Defending champion Aaron Mason stormed to Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup pole position at Donington Park, scene of a five way fight for the 2014 title.
Mason is one of the quintet separated by 44 points – coincidentally the number of points awarded to a race winner – with only the two races at the East Midlands track remaining on the calendar. Though Mason lies fourth in the championship and trails current points lead Joe Fulbrook by 32 points the dominate nature of his route to pole position suggests he could become the driver to beat this weekend.
Winning pole position begins the task of making up the ground he will need to complete if he is to defend his title as the top spot from qualifying comes with two points as well as the obvious benefits of starting at the head of the field.
Mason’s best lap of 1:43.601 was more than three quarters of a second faster than the last chance lap that put David Sutton second on the grid. Coming to Donington Park after sweeping the Brands Hatch meeting two weeks ago Sutton lies one place behind Mason in the standings a race win away of pulling level with Fulbrook. However, only last gasp 1:44.355 could move him out of the depths of the top ten and onto the front row.
The championship leader will start from fourth, sharing the second row with Jack Walker-Tully. Lucas Orrock and Stefan di Resta, second and third in the points’ standings respectively will start ninth and seventh, di Resta starting behind James Greenway and Stewart Lines.
Orrock lies just six points in arrears to Fulbrook with di Resta, younger brother of former Formula One driver Paul, a further ten points behind.