RML drivers Yvan Muller and Tom Chilton will line up in 3rd and 5th for the 2nd round of the 2013 World Touring Car Championship but they were denied a chance to challenge for Pole Position.
The two RML cars had been slipstreaming throughout the session and Muller was leading Chilton on their final flying lap as they looked to beat the time set by Gabriele Tarquini in the Honda Civic.
After the first two sectors, Chilton was half a second quicker than the time set by the Italian and on course for his maiden Pole Position since graduating from the British Touring Car Championship for the 2012 campaign. His run was ruined as he encountered the SEAT of Fernando Monje in the final sector of the lap and all of the teams’ hard work was undone.
“It’s frustrating to have been so close to getting a pole time, but then losing it in the final sector,” explains an annoyed Chilton. “But from 5th I can I still change my fortunes and again, those few extra miles under my belt in the Cruze on this track will help so as always, I’ll be giving it my all as soon as the lights go out.”
Muller had topped the times in free practice and had hoped to replicate his Pole Position from Monza but ultimately wound up third overall and second Chevrolet on the grid.
“Third is ok,” adds Muller. “It’s not what we’d expected having worked so well in the morning’s practice sessions but unfortunately we were caught out in those final minutes by a slower car, making it impossible to improve.
“Both Tom and myself were held up considerably so it was game over. But third isn’t a disaster and I am sure we can turn it around in the race tomorrow.”
RML did have one reason to cheer as their cars secured positions 2nd to 7th for the opening race, with Independent driver James Nash in the bamboo engineering car leading the Chevrolet train.