BMW struggled in qualifying with Farfus sixth and Porteiro 11th as the best for the German marque
Despite Nicola Larini and birthday boy Tom Coronel topping the times for most of the qualifying, Jordi Gené snatched pole for SEAT Sport in the closing minutes.
A disappointed Larini looked as though it may have been his session, until Gené set fastest time at 1:40.808, the first driver to go below 1:41. Chevrolet driver Larini was only 0.173 behind, and Tom Coronel, who turns 36 today, was 0.258 further back. It was an unexpected surprise for SUNRED Engineering’s Dutchman, but it proved that even though it is the team’s first season in the championship, their car is competitive.
Larini was supported by team mates Robert Huff and Alain Menu who qualified fourth and fifth respectively, increasing the pressure on SEAT. Chevrolet and SEAT have set the pace all weekend so far showing a perfect balance in their performances, while the BMW drivers struggled again to find the grip and Augusto Farfus emerged as the fastest of them setting the sixth fastest lap, 0.7 seconds off the pole.
Two-thirds of the way through the session SEAT Sport's Tiago Monteiro's engine blew dramatically, putting an end to his qualifying hopes as he slipped down from fifth to tenth position. This incident caused a red flag and session was halted for ten minutes. This gave Gabriele Tarquini time for his gearbox to be fixed ready for the restart, and he was then finally able to set a time immediately behind Rickard Rydell, who was classified seventh.
Pierre-Yves Corthals set the fastest time for the Independents' class, but was disappointed only finishing 14th. From the pace his car had enjoyed over the weekend it was surprising that he was not able to make the top ten.
In addition to Monteiro's engine blow out, there were only a few other incidents during qualifying when Corthals and D'Aste both left the track, but both rejoined to complete the session.
HUFF DROPPED FIVE PLACES
Chevrolet’s Robert Huff, who had posted the fourth fastest lap in yesterday’s qualifying, will be dropped five places on the grid for Sunday’s Race 1.
The decision was taken after his car failed to restart on its own means after stopping at the weighing scales.
STEWARDS CONFIRM GENÉ'S POLE
At the end of yesterday's qualifying session, Chevrolet lodged a protest against Jordi Gené who was said to have spoiled Nicola Larini's last attempt to improve his lap time.
After having examined TV footage and telemetry and having heard both drivers, the Stewards of the meeting rejected the protest and confirmed Gené on pole position for today's Race 1.
BUREAU LIMITS DIESEL TURBO PRESSURE
Like in Brazil, the FIA Touring Car Bureau have issued a decision to limit the supercharged air pressure and the fuel rail pressure on the SEAT León TDI cars.
Both pressures have been limited to the average maximum values measured by the FIA data logger during the previous WTCC event in Curitiba.
This decision applies from Puebla and until further notice.
THE GRID
Pos Driver Car Time
1. Jordi Gene SEAT Leon TDI 1:40.808
2. Nicola Larini Chevrolet Lacetti 1:40.981
3. Tom Coronel SEAT Leon TDI 1:41.239
4. Rob Huff Chevrolet Lacetti 1:41.488
5. Alain Menu Chevrolet Lacetti 1:41.517
6. Augusto Farfus BMW 320si 42.583
7. Rickard Rydell SEAT Leon TDI 1:42.594
8. Gabriele Tarquini SEAT Leon TDI 1:41.671
9. Yvan Muller SEAT Leon TDI 1:41.791
10. Tiago Monteiro SEAT Leon TDI 1:41.873
11. Felix Porteiro BMW 320si 1:42.045
12. Andy Priaulx BMW 320si 1:42.208
13. Jorg Muller BMW 320si 1:42.235
14. Pierre-Yves Corthals SEAT Leon 1:42.729
15. Alex Zanardi BMW 320si 1:43.050
16. Sergio Hernandez BMW 320si 1:43.297
17. Franz Engstler BMW 320si 1:43.890
18. Olivier Tielemans BMW 320si 1:43.952
19. Stefano D'Aste BMW 320si 1:44.068
20. Andrey Romanov BMW 320si 1:45.437
21. Ibrahim Okyay BMW 320si 1:47.962