Chevrolet are just aiming to score as many points as possible from the two races in Okayama after rival BMW locked out the front row in qualifying.
Rob Huff qualified third, with teammates Alain Menu and Yvan Muller sharing the fourth row of the grid. With Muller leading the drivers' standings by 25 points coming into the penultimate round, the team are keen on maintaining that advantage.
Huff was happy to be third on the grid. “I am very pleased with my result,” he said. “There was little more we could do against the rear-wheel drive cars in such a circuit. My first run in Q2 was a very good and faultless lap, the team did a very good job in finding the right balance for the car.
He was surprised at the size of the gap to the BMWs, with Huff nearly half a second behind polesitter Priaulx. “For sure, the gaps are wider than expected but we need to see how things will evolve tomorrow, especially if it rains which it seems is going to happen any minute. It's already a little bit damp out there, typical British weather, so feel like at home!”
Menu appeared to be satisfied with his performance after qualifying seventh. “I am happy with my qualifying”, he said. “For sure, you always think that you could have gained a little tenth here and a little tenth there, but I don't think this would have changed much. The car feels good and I think we have found a good balance.
He did point out that tyre wear could prove to be an issue for the drivers in the races. “This track is very tough for the front tires, this will certainly be the key factor tomorrow, especially if it is dry and towards the end of the races, but we can certainly aim to score some heavy points.”
Muller was disappointed to only manage eighth in qualifying. “It was a frustrating qualifying session for me, as my two fast run attempts in Q2 were ruined by small mistakes,” he explained. “I don't think we could have been at the very top today but I certainly could have been in a higher position in the time sheets. It is important now to prepare a good strategy for the races tomorrow”.
