In a session made even more enthralling by rain, Hungarian Kiss edged out Portugal’s José Eduardo Rodrigues for top spot as German driver Sascha Lenz kept up his title challenge in third.

Briton John Newell was the quickest Chrome contender in a standout fourth overall ahead of category rival and countryman Bradley Smith.

Home hero Adam Lacko, the 2017 European champion, completed the top six on only his second Goodyear FIA ETRC outing since his comeback following a three-year absence.

“A good qualifying, an exciting qualifying with the rain coming in the middle,” said MAN-powered Révész Racing driver Kiss, the Goodyear FIA ETRC points leader after three rounds. “Conditions improved when the rain stopped, we had to go for another lap, and I guess some of the frontrunners were knocked out because of the rain. But I stayed out and improved my lap times to make sure we are advancing into Q3, so it was nice. In Q3 it was fine, almost completely dry and a good lap time, happy with the lap and happy with the pole position.

“This rain was not big enough and long enough for us to start to change things so we were checking if the rain would be increasing or not and we kind of knew we could keep it cool. For sure if bigger rain was coming you don’t run the same set-up, but the operating window is quite wide, I guess.”

Kiss will now bid to convert his pole position into victory in Race 1, which is scheduled for 12:40 local time tomorrow (Saturday).

“Turn 1 and Turn 2 is always very difficult [for the start] so for sure you need a good start, and I hope I can make a good start and try to stay in front in the braking zone and try to make the first turn without going side by side with anybody else,” Kiss said. “Usually that’s difficult for both drivers to keep on the circuit, so I hope we can have a good start and stay in front.”

How the battle for Goodyear FIA ETRC pole position unfolded
In a typically action-packed Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship qualifying, Steffi Halm and Mark Taylor were the first frontrunners to drop out of the pole fight after they were eliminated during Q1.

Luke Garrett, Emma Mäkinen and Christian Ruppert were also unable to progress to Q2 as Norbert Kiss headed Jochen Hahn and Sascha Lenz for first place.

José Eduardo Rodrigues (above) was fourth quickest followed by Antonio Albacete, Lukas Hahn, Bradley Smith, René Reinert, John Newell, Adam Lacko and Steffen Faas.

More rain made for more drama in Q2 with Albacete, Jochen Hahn, Reinert, Lukas Hahn, Faas and Recuenco all eliminated as Kiss once again topped the order with a last-gasp effort having been as low as 11th in the closing moments of the 10-minute running.

Rodrigues was second fastest ahead of Lacko, Newell and Smith with Lenz completing the list of six drivers to reach the Q3 pole position showdown.

As he had done at Misano, Slovakia Ring and Nürburgring, Kiss delivered another sensational pole lap with Rodrigues a career-best second. Lenz, who arrived in Czech Republic, third in the standings and equal on points with Albacete, rounded out the top three ahead of Newell (below), Smith and Lacko.

Warm-up is next from 09:00 local time tomorrow (Saturday) with Race 1 and Race 2 live on YouTube at 12:40 and 16:15 respectively.

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