Colbert on pole for second SEAT Cupra Championship Race 2

[ZBOYD]

Dungannon's Stephen Colbert set fastest time in the second qualifying session at Croft today, and in doing so has reserved his place on pole for tomorrow's second race in the Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship.

Stephen was almost a full second quicker in the second qualifying session than the former Formula 3 pilot had been in the first. Many of the 17 Cupra drivers were, and while only Stefan Hodgetts broke the 1min 30sec barrier in the first session, seven drivers lapped under 1min 30sec on their second outing.

Stephen said: "I didn't really expect to be on pole, because many of the other drivers have a lot of front-wheel drive and tin-top racing experience and I haven't. I trashed my tyres too much in the first session and will have to start the first race from 5th. The plan is to try and stay out of trouble in the first race and really use my pole and go for a win in the second."

SEAT Sport UK did a fantastic job to repair Robert Huff's and Karl
Goshawk's cars after they collided in the first session - allowing Robert to qualify 2nd behind Gordon Shedden. Karl made a mistake at the Chicane and spun perilously close to the crash barrier, and will start the second race towards the back of the grid as well.

Paula Cook reckons she could have qualified 5th. Having changed her set-up in the interval, Paula ventured out on used tyres and was immediately lapping as quickly as she had done in the first session on new tyres.

Having pitted for new front Pirelli slicks, Paula clipped the tyres at the Chicane and took to the Croft infield like a high-speed lawnmower - returning to the pits with dandelions in the front grill and damaged steering.

With drivers separated by mere hundredths of a second, exciting racing
tomorrow is guaranteed. The first ever Holiday Inn SEAR Cupra Championship race begins at 13.10, followed by race two at 15.55.

Times from the second qualifying session:

1. Stephen Colbert 1:30.385
2. Gordon Shedden 1:30.439
3. Robert Huff 1:30.672
4. Spencer Marsh 1:30.726
5. Gavin Smith 1:30.815
6. Stefan Hodgetts 1:30.925
7. James Pickford 1:30.943
8. Julian Westwood 1:31.209
9. Craig Murray 1:31.266
10. Emmet O'Brien 1:31.274
11. Andre D'Cruze 1:32.529
12. Paula Cook 1:32.250
13. Ben Winrow 1:32.889
14. Hamish Gordon 1:33.153
15. Karl Goshawk 1:33.573
16. Natalie Barratt 1:36.705
17. Melanie Healey 1:47.355