Chris Mamerow took pole ahead of the Championship challengers
Courtesy of Porsche
Stuttgart. During qualifying for the ninth and final round of this year's
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland on the Hockenheimring, points leader
Richard Westbrook (Great Britain) and his hottest rival Uwe Alzen (Germany)
fought for the best starting position for Sunday's decisive 18-lap race, in
which Westbrook takes off with an advantage of just one point ahead of his
German opponent.
After the qualifying session was halted due to an accident involving
Austria's Martin Brückl who remained uninjured, the 37 competitors had only
20 minutes left in the race for grid positions. In heavy traffic Uwe Alzen
secured second on the grid behind his compatriot Chris Mamerow, whose pole
position today marks his second of the season.
For Richard Westbrook the qualifying session went far less smoothly. At the
time the qualifying was stopped the five-time race winner this season
ranked in 30th. In the time remaining he made up positions but still only
managed to set the seventh fastest time.
With third position, Frenchman Nicolas Armindo continues his top form from
the previous races. Armindo, who won on the EuroSpeedway, is the only
driver to have a slight chance to claim the vice-championship title.
Starting alongside the Frenchman on Sunday is Austria's Martin Ragginger.
Quotes
Chris Mamerow (pole-sitter): “I'm pleased but not surprised. Since the
Norisring we have matched the pace of the front-runners. Today it was
somewhat difficult to find a free run between the many cars. But I'm good
at making the most of such situations. I hope to put in a good performance
tomorrow – not least with a view to 2008. I intend to contest the
international Porsche Mobil1 Supercup next year.”
Uwe Alzen (second qualifier): “Everything went well for us today. My only
wish for tomorrow is an exciting, sporting and fair race.”
Richard Westbrook (seventh qualifier): “We worked so hard preparing for
this qualifying and had put together a clear and promising tactic. After
the totally unnecessary accident, the heavy traffic turned the qualifying
into a lottery – and we didn't draw the winning ticket.”