Hard racing in today’s Zandvoort FIA World Touring Car Championship qualifying session saw both N.Technology drivers miss out on a potential top grid position for tomorrow's first race. The Alfa Romeo 156 team-mates both suffered bad luck on their respective quick laps with slower traffic hindering their times.

Improving his lap times throughout the 30mins session, James Thompson eventually claimed twelfth fastest with a time of 1:48.121. Team-mate Olivier Tielemans pushed hard the entire time, delivering a solid lap in 1:49.376 and will start tomorrow’s first race in 19th position. The N.Technology team showed constant improvements throughout the weekend with Dutchman Tielemans impressing local fans during this morning’s free practice with a fifth finish. The Italian team now looks to tomorrow’s races for better luck.

Olivier Tielemans: “I wasn’t able to make the most of my tyres during the session. I had some bad luck and ended up stuck behind slower cars. The tyres are definitely better on their first lap around here so I missed out. I couldn’t even match my time from this morning which was extremely frustrating as I know I can be quicker than this. This is only my second qualifying session in WTCC and I am still getting to know the car. I am improving with each outing and I hope that tomorrow continues in the same way.”
 

James Thompson: “I got blocked on my last run which is so disappointing. The middle of the session was good, I was in the top five at one point and a top eight qualifying finish was definitely on the cards. The team is working extremely well in improving the car and I think we can improve further tomorrow.”

Marco Calovolo, Race Engineer for James Thompson: “The car balance is very good, we were just unlucky today. There is only a small gap to the front and our race pace will be better so tomorrow should bring good results.” 

FIA WTCC Qualifying Times, Zandvoort: 1. Menu (SUI), Chevrolet Lacetti, 1:47.044; 2. Larini (ITA), Chevrolet Lacetti, 1:47.201; 3. Farfus (BRA), BMW 320si, 1:47.519; 4. Rangoni (ITA), BMW 320si, 1:47.679; 5. Monteiro (POR), SEAT Leon, 1:47.738; 6. Porteiro (ESP), BMW 320si, 1:47.825; 7. Gene (ESP), SEAT Leon, 1:47.877; 8. Priaulx (GBR), BMW 320si, 1:47.916; 12. Thompson (GBR), Alfa Romeo, 156 1:48.121; 19. Tielemans (NED), Alfa Romeo, 156 1:49.376