A record field of 25 cars took part in the session, and four minutes into it Rickard Rydell started the hostilities with a lap in 1:50.111. SEAT’s Swede was immediately ousted by his team-mate Diefenbacher’s 1:49.667, which gave the German youngster a provisional pole. However, soon the BMW drivers made clear they were aiming to steal the pole from SEAT. One after the other, Jörg Müller (1:49.768), Andy Priaulx (1:49.738), Antonio García (1:49.854) and Dirk Müller (1:49.749) managed to close the gap from Diefenbacher. Then, with only five minutes left, Jörg performed his top note with a lap in 1:49.357, claiming the pole position for good. Priaulx responded with a 1:49.562 which gave him the second position only for a few seconds, because immediately Diefenbacher clocked a 1:49.509, demoting the Briton to third; in his turn the German driver was ousted from the second place by Dirk’s 1:49.468 just as the session expired.

Augusto Farfus was the fastest of the Alfa Romeo works drivers, and qualified sixth with a lap in 1:49.812, just head of his team-mates Tarquini and Giovanardi. Oregon Team’s Michele Bartyan emerged as the best in the Independents Trophy, also managing to break into the top-ten of the overall classification. This was the first pole in the Trophy for the Austrian driver.

1 Jörg Müller         BMW 320i       1:49.357   
2 Dirk Müller         BMW 320i       +0.111    
3 Frank Diefenbacher  SEAT Toledo    +0.152    
4 Andy Priaulx        BMW 320i       +0.205    
5 Antonio Garcia      BMW 320i       +0.249    
6 Augusto Farfus Jr.  Alfa Romeo 156 +0.455    
7 Gabriele Tarquini   Alfa Romeo 156 +0.622    
8 Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 156 +0.625    
9 Rickard Rydell      SEAT Toledo    +0.754    
10 Michele Bartyan    Alfa Romeo 156 +0.863    
11 Tom Coronel        BMW 320i       +0.942    
12 Luca Rangoni       Alfa Romeo 156 +1.077    
13 Kurt Mollekens     BMW 320i       +1.294    
14 Alessandro Zanardi BMW 320i       +1.465    
15 Jordi Gene         SEAT Toledo    +1.700    
16 Jan Magnussen      Peugeot 307    +1.998    
17 Alessandro Balzan  Honda Accord   +2.127    
18 Salvatore Tavano   Alfa Romeo 156 +2.388    
19 Stefano D'Aste     BMW 320i       +2.456    
20 Carl Rosenblad     BMW 320i       +2.801    
21 Simon Harrison     Honda Civic    +3.305    
22 Sebastian Grunert  Ford Focus     +3.791    
23 Roland Asch        Ford Focus     +3.937    
24 Toni Ruokonen      Honda Civic    +4.647    
25 Klaas Zwart        BMW 320i       +5.723    

Source: MST & ETCC media

Andy's Post Qualifying Report from Magny Cours

01-05-2004

MAGNY COURS SUITS THE BMW 320i

I am delighted to report Magny Cours is a circuit that suits the BMW 320i, unlike Valencia, which obviously suited the Alfa Romeo. This circuit is far faster with more flowing corners and that is what you need when you have a rear wheel drive car.

I ended up fourth for BMW Team Great Britain after qualifying, which could have been better as I was quickest in second free practice. It just shows how high our expectations are when fourth is not making us that happy. However, we are fairly sure we know the reason for this as after the session we found that something had moved in the rear suspension. This sort of thing happens when you hit the kerbs one too many times and a bit too hard! I had a spin at the end of free practice and found the balance had changed a lot between the sessions.

As for the race, I am confident as I feel with a good start here fourth to first into the first corner is possible. However, I am realistic and know that with Jörg Müller and Dirk Müller in front of me passing them at the start would be very difficult. I am hopeful I can get by Frank Diefenbacher in the SEAT and then perhaps follow the two BMW drivers and see what they are up to.

I feel we have the chance to get some ‘big’ points here and that is exactly what we must do. We have to be exceptionally good on circuits that suit us and equal to Alfa Romeo on those that do not.

It was also good to have a team-mate for the first time at RBM with Kurt Mollekens doing the next five races. He is a quick driver and was unlucky today to be as low as 13th. I am sure he will not be this far away from me for many sessions and that soon I may have him as my biggest opposition.

I must also send a get well message to our BMW lady driver, Paulien Zwart, who had an accident at the track on Monday getting to know the track. She is now down the road in Nevers Hospital with a broken pelvis and a broken ankle. It is a shame for her as she will be out for a long time and also a shame for us as she is a very pretty lady and brightens up the paddock. However, she was able to keep it in the family where her Carlo Motors car is concerned as her father, Klaas Zwart, is driving it this weekend.

Race 1 -

Race 2 -

Great resuly for Andy, role on the next race