Photo: CUPRA

Mattias Ekström takes Pool Furious pole position

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Cupra EKS driver Mattias Ekström achieved the Pool Furious pole position at Jarama, despite aborting his attempt in qualifying 2 due to the conditions.

The Swede had set a best lap time of 1:37.264 in the first part of the qualifying session, which was enough to stay ahead. With the second part of the qualifying taking part 45 minutes later and the increased heat conditions at Jarama, it was difficult to improve.

“I was sore and hot, and saw I couldn’t improve, so I aborted the lap to save the car and the tyres,” said Ekström after the session.

His team-mate at Cupra, Tom Blomqvist, qualified in second place, four-tenths behind, with local hero Mikel Azcona (Hyundai Veloster N ETCR) improving in the second part of the session to climb up to third place, after making a mistake in the qualifying 1.

Romeo Ferraris’ Maxime Martin could only manage to finish in fourth place, a full second behind Ekström, with series newcomer Nicky Catsburg (Hyundai Veloster N ETCR) in fifth place. Romeo Ferraris’ Giovanni Venturini closed the classification in sixth aboard the second Giulia ETCR.

Next for the ETCR is the Pool Fast quarter finals, from 15:40 CEST.