For the first time this season, Polestar Cyan Racing’s Thed Björk was able to take part in the Q3 one-lap shootout, eventually securing fifth place, which saw four manufacturers represented.
Despite being excluded from both races at the Slovakiaring last week, as well as his S60 TC1 requiring an engine change after damage was sustained, the four-time STCC champion topped the second practice session of the weekend.
He featured at the top of the timesheet in both Q1 and Q2, giving the Swedish outfit its first appearance in the shootout, even though he missed valuable running time in the first free practice session.
“I am very happy to claim this milestone for us, a real testament to the team being able to bounce back,” said the 35-year-old.
”I didn’t quite get my lap right in Q3, but I am pleased with the progress we have made after the issues we had yesterday and the team has given me a great car.”
Björk will start from the back of the grid for the first race of the day, but will remain in fifth place for the main race later on this afternoon.
Team mate Fredrik Ekblom, who starts from ninth place in the main race, will also line up alongside Sébastien Loeb Racing’s Mehdi Bennani on the front row for race one.
”We had an okay qualifying result. There is as always more to work on with the car, but I was quite pleased with it in total,” said the Swede, who also came from Polestar’s STCC squad that was dominant in that particular series last season.
“Unfortunately I made a mistake on my best lap, but I am looking forward to start from the front row of the grid for the first race and see what we can get out of it.”
”We are really pleased by making it to Q3 for the first time, a great effort by the team to get Björk back into the top after the engine change yesterday,” explained Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Polestar’s Head of Motorsport
“We are looking forward to two exciting races, with Ekblom on a strong position for the first race and Björk for the second race.”