Andreas Pfister rues qualifying strategy error in Belgium

Andreas Pfister will start 17th for the first race of the day in Zolder on Sunday after the German driver was unable to set a time before the rain began to fall just after five minutes into qualifying, putting his SEAT León Cup Racer out of position and behind the Super 1600 class field.

Pfister, along with the TC2 class Honda of Peter Rikli, and the S1600 class Ford of Ben Lintgen, were the only drivers to not have set a time before the qualifying session was red flagged when the rain began falling and after the Super 1600 class driver Florian Hildner had rolled his Ford Fiesta at Earste.

“We had a plan to come in early and check something and we didn’t expect this much rain in a short time, so we had no lap in dry conditions,” said Pfister to TouringCarTimes.

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s races, the 27-year-old’s aim is to target the reverse grid for race two, with outright victory in race one now impossible.

“Our speed is good and anything can happen, so we’ll give everything we can to get to at least eighth place in the first race (for the reversed top eight), and I hope it’s dry tomorrow.”

Officially, Pfister, Rikli and Lintgen’s times were not withing 107% of their respective class pole sitters and will require dispensation from the FIA to start the race, but it’s likely to be granted based on practice pace.