N.Technology Alfa Romeo team driver James Thompson qualified in a remarkable 10th place this afternoon, for tomorrow's round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship at Porto, despite the Briton crashing on his flying lap.

This is the first time the touring car series has visited the temporary Porto circuit, and it is the first time the streets of this Portuguese city have hosted an international motor racing event in almost half a century. So thanks to Porto’s newfound status as a new circuit on the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) calendar this weekend, the N.Technology Alfa Romeo team, along with its SEAT, BMW and Chevrolet mounted rivals, benefited from an extra crucial 30-minutes testing session yesterday (Friday). The Italian team used the allocated time wisely, despite enduring yellow flags on most laps as well as the session being red-flagged halfway through, and concentrated on trying out various set-ups. With both drivers completing 20 laps between themselves, yesterday’s test provided essential data on Porto’s street circuit ahead of this weekend’s racing.

Preferring to focus on learning the track, Britain’s James Thompson posted a fastest time of 2:15.221 with rookie Olivier Tielemans completing the 4.72km lap in 2:20.554. “It was very difficult to post a fast lap this afternoon with so many yellow flags," said Thompson last night. "I had to slow down on pretty much every single lap which doesn’t help setting a fast time. The car feels good but it’s a shame about the session being stopped; things like that tend to break the momentum.”

The team's Dutch rookie driver Tielemans was in the position of having to learn the new circuit - just like all the other drivers. "This afternoon was very much about learning the track, feeling how the car is in each corner and finding the limit," he said after the extra practice session yesterday. "I was very careful though as I didn’t want to risk a crash. We’re now going to analyse all our data and see if we can find a good set-up for tomorrow."

However today, Thompson's chances of a front of the grid starting position were ended by a qualifying crash. The 33-year-old clipped the tyre wall in the final chicane of the unforgiving street circuit while on a fantastic lap, but despite ripping the front-right wheel and upright off his Alfa Romeo 156 and crossing the line on three wheels he still set a time good enough for 10th.
 

Had he completed the lap without the accident, the result of being off line by only a few millimetres, he would certainly have been even higher up the grid. Tielemans opted to conserve fresh tyres during the qualifying as he must serve a ten-place grid penalty after changing his engine on Friday.

Andrea Muller, Team Manager: James was on his fastest lap when he crashed and it would have put him in the top three. But that is part of the sport. We're looking forward to tomorrow.”

James Thompson: "On that lap I was absolutely at 100%. If I hadn't had the accident I'd have been a bit further up the grid, but it's an unforgiving circuit and I was going all out to get the best possible time. There's no margin for error because the chicane is so narrow and I was only just off line, but still to be tenth on the grid is a very good effort for the team. Hopefully we can build on that tomorrow and get some more points."

Olivier Tielemans: “There was no point in trying to get up the grid as with the penalty I would have to start at the back anyway. It made sense to save some fresh tyres for tomorrow so I only used one set. It's a street circuit and the races are going to be very eventful, so hopefully in the races I should be able to make good progress.”

FIA World Touring Car Championship, Porto qualifying – provisional results: 1. Alan Menu (SUI), Chevrolet Lacetti, 2:06.927; 2. Rob Huff (GBR), Chevrolet Lacetti, 2:07.687; 3. Nicola Larini (ITA), Chevrolet Lacetti, 2:07.731; 4. Tom Coronel (NED), SEAT Leon, 2:07.758; 5. Gabriele Tarquini (ITA), SEAT Leon, 2:07.842; 6. Yvan Muller (FRA), SEAT Leon, 2:08.006; 7. Andy Priaulx (GBR), BMW 320si, 2:08.574; 8. Alex Zanardi (ITA), BMW 320si, 2:08.598; 10. James Thompson (GBR), Alfa Romeo 156, 2:08.939; 23. Olivier Tielemans (NED), Alfa Romeo 156, 2:12.921.