Thompson takes pole as Teregulov’s BMW destroyed

James Thompson has taken pole position for the second event in the ETC Cup in very wet conditions. The session was red flagged twice, and ended early after Russian driver Rustem Teregulov decimated his BMW 320si.

Thompson set his fastest lap before the first red flag, which was flown to recover Ibrahim Okyay. The session resumed but few drivers could get close to Thompson’s time.

Eventually second place went to Thompson’s former DTC rival, Michael Nykjaer. The Danish driver was the only driver to get within a second of Thompson’s pole lap in his SUNRED Engineering run SEAT León TDI.

Third went to Tomas Engström in his own team’s prepared Honda Accord Euro-R, and another SEAT is in fourth with Michaël Rossi’s León TFSI.

Officially, only nine cars set times within the 107% rule, but it’s like force majueure will be applied considering the weather conditions. One car that was just outside of the 107% but is certainly unlikely to race is the sole Liqui-Moly Team Engstler entered car of Rustem Teregulov.

The Russian driver, who had already raced twice in these conditions today in the ADAC Procar series, finishing fourth in the last race, went off hard and rolled his BMW 320si. The car has been totally destroyed and will not be taking part for the rest of the weekend. Teregulov walked away from the incident unscathed.