Audi Sport Team Rosberg driver René Rast narrowly beat Audi Sport Team WRT rookie Jonathan Aberdein to DTM race one pole at Misano, Italy, by a mere 0.068seconds.
The 2017 champion set a time of 1minute 25.294seconds in the first half of the session, knocking Aberdein from the top spot, before choosing not to run again in order to save tyres for the race this afternoon.
With hot track temperatures leading to increased demands on the Hankook rubber around the 4.226km circuit, teams are aware tyre conservation will be crucial to strong race performances.
Rast claimed his first pole position of 2019, as Aberdein took his first front row start in the DTM in only his third race weekend.
Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver Loïc Duval was one of a few drivers to improve in their second run, taking third place with a time of 1minute 25.543seconds, 0.249seconds slower than Rast.
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline’s Robin Frijns set a 1minute 25.680second lap to complete and Audi front four lockout.
Rookie Sheldon van der Linde put in another impressive performance, the BMW Team RBM driver securing fifth on the grid with a time of 1minute 25.840seconds.
BMW Team RMG driver Bruno Spengler will line up sixth on the grid, sixth tenths slower than Rast’s pole time.
BMW Team RMR driver, and current championship leader, Philipp Eng will head the fourth row in seventh. The Austrian was one of many drivers to have their first lap time deleted for abusing track limits at T13.
Nico Müller will line up eighth on the grid, after setting a time three tenths slower than Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline teammate Frijns.
Audi Sport Team Phoenix’s Mike Rockenfeller took ninth, and was the fastest driver in the 26’s, setting a time of 1minute 26.032seconds.
BMW Team RMR driver Timo Glock rounded out the top ten, the last driver within a second of Rast’s best with a 1minute 26.153seconds lap.
Jake Dennis was the fastest of the R-Motorsport run Aston Martin’s, claiming 13th on the grid with a time of 1minute 26.841seconds .
Andrea Dovisioso, who is making a guest appearance at Misano this weekend with Audi Sport Team WRT, will line up in 15th place. The Italian made use of the quiet track in the middle of the session to set his fastest lap of the weekend at 1minute 27.037seconds.
BMW Team RMG driver Marco Wittmann will start from the back of the grid after the two-time DTM champion was unable to set a time due to a mechanical issue.
Race one starts at 13:15 CEST (12:15 BST)
Qualifying result
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 33 | René RAST |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 4 | 1:25.294 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 27 | Jonathan ABERDEIN |  |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 7 | 1:25.362 | 0.068 |
| 3 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 8 | 1:25.543 | 0.249 |
| 4 | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 9 | 1:25.680 | 0.386 |
| 5 | 31 | Sheldon VAN DER LINDE | |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 10 | 1:25.840 | 0.546 |
| 6 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 8 | 1:25.900 | 0.606 |
| 7 | 25 | Philipp ENG |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 9 | 1:25.943 | 0.649 |
| 8 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 9 | 1:25.978 | 0.684 |
| 9 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 9 | 1:26.032 | 0.738 |
| 10 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 8 | 1:26.153 | 0.859 |
| 11 | 21 | Pietro FITTIPALDI |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 9 | 1:26.583 | 1.289 |
| 12 | 47 | Joel ERIKSSON |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 8 | 1:26.832 | 1.538 |
| 13 | 76 | Jake DENNIS |  |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 10 | 1:26.841 | 1.547 |
| 14 | 23 | Daniel JUNCADELLA |  |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 9 | 1:26.887 | 1.593 |
| 15 | 34 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO |  |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 10 | 1:27.037 | 1.743 |
| 16 | 62 | Ferdinand VON HABSBURG | |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 10 | 1:27.191 | 1.897 |
| 17 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 9 | 1:27.772 | 2.478 |
| 18 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 1 | No time | N/A |