Alain Menu came out on top in another Chevrolet 1-2-3 in World Touring Car Championship qualifying at Porto.
Yvan Muller had been top for much of the Q2 session, but Menu improved with his final effort to move up from third place and take pole, three tenths ahead of Muller and Rob Huff. Muller and Huff's times were just four thousandths of a second apart.
“I did not expect such a fast lap time, I rather expected the pole position to be in the low 2:05,” said Menu. “But my Q2 lap was a perfect one and I did not make the slightest mistake. To be on pole position is important, because it is not easy to overtake here.”
Gabriele Tarquini had been in third place for SUNRED following his first attempt, and ended up fourth. He was just ahead of teammate and local star Tiago Monteiro. Tom Coronel, who spun on his final attempt, was sixth, ahead of Robert Dahlgren in the Volvo.
Norbert Michelisz was eighth as the top Yokohama Trophy runner ahead of the returning Stefano D'Aste and Franz Engstler.
D'Aste had earlier secured pole position for Race 2 courtesy of finishing Q1 in tenth place. He will be joined on the front row by Muller, with Huff just behind in third. Tarquini had been lying tenth after the checkered flag but improved on his final effort to go quickest, therefore dropping to tenth on the grid. He will line up alongside Menu on the fifth row.
