW who put in a strong performance despite carrying the maximum ballast.
Championship leader Dirk Muller qualified eighth, also carrying the maximum ballast, ahead of Jordi Gene, who managed a top ten qualifying position with the new SEAT Leon.
QUALIFYING RESULTS: Pos Driver Car Time Laps 1. Jorg Muller BMW 320i 1:31.772 14 2. James Thompson Alfa Romeo 156 1:31.926 + 0.154 12 3. Augusto Farfus Jr. Alfa Romeo 156 1:31.949 + 0.177 9 4. Andy Priaulx BMW 320i 1:32.053 + 0.281 10 5. Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Romeo 156 1:32.150 + 0.378 8 6. Rickard Rydell SEAT Toledo Cupra 1:32.239 + 0.467 10 7. Stephane Ortelli SEAT Toledo Cupra 1:32.294 + 0.522 8 8. Peter Terting SEAT Toledo Cupra 1:32.459 + 0.687 12 9. Dirk Muller BMW 320i 1:32.460 + 0.688 10 10. Jordi Gene SEAT Leon 1:32.489 + 0.717 10 11. Thomas Klenke Ford Focus 1:32.717 + 0.945 11 12. Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 156 1:32.734 + 0.962 11 13. Alain Menu Chevrolet Lacetti 1:32.764 + 0.992 12 14. Antonio Garcia BMW 320i 1:32.845 + 1.073 11 15. Alessandro Zanardi BMW 320i 1:32.993 + 1.221 13 16. Michael Funke Ford Focus 1:33.014 + 1.242 10 17. Giuseppe Ciro BMW 320i 1:33.126 + 1.354 11 18. Robert Huff Chevrolet Lacetti 1:33.154 + 1.382 14 19. Marc Hennerici BMW 320i 1:33.179 + 1.407 14 20. Nicola Larini Chevrolet Lacetti 1:33.300 + 1.528 13 21. Tom Coronel SEAT Toledo Cupra 1:33.333 + 1.561 14 22. Stefano D'aste BMW 320i 1:33.437 + 1.665 12 23. Adriano De Micheli Honda Accord Euro R 1:33.453 + 1.681 13 24. Carl Rosenblad BMW 320i 1:33.502 + 1.730 13 25. Valle Makela SEAT Toledo Cupra 1:33.602 + 1.830 14 26. Eric Helary Peugeot 407 1:33.924 + 2.152 12 27. Sascha Ploderl Ford Focus ST170 1:34.921 + 3.149 13
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