Alex Ley claims TCR Italy opener pole position at Misano
Target Competition driver Alex Ley (Hyundai Elantra N TCR) claimed the pole position at Misano for the first round of the 2024 TCR Italy season.
The qualifying session started under warm temperatures.
Kombat Motorsport’s Michele Imberti, who has upgraded to a Hyundai Elantra N TCR from his old i30 N, had a lap time deleted for exceeding the track limits when he was aiming for the top positions with eleven minutes to go. He was the first of the front runners to set a competitive lap time, before the heat was turned up in the session.
Ley set a best lap time of 1:40.158 with six minutes to go, beating PMA Motorsport’s Nicolas Taylor (Audi RS 3 LMS), who briefly led the session but will have to report to the stewards after overtaking with a yellow flag on the track.
Series newcomer Kim Hwarang (Hyundai Elantra N TCR) was third, 0.365 seconds off the pace, followed by Nicola Baldan (Audi) who climbed up to fourth place in the closing stages of the session, four-tenths behind Ley.
Ruben Volt, driving a Honda Civic FL5 TCR from ALM Motorsport, was fifth, followed by Salvatore Tavano, driving a new Cupra Leon VZ from Scuderia del Girasole, 0.484 seconds off the pace.
Junui Park (Hyundai) qualified in seventh place, ahead of Jacopo Cimenes of MM Motorsport, eight-tenths off the pace.
Paolo Rocca (Honda Civic FL5) and Imberti rounded off the top ten.
The TCR Italy field returns to action on Saturday afternoon for Race 1, scheduled at 13:30 CEST.
