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Yokohama Independents Outshine Established Touring Car Stars |
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Sunday, 30 July 2006 |
In qualifying for today's two rounds of the FIA World Touring Car Championship at Puebla, Mexico, there was upset for the established stars when independent entrant Ryan Sharp (Honda Accord Euro R) held provisional pole position and finally secured third-fastest time.
Irishman Sharp, who currently lies second in the Yokohama Independents' Trophy, outpaced most of the big-budget, manufacturer-entered drivers – and the leader in the Yokohama Independents' Trophy, Dutchman Tom Coronel, claimed a place just one row further back on the starting grid, recording fifth fastest time.
Sharp said: "Third position is a fantastic result. We have grown race by race and we came here confident because the car was so good here last year. I am going to go for the race win because I have no championship position to worry about."
Cornel, too, is promising to attack today: "I see a real possibility to do well, and when you smell potential it makes you even more determined."
Fastest of all was Sweden's Rickard Rydell (SEAT Leon), taking his second pole position of the season. Italy's Salvatore Tavano (Alfa Romeo 156) lines up alongside him on the front row of the grid.
Defending World Champion and outright series leader Andy Priaulx (BMW 320si) faces a tough first race today after qualifying only tenth. He observed, "The front-wheel-drive cars appear to be handling the track better."
Priaulx's closest title challengers, James Thompson (SEAT Leon) and Gabriele Tarquini (SEAT Leon), start from seventh and 18th positions respectively. Tarquini actually set eighth fastest time, but will be demoted ten places on the grid because his car required an engine change. Today's WTCC races are scheduled to start at 20.05 and 2.15 Central European Time, and to be televised live on Eurosport.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 January 2007 )
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