Hungary qualifying heroics give Girolami second-row start
Nestor Girolami capped a strong performance in qualifying for the WTCR - FIA World Touring Car Cup’s Hungaroring round by securing fourth on the grid for Sunday’s second race.
The Argentinian, who was the fastest Honda Civic Type R TCR driver in every session on Saturday, progressed to the Q3 shootout segment of qualifying thanks to a stunning effort in Q2 that was quickest of all the first runs.
That pace of that lap, which was eventually the fourth fastest in Q2, was such that he did not need to head out for a second time - a feat made all the more impressive considering the Civic Type R TCR is carrying 60kg compensation weight for a second round in a row.
Fourth in the shootout meant he added a total of three points to his tally in the Drivers’ championship, having earlier set the fifth-fastest time in Q1.
Crucially, by only running once in Q2 ‘Bebu’ and ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport also saved two new tyres for Sunday.
His compatriot and team-mate Esteban Guerrieri was on course for a place in the top 10, and with it a favourable starting position for the reversed-grid Race One, until he was bumped back by late improvements.
Esteban felt he made a small mistake towards the end of his final effort in Q2, but was still satisfied with the progress he and the team made with the performance of his car from the start of the day.
That sentiment was echoed by Tiago Monteiro, whose ALL-INKL.DE Münnich Motorsport Civic Type R TCR fell just three-hundredths short of a place in Q2.
A late improvement - the second of two “very good” laps he felt he delivered in Q1 - got Tiago into the all-important top 12 to progress to the next part of qualifying, only for him to be bumped out after the chequered flag had been shown.
Home favourite Attila Tassi was only one tenth and one position further back, ending Q1 in 14th.
That position masked what had nevertheless been a strong effort from the 22-year-old, who was delayed during both practice sessions and only attempted one representative lap before qualifying.
That pace of that lap, which was eventually the fourth fastest in Q2, was such that he did not need to head out for a second time - a feat made all the more impressive considering the Civic Type R TCR is carrying 60kg compensation weight for a second round in a row.
Fourth in the shootout meant he added a total of three points to his tally in the Drivers’ championship, having earlier set the fifth-fastest time in Q1.
Crucially, by only running once in Q2 ‘Bebu’ and ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport also saved two new tyres for Sunday.
His compatriot and team-mate Esteban Guerrieri was on course for a place in the top 10, and with it a favourable starting position for the reversed-grid Race One, until he was bumped back by late improvements.
Esteban felt he made a small mistake towards the end of his final effort in Q2, but was still satisfied with the progress he and the team made with the performance of his car from the start of the day.
That sentiment was echoed by Tiago Monteiro, whose ALL-INKL.DE Münnich Motorsport Civic Type R TCR fell just three-hundredths short of a place in Q2.
A late improvement - the second of two “very good” laps he felt he delivered in Q1 - got Tiago into the all-important top 12 to progress to the next part of qualifying, only for him to be bumped out after the chequered flag had been shown.
Home favourite Attila Tassi was only one tenth and one position further back, ending Q1 in 14th.
That position masked what had nevertheless been a strong effort from the 22-year-old, who was delayed during both practice sessions and only attempted one representative lap before qualifying.
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