WTCC Macau: What the drivers said

Eurosport - Fri, 14 Nov 17:13:00 2008

All the reaction following qualifying at the final World Touring Car Championship meeting of the season in Macau - with Alain Menu on pole.

FIA WTCC-QUALIFYING - MENU ON POLE AGAIN - 0

Alain Menu: "I thought I could do a high 30, so when they told me Yvan (Muller) had done a 30.9, I knew I had to do a very good lap to beat him. I think Andy (Priaulx) fired me up a little bit as well as he was trying to get a tow and I like to qualify on my own.

"He gave me more of an incentive to push. Macau is difficult to master and go faster. If you get it right at pretty much all the corners then at the end there is a very good lap time, but the margin between a good lap and being in the wall is very tiny. It worked for me like last year so this was perfect."

Andy Priaulx: "Thanks to Alain because I think a lot of guys would try to make it bad for me before the lap started. He had the confidence in his own ability to pull through and I must say it was a pleasure to watch his pole position lap as it was really nicely driven. I started on new tyres so that gave me a bit of time to balance the car between red flags.

"I just knew it was going to be a waiting game and I was just making sure that I was in there at the end. I left a percentage between my first and second runs with new tyres and then I had nothing left at the end."

Yvan Muller: "I did not think I had the pole because there were still five minutes to go. I expected a few guys to go out. And it was no point for me to go out again and take any more risks. I was pleased with the pace even if I lost one or two places. We didn't take the risk and saved the car. It is better to be on the front than at the back but it is not finished yet, as in Macau everything is possible. I am in a better place than him (championship rival Tarquini); but I have to stay focused."

Gabriele Tarquini: "It was not the best start for me. I already had a few chances to win the title, now they are even less. But never say never: it was my mistake. The car was very good; I had set the fourth fastest lap in my first run and I was on the way to improve by maybe four-tenths. But I never finished the lap. It's a shame, because I was aiming for a front row position."

Sergio Hernandez: "I had a big crash this morning so I was a little bit afraid, but it was okay. The team have worked very well and also the lap was good. I managed to put two cars between me and (independents' trophy rival) Franz Engstler, who is very quick here in Macau. This is going to be a little bit more comfortable for the races, but anyway it is going to be very difficult."

Watch WTCC live on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe. Or watch the action on British Eurosport - available in the UK on Sky channel 410 and Virgin Media channel 521 or British Eurosport 2 - available on Sky 411 and Virgin Media 525.

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  1. tough

    From TYKE THROUGH AND THROUGH, on Sat 15 Nov 6:25PM
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