During qualifying for the ninth and final round of this year’s Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland on the Hockenheimring, points leader Richard Westbrook (Great Britain) and his hottest rival Uwe Alzen (Germany) fought for the best starting position for Sunday’s decisive 18-lap race, in which Westbrook takes off with an advantage of just one point ahead of his German opponent.
After the qualifying session was halted due to an accident involving Austria’s Martin Brückl who remained uninjured, the 37 competitors had only 20 minutes left in the race for grid positions. In heavy traffic Uwe Alzen secured second on the grid behind his compatriot Chris Mamerow, whose pole position today marks his second of the season.
For Richard Westbrook the qualifying session went far less smoothly. At the time the qualifying was stopped the five-time race winner this season ranked in 30th. In the time remaining he made up positions but still only managed to set the seventh fastest time.
With third position, Frenchman Nicolas Armindo continues his top form from the previous races. Armindo, who won on the EuroSpeedway, is the only driver to have a slight chance to claim the vice-championship title. Starting alongside the Frenchman on Sunday is Austria’s Martin Ragginger.
Chris Mamerow (pole-sitter): “I’m pleased but not surprised. Since the Norisring we have matched the pace of the front-runners. Today it was somewhat difficult to find a free run between the many cars. But I’m good at making the most of such situations. I hope to put in a good performance tomorrow – not least with a view to 2008. I intend to contest the international Porsche Mobil1 Supercup next year.”
Uwe Alzen (second qualifier): “Everything went well for us today. My only wish for tomorrow is an exciting, sporting and fair race.”
Richard Westbrook (seventh qualifier): “We worked so hard preparing for this qualifying and had put together a clear and promising tactic. After the totally unnecessary accident, the heavy traffic turned the qualifying into a lottery – and we didn’t draw the winning ticket.”