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BTCC Knockhill Qualifying Report: Foreign Legion Claim Knkockhill Poles

15 August 1999

Frenchman Laurent Aiello and Swiss star Alain Menu claimed pole positions for Sunday’s rounds of the Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill. The customary fickle weather system around the tight and twisty Scottish circuit brought an element of unpredictability to today’s proceedings, an early morning deluge and subsequent drying track producing a thrilling first session. The threat of rain was always present during the later One Shot Showdown and after provisional pole position had been traded between a number of drivers, the top 10 were separated by just three tenths of a second.

The anticipated downpour held off until the second qualifying session had ended, allowing series leader Laurent Aiello to claim his seventh pole position of the season. Aiello, holding third for the longer Feature race, is well placed to consolidate his championship standing. With nearest rival, Nissan team mate David Leslie, stuck in the midfield and Honda hot-shot James Thompson further adrift, the Frenchman will be looking to extend his ten point advantage tomorrow.

"The circuit is fairly short and I was able to learn it quite quickly," said the former Le Mans winner. "We were not on the track at its quickest point this morning, so we couldn’t challenge for pole. Then this afternoon, I didn’t have a great lap but it proved to be good enough. It was a bit of a lottery today, so I am relatively pleased with my position."

A resurgent Ford Team Mondeo celebrated one of its most successful qualifying performances of the year. Anthony Reid will take position alongside Aiello in the Feature race, while Alain Menu produced a splendid drive in the changeable morning session to claim his and Ford’s second pole of the season.

"Everyone knows the Mondeo is good in wet or damp conditions, but we also did a very competitive race run here in the dry on Friday," said the former champion. "We should be on the pace tomorrow whether it rains again or not. It is very pleasing to get back at the front of the grid and hopefully I can stay there during the race."

Third on the grid for the Feature race is another former BTCC champion Gabriele Tarquini. The Italian, who won the title in 1994 for Alfa Romeo, has been drafted in by Honda as a third driver for the weekend to boost the team’s title challenge, and he demonstrated his ability to thrill the fans with a superb showing in the Accord. "It’s great to be back," said Tarquini. "The BTCC is a fantastic championship and I am really pleased to be able to help Honda this weekend. Knockhill is a track I like, but I didn’t think my lap was all that good. It should be fun tomorrow!"

Rounds 19 and 20 of the Auto Trader BTCC take place at Knockhill tomorrow (Sunday).

AUTO TRADER BTCC QUALIFYING REPORT

Qualifying - BTCC round 19 - One Shot Shootout Weather: overcast, dry

    1.. Laurent Aiello (Fra) Nissan Primera 53.039sec 88.23mph 
    2.. Anthony Reid (GB) Ford Mondeo 53.103s 
    3.. Gabriele Tarquini (Ita) Honda Accord 53.186s 
    4.. Rickard Rydell (Swe) Volvo S40 53.190s 
    5.. Peter Kox (Hol) Honda Accord 53.192s 
    6.. Alain Menu (Swi) Ford Mondeo 53.200s 
    7.. David Leslie (GB) Nissan Primera 53.202s 
    8.. James Thompson (GB) Honda Accord 53.293s 
    9.. J-C Boullion (Fra) Renault Laguna 53.370s 
    10.. Jason Plato (GB) Renault Laguna 53.397s 
    11.. Matt Neal* (GB) Nissan Primera 53.464s 
    12.. Vincent Radermecker (Bel) Volvo S40 53.824s 
    13.. John Cleland (GB) Vauxhall Vectra 53.989s 
    14.. Yvan Muller (Fra) Vauxhall Vectra 54.041s 
    15.. Will Hoy* (GB) Renault Laguna 57.583s 
    16.. Mark Blair* (GB) Vauxhall Vectra no time




Qualifying - BTCC round 20 - Feature Race Weather: wet, drying

    1.. Alain Menu (Swi) Ford Mondeo 57.744sec 81.00mph 
    2.. Jason Plato (GB) Renault Laguna 57.851s 
    3.. Laurent Aiello (Fra) Nissan Primera 57.866s 
    4.. J-C Boullion (Fra) Renault Laguna 58.007s 
    5.. Anthony Reid (GB) Ford Mondeo 58.065s 
    6.. David Leslie (GB) Nissan Primera 58.154s 
    7.. Matt Neal* (GB) Nissan Primera 58.197s 
    8.. Gabriele Tarquini (Ita) Honda Accord 58.260s 
    9.. James Thompson (GB) Honda Accord 58.283s 
    10.. Rickard Rydell (Swe) Volvo S40 58.316s 
    11.. Peter Kox (Hol) Honda Accord 58.665s 
    12.. John Cleland (GB) Vauxhall Vectra 58.789s 
    13.. Yvan Muller (Fra) Vauxhall Vectra 58.841s 
    14.. Vincent Radermecker (Bel) Volvo S40 59.201s 
    15.. Mark Blair* (GB) Vauxhall Vectra 59.612s 
    16.. Will Hoy* (GB) Renault Laguna 59.757s


* Entries registered for the Michelin Cup for Independents

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