FC Midtjylland lines-up in pole-position for the third round of the 2009 Superleague Formula by Sonangol at Zolder tomorrow (19 July).
Kasper Andersen (DEN) came away victorious for the Danish rookie SLF club by narrowly defeating the Glasgow Rangers machine of John Martin (AUS) in the Qualifying Final at the Belgian venue today (18 July).
Anderssen set a fastest time of 1min 19.878secs in the two-car Final just 0.078secs faster around the 3.977 km (2.471-mile) Flemmish track than Martin. For 24-year-old Kasper, who contested eight SLF races for Olympiacos last year, it marked his maiden SLF pole.
Losing semi-finalists FC Basel and Liverpool FC complete the second row of the 18-car grid in the hands of Max Wissel (D) and Adrián Vallés (SP) respectively after todays 90-minute qualifying session staged in dry, overcast and cool weather conditions.
Vallés, who leads the SLF championship after a win and sixth place in the opening races at Magny Cours, won the corresponding weather-affected race at Zolder last October.
Home club RSC Anderlecht starts the opening 44mins + 1 lap race from 10th place with Yelmer Buurman (NED) aiming to snatch the championship lead. The Dutchman posted second and fifth places in France three weeks ago and currently lies second, just two-points behind Liverpool.
Meanwhile Dominick Muermans starts the opening race from the back of the grid after crashing the PSV Eindhoven car out of qualifying in the early stages. The Dutchman, who had celebrated his 25th birthday the previous day, was uninjured after impacting the barriers at slow speed.
The Olympique Lyonnais and Olympiacos CFP cars of Nelson Panciatici (F) and Davide Rigon (IT), the latter also a victory at Zolder last year collided in the Group B session with Rigon collecting a six-place penalty for the manoeuvre.
QUALIFYING QUOTES:
FC Midtylland: Kasper Andersen (DEN)
Im very proud to have achieved Midtyllands first SLF pole in only its second qualifying session. Its also my first SLF pole so its doubly special for me. I must concentrate on the race stay totally focussed tomorrow and do a good job for the club and the team.
Glasgow Rangers: John Martin (AUS)
Magny Cours did not go well and so to earn a front row grid position in our own right is a good reward for the team who have worked very hard. It was almost pole it was very close at the end. Im currently at the bottom of the standings so my aim is to score well in tomorrows two races.
Liverpool FC: Adrián Vallés (SP)
I was fastest in yesterdays practice but the grip level wasnt the same today. I was quickest in Group B but then perhaps a set of tyres wasnt quite so good. We must now check the data but anyway, the car will be good for the race and my main title rivals did not have a good qualifying.
FC Basel: Max Wissel (D)
Im very happy. I had a flat spot in one of the sessions the vibration was so bad that I couldnt see the track properly. But that was my mistake for locking up the car was perfect and I feel it was good enough for pole today. Im looking forward to the races.