South American drivers on top in Valencia Qualifying

Argentina’s Ignacio Montenegro and Brazil’s Raphael Reis will share the front row of the grid in this afternoon Qualifying Race for the FIA Motorsport Games Touring Car Cup at Valencia.

Qualifying was held on a track that was still slippery after a rainy night and dried up during the 30-minute session that was red-flagged after only three minutes after Umar Abdullah’s Honda had gone off at T10.

After the car of the Indonesian driver had been towed back to the pits, where it sat for the rest of the session, lap times began to drop quickly with no fewer than six drivers alternating on top of the time sheet.

The leader changes during the last minutes were Montenegro (1:42.766), Marco Butti (1:42.638), René Povlsen (1:42.460), Aurélien Comte (1:42.158), Eric Gené (1:41.833), Montenegro (1:41.678) and finally Montenegro again (1:41.236).

After he was deprived of a fast lap for track limits, Reis managed to climb to second with a lap of 1:41.789, while Gené improved to 1:41.827 to secure the third position ahead of Comte, René Kircher, Jenson Brickley and Adam Kout.

The Qualifying Race will start at 15:20 (CEST) on the distance of 25 minutes plus one lap and will determine the grid for Sunday’s Final Race.

Ignacio Montenegro: “I’m really happy with the pole. I could have done a better lap, but I was paying a lot of attention to the track limits. It was too much tricky to take risks, because the tarmac was slippery in many places. The cooperation between GOAT Racing and ALM Motorsport is working well.”

Raphael Reis: “I’m pleased, because second is a very good position to start in the Qualifying Race. Now we have to focus on this afternoon with the aim of confirming or even improving the position.”

Eric Gené: “We have done a very good Qualifying on track that was changing every minute. I’m happy with my lap time, because it was not easy. The team has done a great job and also managed to place Raphael in P2. So, it was a great result for us!”

Aurélien Comte: “I’m not at all satisfied. We should have done much better than fourth. The track was slippery and cold, and I think we did not manage to choose the right time to go for our fastest laps. And the car’s set up was not ideal for the conditions.”

René Kircher: “I’m getting used to the new car. Qualifying was difficult because it was getting drier and drier. My lap time was quite ok and good enough for P5. However, I’m not completely happy because I made a small mistake.”

Jenson Brickley: “Whenever you find yourself in these mixed conditions it is difficult to choose the right time to go on new tyres. We went for them to early, and the track continued to be faster. So, all considered, sixth is not too bad.”

Adam Kout: “It was a little bit tricky because of the track conditions. But I liked it. At the end we put on a set of new front tyres and my time was faster and I expected it was worth a better position…”

René Povlsen: “It was good enough, but in the end several drivers were able to improve, and this cost me some places. All in all, I am satisfied.”

Valencia - Qualifying

1:41.236 – Ignacio Montenegro (Argentina, Honda Civic Type R FL5)

1:41.789 – Raphael Reis (Brazil, CUPRA Leon VZ)

1:41.827 – Eric Gené (Spain, CUPRA Leon VZ)

Picture: FIA Motorsport Games