Thruxton: David Pinkney qualifying report

PINKNEY BATTLES CONDITIONS FOR 13TH ON THRUXTON GRID

David Pinkney will start the first race of the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season from 13th on the grid following a wet qualifying session at Thruxton.

Free practice and qualifying saw the Harpenden-racer hit the track in his distinctive Pinkney Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra for the first time in wet conditions, with his limited pre-season testing having been conducted entirely in the dry.

Having gone 13th quickest in FP1, David went tenth quickest in FP2 with the team hopeful that the rain that affected the opening session would stay away for qualifying.

However, conditions worsened as the 30 minute session got underway, with a number of drivers suffering spins as they struggled to find grip around the high-speed Hampshire venue.

Despite rivers of water running across the circuit, David was able to bring his car through the session unscathed with the 13th quickest time and will now target a scoring start to the season in Sunday's three races.

"We've not run the car in the wet before so had to take a bit of a guesstimate on set-up," he said, "so 13th on the grid was a good effort. Conditions on track in qualifying weren't easy and there were rivers running across the circuit in places. Mat Jackson and Phil Glew both suffered spins in front of me and it was difficult to get the maximum from the car. But we've had a solid day and the focus now is on three successful races on Sunday."

Team manager Andrew Dean added that there was still plenty more to come from the ex-works Vauxhall and said the team was confident that it had a good set-up in place for race day.

"We've had an eventful few weeks getting ready for the season and this is the first time that David has been able to drive the car in the wet," he said. "We know there is more in the car and we didn't get the best out of it when the conditions were right on track, but we are confident that we'll be able to put a good set-up on for race day."

The first race will get underway at 11.30, with all three races being broadcast live on ITV4.

-source: david pinkeny