Norbert Michelisz says that he is ‘super happy’ with his pole lap, after taking the top spot in qualifying for the World Touring Car Championship on the Nürburgring Nordschleife by over half a second.
Michelisz had been third with minutes to go in the session when he pulled out a fast lap to deny Volvo’s Nicky Catsburg the bragging rights at the ‘Ring.
The pole is the first since Japan in 2015 for the Hungarian, and marks his first as a factory Honda driver.
“I’m super happy with the result today,” said Michelisz, who was 0.608 seconds clear of Catsburg. “It’s a great feeling to get my first pole as a factory Honda driver.
“Even from the first lap of practice this morning, I had a lot of confidence with the Civic. We’d been fast yesterday and it was really just a case of fine-tuning what we had and maximising the performance in this afternoon’s warm temperatures.”
Michelisz left it until late to move to the top of the times, putting in a scintillating lap in the late stages of the 40-minute session under scorching sunny skies.
The 32-year-old is now targeting his first in of the season in Saturday’s Main Race, which takes place as part of the build-up to the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race later in the day.
“To come to a track that shouldn’t, on paper, suit us, and then take pole is absolutely fantastic and I have to thank the team for their great work.
“Tomorrow the aim is to win the Main Race; nothing less.”