WTCC
Okayama: SEAT Sport qualifying report
Third consecutive pole position for SEAT and Gabriele Tarquini [311009.jpg] Gabriele Tarquini took the pole position for SEAT Sport at the Japanese Okayama racetrack, venue of the penultimate meeting of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship.
Published: Oct 31, 2009, 7:02 PM
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Third consecutive pole position for SEAT and Gabriele Tarquini
[311009.jpg] Gabriele Tarquini took the pole position for SEAT Sport at the Japanese Okayama racetrack, venue of the penultimate meeting of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship. Under especially difficult circumstances, due to the layout and a very hot tarmac, the five SEAT Sport drivers managed to qualify among the top eight, with Tarquini on pole, Rickard Rydell fourth and Jordi Gene, Yvan Muller and Tiago Monteiro on 6th to 8th position. It was also the third consecutive pole position for Tarquini, who is currently leading the overall standings, after the poles clinched in Oschersleben and Imola.
Both previously held free practice sessions allowed the team to prepare this qualifying session thoroughly with the aim of getting all cars into Q2. The aim was achieved easily, despite the evidence that this is not the most favourable layout for the SEAT Leon TDI.
In the definitive Q2 session, Tarquini set the standard right at the beginning, but was passed by Joerg Mueller's BMW. However, in his second and final attempt, with the clock already stopped, the Italian managed to improve his time and clinch an important pole that will allow him to fight for his number one target in Japan: scoring points. But he showed himself very prudent: "I'm very happy with this result. I was extremely focussed and this is the reward, but the pole doesn't give you extra points. I'm convinced that on a dry track it will be difficult to follow the race pace of the BMW. Therefore I'll focus on scoring as many points as possible. Not only in the first race but in all those to follow, including Macau".
With the five SEAT drivers among the top eight, team work will be essential in tomorrow's both races, with the aim of achieving as many points as possible to allow SEAT and their drivers to reach the last meeting in Macau leading both overall standings.
As regards the SEAT Leon WTCC, Tom Coronel was the best qualified on 12th, leading the Independent's Trophy.
-credit: seat
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