Max Hart will start third on the grid for this afternoon’s first race, with a key tyre strategy call working out perfectly for the Irish racer as the rain began to fall more heavily during the final part of qualifying

Hart’s Target Competition-run Hyundai was third in the session, just ahead of Junui Park who is run by the satellite Solite Indigo Racing team, meaning it’s an all-Hyundai row two for the first race of the weekend.

“It was a good result for me, and the team, as my team-mate Junui Park is P4,” said Hart. “There was definitely more time in the car, but the conditions were very difficult so we didn’t know what to do. We went out to push on our first lap and hoped the tyre would have enough grip, and it did - we were in the right place at the right time, so it’s good as we’re on an upward trajectory.

“I came in at the end in Q1, put on a set of new tyres and did the front-to-rear rotation just before we went out in Q2, so that was the strategy and that got us P3. I think it’ll be difficult to get Marco (Butti) as he’s fast, but we’ll see what we can do at the start. My team-mate and I also have to come up with a plan to try and make sure we get the best result possible for Hyundai.”