Having secured a World Touring Car Championship drive for the weekend at Brands Hatch, Norbert Michelisz impressed in qualifying for the British rounds of the season to secure a place inside the top ten on the grid.

The Hungarian secured a slot on the grid with the SUNRED Engineering team thanks to his performance in the SEAT Leon Eurocup in Portugal, with Brands Hatch marking the second time Michelisz has earned a WTCC drive.

On a day when he also secured the Eurocup pole and victory in the opening race of the weekend, Michelisz was the only Independent driver to make it through to the second phase of WTCC qualifying and ended up with the tenth quickest time for the first race of the weekend.

“I am so happy,” he said. “It was great to have a chance to race in the WTCC at Brands Hatch because it is one of my favourite tracks.

“I tested with the team in Barcelona on Monday and from then on it has been a dream. I thought that 15th was possible in qualifying and maybe I could make the top ten. In the first race I am going to focus on making it through the first corner but I think the car is capable of an eighth place finish.”