BTCC: Tarquini and Menu share the pole prizes at Knockhill
13 May 2000
Gabriele Tarquini recorded Redstone Team Honda's first pole position of the 2000 Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill today. The Italian grabbed the number one spot for tomorrow's round eight at the Scottish circuit, with Team Ford Mondeo driver Alain Menu bagging pole for round seven. There was more delight for Honda with Briton's James Thompson - back in the driving seat for the first time since recovering from injuries sustained in a crash during the opening meeting at Brands Hatch last month - setting third fastest time for round eight. Tarquini said: "I'm delighted with my first pole position of the season. The Honda likes Knockhill and is well suited to the kerbs and bends. I got a good set-up yesterday in testing that proved to work again for me today. I must now concentrate hard on the start tomorrow." Thompson said: "It's great to be back and on the pace so quickly. The car felt quite good and there is no reason why I can't turn this position into a positive result for the team tomorrow." Stourbridge's Matt Neal was quickest of the Michelin Cup for Independents runners in both sessions with Barwell Motorsport's Mark Lemmer, of Surrey, fastest of the Class B entrants for round seven. Northern Ireland's Alan Morrison, of the Touring Car VIP Club team, was quickest Class B man for round eight. TOP TEN QUALIFYING TIMES, ROUND 7 1 Gabriele Tarquini (Ita) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 52.190s 2 Alain Menu (Swi) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 52.284s 3 James Thompson (GB) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 52.364s 4 Tom Kristensen (Den) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 52.480s 5 Matt Neal (GB)* Team Dynamics Nissan Primera GT 52.496s 6 Rickard Rydell (Swe) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 52.498s 7 Yvan Muller (Fra) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 52.852s 8 Vincent Radermecker (Bel) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 52.971s 9 Anthony Reid (GB) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 53.005s 10 Jason Plato (GB) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 53.053s TOP TEN QUALIFYING TIMES, ROUND 8 1 Alain Menu (Swi) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 53.144s 2 Rickard Rydell (Swe) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 53.184s 3 Anthony Reid (GB) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 53.262s 4 Gabriele Tarquini (Ita) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 53.267s 5 Matt Neal (GB)* Team Dynamics Nissan Primera GT 53.326s 6 James Thompson (GB) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 53.427s 7 Tom Kristensen (Den) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 53.430s 8 Yvan Muller (Fra) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 53.555s 9 Jason Plato (GB) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 53.641s 10 Colin Blair (GBl)* PRO Motorsport Nissan Primera GT 54.245s *=Michelin Cup for Independents driver