Gilles Magnus says he is relieved to ‘finish the job’ and claim a first FIA World Touring Car Cup pole position of the season, after edging out Comtoyou Racing team-mate Nathanaël Berthon on Saturday in Aragón.
Magnus put his Audi on top of the Q3 times by just under two tenths of a second in searing heat, giving him a second overall WTCR pole position and a first of 2022.
The Belgian had earlier been fastest in the Q1 first part of qualifying, then second in Q2, before his final lap in Q3 ended up being half a second quicker still.
It comes after Magnus had also got through to Q3 last time out at the Hungaroring, before a mistake on his sole lap denied him a chance for pole.
“I’m super-happy after Hungary,” said Magnus. “I was really quick there, we were really quick there and I should have been on pole after my Q2 fastest lap, but I messed it up myself.
“Q3 is such a mental game because you know you cannot make one mistake, which I did in Hungary and to finish the job is an even bigger relief.
“I don’t think I’ve ever done a lap like this, it was simply perfect, there was not the slightest mistake.
“I’m super-happy, also to have Nat on P2. A good performance for Audi today and let’s finish the job tomorrow.”