Yvan Muller has taken pole position for the first European round of the World Touring Car Championship season after pacing a wet qualifying session at Valencia.
The SEAT Sport driver made the most of the conditions to nullify any disadvantage the Leon TDi was expected to have around the Spanish circuit following changes to the diesel regulations made by the touring car bureau and was the only person during the session to dip below the 1min 59secs marker.
Indeed, the Frenchman's second quickest lap during the session was also quicker than anyone else on track and he eventually ended up more than half a second clear of team-mate Gabriele Tarquini.
"I tried to be very fast in my first attempt because looking at the sky it was obvious that the track conditions were going to get worse so I made a fast time right away, Muller reflected. It would be good for us if it rains during the race, since it would be much easier for us to defend our expectations.
Unlike Muller, Tarquini left it till late in the session to post his quickest time which was enough to edge out the Chevrolet of Alain Menu the man who had led the way during Friday testing ahead of the Valencian weekend.
However, the Swiss star was left with nothing at the end of the day when all his times were disallowed for failing the ride height test and he will start from the back of the grid as a result.
I did the best I could given the weather conditions, he said. It was very tricky under braking as I kept locking up the rears. I couldn't play with the brake balance as that would have meant I'd probably lock up the fronts and go off. On quite a few occasions I started to slide and only just managed to get the car back.
![Yvan Muller - SEAT Sport SEAT Leon TDi [Pic credit: FIA WTCC]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/441308.jpg)
