Monza WTCC: Bjork claims Volvo's first pole

In the first part of qualifying, Monteiro was the first to break under the 1m53s barrier, but was soon bettered by Huff, with the Brit going fastest of all with a time of 1m52.754s.

The Polestar Volvos then demonstrated the benefit of the Monza slipstream, with all three cars working together and taking over at the top, with Nestor Girolami leading Bjork and Nicky Catsburg in the 20-minute session.

Safely into Q2, the Volvos would work together again, with Bjork now going fastest in the first run. Monteiro snatched back the fastest time, with the Portuguese driver’s time seemingly set to keep him on top but for a last-minute improvement from Bjork.

Joining Bjork in the top five shootout were his two Volvo teammates, along with Monteiro and Huff.

A late improvement for ROAL Chevrolet driver Tom Coronel, who had been forced to abort his first run due a mistake at the Roggia chicane, saw the Dutchman grab 10th and pole position for the reversed grid opening race, knocking Honda’s Ryo Michigami out of the top 10.

In the top five shootout, Huff was first out and set a competitive benchmark with a time of 1m52.968s, while Volvo’s Girolami made a mistake at the Roggia chicane and backed off, expecting his time to be deleted.

Catsburg looked set to improve on Huff’s time, despite going wide at the exit of the second Lesmo, but just missed out by less than a tenth of a second.

Monteiro was next, and went faster than Huff, though he ran wide at the exit of the final corner, with a question of whether he exceeded track limits.

Bjork’s lap decimated Monteiro’s however, with the Swede up in every sector, setting a time of 1m52.505s to grab his and Volvo’s first pole position in the WTCC, though he also ran wide at the Parabolica.

Bjork will start from pole for the 11-lap main race on Sunday ahead of Monteiro and Huff, with the Volvos of Catsburg and Girolami completing the top five.

Michelisz just missed the top five shootout and will start in sixth, ahead of Sebastien Loeb Racing Citroen driver Tom Chilton and Morocco Race 1 winner Esteban Guerrieri’s Chevrolet, with the Citroen of Mehdi Bennani and the Chevrolet of Coronel completing the top 10.

Neil Hudson / TouringCarTimes