Josh Cook claimed his first Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship pole position of the season after going fastest in the crucial Quick Six Qualifying shootout at Donington Park this afternoon (Saturday).
After working his way through the initial knockout segments of Qualifying, Cook moved to the head of the order midway through the final Quick Six session. The LKQ Car Parts with SYNETIQ driver set a best time of 1m33.498s as the track conditions improved from earlier on and that was enough to secure first by just 0.071s.
Cook’s nearest rival during the closing stages was Colin Turkington who set up a tense Qualifying finale as the final driver to remain on a flying lap. The four-time champion was unable to improve in his Team BMW 330e M Sport however, settling for second as the chequered flag fell.
Behind that, Mikey Doble led a superb session for the Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing team in third. The team’s Vauxhall Astras were rapid throughout Free Practice and the earlier qualifying segments and translated to the final outcome. Teammate Aron Taylor-Smith was sixth, completing a strong showing for the only outfit to get two cars into the deciding Quick Six section.
The Vauxhalls were split by reigning champion Ash Sutton in fourth place in his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus ST, just one spot ahead of title rival Tom Ingram at the wheel of his Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai.
Jake Hill, who head into the weekend second in the standings, will start seventh in tomorrow’s first race in his Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW. Hill was one of several high profile drivers to drop out in the second Qualifying phase, along with Adam Morgan, Dan Cammish and Tom Chilton who will round out the top-ten.
Rob Huff will start 11th in tomorrow’s opening race, just ahead of Sam Osborne.
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Quick Six Qualifying, Donington Park
- Josh Cook, LKQ Car Parts with SYNETIQ, Toyota Corolla GR Sport, 1m33.498s
- Colin Turkington, Team BMW, BMW 330e M Sport, +0.071s
- Mikey Doble, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing, Vauxhall Astra, +0.139s
- Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +0.169s
- Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, Hyundai i30N, +0.176s
- Aron Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing, Vauxhall Astra, +0.402s
Click here for full timings from this event.