Tarquini claims second WTCC pole of 2012 at Algarve

The Italian had earlier dominated free practice one, but feared a factory Chevrolet resurgence in qualifying. The expected threat failed to materialise however, with the 2009 WTCC champion emerging fastest in both Q1 and Q2 and edging out Chevrolet's championship leader Yvan Muller by 0.266 seconds in the decisive second qualifying session.

"This car dates from 2005, but it is still capable of surprising me," said Tarquini. "After the tyre issue at Salzburgring we made a long run of about eight laps in practice, as the last corner here is also very long and fast.

"We want to be safe this weekend, and perhaps some changes we'll make for the race will cost us some small performance in the first laps. Of course it depends how much you want to risk, but as I am not going for the championship maybe I can be less conservative than Yvan."

Muller's Q2 was compromised slightly by running wide at Turn 6 when overtaking Tarquini, but the Frenchman felt the incident did not cost him pole.

"Gabriele was off to one side, clear of the racing line, and I just braked a bit too late. He had a three tenth advantage today, so I don't think I could have taken pole. Also, when I went off it was on my second lap and that is usually not as fast."

Hungaroring reversed-grid winner Norbert Michelisz took third and the Independents' Trophy pole. The Hungarian recovered from engine problems in free practice to consistently run among the top six in Q1 and Q2. The Zengo Motorsport driver was forced to defend his track position from Mehdi Bennani (Proteam BMW) at the start of his fastest lap.

"Bennani was very close and wanted to attack me into Turn 1," said Michelisz. "I had to cover the inside, which cost me two tenths, but I don't regret it as I don't think it cost me a position. Yvan and Gabriele appear to be very quick so I am not sure if we have the pace to win, but if they struggle for grip in the second half of the first race then perhaps that will help me."

Muller's title challenger, and RML team-mate, Rob Huff and Tuenti Racing's Pepe Oriola left it late to record a competitive time in Q2. When the chequered flag was produced the pair were at the bottom of the Q2 timing screens, but Huff salvaged fourth place and Oriola claimed the race two reversed-grid pole courtesy of finishing 10th.

ROAL Motorsport BMW team-mates Tom Coronel and Alberto Cerqui were separated by just 0.054s at the finish to complete the top six.

The opening qualifying session was red-flagged when Arena's Tom Chilton suffered front left suspension problems on his Ford Focus at Turn 5. The British Touring Car graduate will start last.

Local hero Tiago Monteiro (Tuenti Racing) was outside the all-important fastest 12 drivers at the time of the stoppage, but earned a place in Q2 on the restart by improving to ninth.

Lada Sport's James Thompson was 12th when the red flags were displayed, but the Englishman was unable to improve on restart and slipped to 17th.

Pos  Driver                Team/Car             Time       Gap
 1.  Gabriele Tarquini     Lukoil SEAT          1m53.966s
 2.  Yvan Muller           Chevrolet            1m54.232s  + 0.266s
 3.  Norbert Michelisz     Zengo BMW            1m54.598s  + 0.632s
 4.  Rob Huff              Chevrolet            1m54.932s  + 0.966s
 5.  Tom Coronel           ROAL BMW             1m54.982s  + 1.016s
 6.  Alberto Cerqui        ROAL BMW             1m55.036s  + 1.070s
 7.  Gabor Weber           Zengo BMW            1m55.087s  + 1.121s
 8.  Tiago Monteiro        Tuenti SEAT          1m55.088s  + 1.122s
 9.  Alain Menu            Chevrolet            1m55.114s  + 1.148s
10.  Pepe Oriola           Tuenti SEAT          1m55.323s  + 1.357s
11.  Mehdi Bennani         Proteam BMW          1m55.488s  + 1.522s
12.  Aleksei Dudukalo      Lukoil SEAT          1m55.618s  + 1.652s
13.  Franz Engstler        Engstler BMW         1m55.811s  Q1
14.  Darryl O'Young        Special Tuning SEAT  1m55.842s  Q1
15.  Alex MacDowall        bamboo Chevrolet     1m55.891s  Q1
16.  Stefano D'Aste        Wiechers BMW         1m55.892s  Q1
17.  James Thompson        TMS Lada             1m55.926s  Q1
18.  Charles Ng            Engstler BMW         1m56.080s  Q1
19.  Tom Boardman          Special Tuning SEAT  1m56.260s  Q1
20.  Pasquale di Sabatino  bamboo Chevrolet     1m56.499s  Q1
21.  James Nash            Arena Ford           1m56.554s  Q1
22.  Tom Chilton           Arena Ford           1m57.117s  Q1