Amidst continuing rain showers enveloping the Rimini region, Loïc Duval took his maiden Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters pole position for the second night race of the weekend at Misano.
The Frenchman was the master of the changeable conditions over the course of the 20-minute session, improving on every flying lap to set his best effort of a 1:45.766, 0.320 seconds ahead of Edoardo Mortara, who took third in yesterday’s race.
Duval was currently under investigation for having gained an advantage by a shortcut at turn two during his fastest lap, with the time later disallowed by the stewards. Nevertheless, his second fastest time was still more than enough to keep the Audi Sport driver in pole position.
Daniel Juncadella took another top three qualifying result of the season, 0.410 seconds off Mortara, but clattered into the barriers on his last flying lap, putting an abrupt end to his qualifying efforts.
Mike Rockenfeller closed in on the top three, but would be 0.049 seconds off Juncadella at the conclusion of the session, and will line up against the Spaniard on the second row.
René Rast made it three Audis in the top five, taking fifth, ahead of Marco Wittmann in sixth place, who was the best of the BMWs.
Nico Müller took seventh, 0.012 seconds ahead of points leader Gary Paffett, whilst Timo Glock and Paul Di Resta completed the top ten.
Pascal Wehrlein was 11th, with Joel Eriksson the best of the rookies just behind the 2015 champion. Lucas Auer was in the hunt for pole position, but fell down the order to end up 13th for today’s race, ahead of Brazil’s Augusto Farfus.
Robin Frijns and Philipp Eng make it a rookie-comprised eighth row on the grid, ahead of Jamie Green and Bruno Spengler, with Alex Zanardi starting from the rear of the field later on this evening.
The second race at Misano World Circuit gets underway at 2230 CEST (BST + 1 hour), lasting for 55 minutes plus one additional lap.
Q1 results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 11 | 1:45.766 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 48 | Edoardo MORTARA |  |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 10 | 1:46.086 | 0.320 |
| 3 | 23 | Daniel JUNCADELLA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 9 | 1:46.496 | 0.730 |
| 4 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 11 | 1:46.545 | 0.779 |
| 5 | 33 | René RAST | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 12 | 1:46.635 | 0.869 |
| 6 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 11 | 1:46.688 | 0.922 |
| 7 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 12 | 1:46.762 | 0.996 |
| 8 | 2 | Gary PAFFETT |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 12 | 1:46.774 | 1.008 |
| 9 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 11 | 1:46.801 | 1.035 |
| 10 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 11 | 1:46.926 | 1.160 |
| 11 | 94 | Pascal WEHRLEIN | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 12 | 1:47.103 | 1.337 |
| 12 | 47 | Joel ERIKSSON |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 12 | 1:47.302 | 1.536 |
| 13 | 22 | Lucas AUER |  |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 11 | 1:47.313 | 1.547 |
| 14 | 15 | Augusto FARFUS |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 11 | 1:47.442 | 1.676 |
| 15 | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 11 | 1:47.802 | 2.036 |
| 16 | 25 | Philipp ENG | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 12 | 1:47.886 | 2.120 |
| 17 | 53 | Jamie GREEN | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 12 | 1:48.266 | 2.500 |
| 18 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 11 | 1:48.315 | 2.549 |
| 19 | 12 | Alessandro ZANARDI | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 10 | 1:50.207 | 4.441 |