Miguel Molina says that he is ‘very happy’ with taking his first pole position of the season in qualifying for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) at the Hockenheimring, where Audi locked out the top three places on the grid.
Molina scored his first ‘official’ pole position since the 2011 season finale, having been sent to the back of the grid for a technical infringement earlier this year at Oschersleben after initially qualifying on pole.
“It’s always great to be on the pole position and especially here at Hockenheim in the season finale,” said a relieved Molina after qualifying. “The hard work of the past weeks has paid off and my team did a great job. I’m very happy about being able to give something back. I now have a good chance of celebrating my first victory in the DTM tomorrow.
“I felt quite good already in free practice two and from the first lap in qualifying I was feeling like I had a good car. I was not so happy with my car in Q3 but in the end it was enough to give pole position.”
The Spaniard will be joined on the front row of the grid by team-mate Mattias Ekström, after the Swede admitted to receiving driving tips from his younger colleague during qualifying.
“I think he is one of the guys who deserves a good result more than anyone after this season,” said Ekström. “He gave me a little advice for one of the corners and that was helping me a bit, so I think he was given the hundredths as a present for being a kind boy! It’s really great team play. I’ve been doing Hockenheim for 14 years and then a young Spanish boy comes and teaches me – it feels a bit weird but it’s true and it also works. I’m grateful for the advice but I also think it’s better that he was the faster guy today.”
Not only did Abt Sportsline’s Molina and Ekström lock out the front row of the grid, but Edoardo Mortara made it a 1-2-3 for the Ingolstadt marque. Indeed Audi drivers will occupy six of the top eight grid positions in Sunday’s race.
“It could hardly have gone any better than this: six Audi cars in the top eight and three of them at the very front – of course we’re very happy with the qualifying session,” said Audi’s Head of DTM Dieter Gass. “Before the weekend and after free practice, we could only dream of this. When such a dream comes true and the starting base for the race and the battle for the manufacturers’ championship is as good as it looks right now, we can tackle the day tomorrow with optimism.”
Audi lead BMW by 21 points in the manufacturers’ championship which is the only title remaining to be decided on Sunday.