Nicky Catsburg delighted in taking two pole positions in the two qualifying sessions for the FIA World Touring Car Cup in Slovakia, as the BRC Racing driver admitted to having got ‘a little bit lucky’ with his Q3 running order.
Catsburg repeated his pole position from the afternoon’s first qualifying session to take a second pole in the three-part qualifying, again beating fellow Hyundai racer Michelisz to the top time.
“Finally it came together,” said Catsburg after his first pole. “I am mega happy, because I struggled a bit in the first two events, especially Budapest, so now to be here on pole is a mega feeling.”
Whilst qualifying for race one had been held in purely dry conditions, qualifying for races two and three took part on a drying track.
Having been quickest of all in both Q1 and Q2, Catsburg was able to choose his running order first for Q3, opting to go last on a circuit which was still drying from an earlier rain shower.
That gave the Dutchman the best chance of pole in the single-lap Q3 and he admitted to having been ‘a bit lucky’ to have the luxury of choosing his running order to give him the best chance for pole.
“It’s not so bad – two out of two! To be able to choose that [running order] you need to be P1 in the second part of qualifying. For sure I got a little bit lucky with being able to choose going out last.
“The track was obviously drier than when Norbi set his time, so again I think he did a really great job. It’s really nice for the team to have this 1-2 for both races and I’m super happy.”
With a high chance of rain on Sunday for all three races, Catsburg is relishing the chance to race in the changeable conditions.
“Starting P10 in the middle race is not going to be easy, but let’s see. It might rain on Sunday, so I’m really looking forward to that.
“The wet is the same as the dry – just a little bit less grip, so we should be fine.”