By Stuart Codling
Saturday, March 7th 2015, 22:10 GMT
Lada driver Rob Huff called the performance of the new Vesta a “genuine surprise” after going quickest in first qualifying at the World Touring Car Championship opener in Argentina.
Changing track conditions, caused by increasing ambient temperatures and several races from the national series sharing the bill, made for slower times in qualifying than during the morning’s second practice session.
As the factory Citroens struggled in the early part of Q1 Huff went fastest of all, outpacing Mehdi Bennani’s semi-works C-Elysee by 0.162s.
Though Huff’s car developed a misfire and he slumped to 11th place in Q2 as the Citroens regrouped, team-mate Thompson will start from pole position in race two after setting the 10th fastest Q2 time.
