The heat and humidity that welcomed the LADA SPORT ROSNEFT team as they arrived at the Twin Ring Motegi Circuit in Japan for Round 17 and 18 of the FIA World Touring Car Championship did not relent as the hottest conditions of the year created new challenges for the team’s drivers.
With the track temperature at 54 degrees, the trio of Lada Vesta TC1 cars set out in Q1 hoping for enough speed to progress into Q2 for the twelve fastest cars having had reasonable pace through the day’s earlier practice sessions.
Nicky Catsburg who had led the trio on the timesheets in two practice sessions was again quickest of the three in Q1, posting a time good enough for P7 to progress into Q2. Unfortunately, luck was not on the side of his teammates on this occasion particularly for Gabriele Tarquini as a mandatory weight check in the session by the stewards interrupted the Italian’s plans and prevented him from setting a time on new tyres at the end of the session as planned. The result – a place outside the TOP12 and no progression. Hugo Valente did not fare much better also just missing out having opted not to make the final run on new tyres.
Catsburg pushed hard in Q2 and was rewarded with P4/P7 starts for tomorrows two races (4th Septmeber) which pleased the Dutchman “It was seriously hot in the car, so much so that the gear shifter was burning my hand through the glove, the temperatures and humidity are extremely high. I am quite happy with the job today, a second row start in the Opening race is better than Argentina and we are still carrying quite a lot of ballast. I am hoping for some cooler conditions and good races tomorrow and maybe a lighter car for the next round in China”.
Gabriele Tarquini ” It was very hard. My plan was to go with new tyres at the end of Q1 but the weight check took longer than usual so I lost the chance of a third run. It is a shame as the car was really good with some changes we had made from free practice, tomorrow in dry conditions from where we start will be very hard”.
Hugo Valente was left disappointed “We are a bit heavy in terms of success ballast but I did expect to be in Q2, in the end we didn’t do the third run as sitting in 6th spot with three minutes of the session to go you are safe, it was not expected that so many others would improve. In the end it was a mistake to stay in the pit”.
Tomorrow’s two races take place at the Twin Ring Motegi Circuit 4th September and can be watched live on Eurosport at 07.30 (CET) and 08.30 (CET).