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A View From The Driver's Seat: My first ever BTCC pole and boy, am I happy!

By Frank Wrathall / MJP Media | 11 August 2012

Following his first career BTCC pole position, Dynojet Toyota Avensis driver Frank Wrathall tells us about his ground-breaking day at Snetterton.

Well, what a return to action. All the team's hard work during the break has paid off and I'm finally celebrating my first BTCC pole position after this afternoon's efforts in Snetterton qualifying. It was tight, but I was so pleased that I pipped multiple champion Jason Plato and his MG to top spot by just 0.015s in what was a thrilling session for me.

I had tried to get a good relaxing break in since Croft and I think my time at Goodwood and then the Silverstone Classic had really left me in a good place mentally for this. I've just been told that this pole is the first for a Toyota driver since 1993 - Julian Bailey and his Carina were the last to achieve the feat and - hopefully an omen - Bailey went on to win at Knockhill.

My pole performance was all the sweeter for the team coming after a troubled morning for us as we struggled to tune the Avensis to the unique demands of the 2.97-mile circuit. Our best time in free practice was 1m 59.327s, only 10th fastest, but we turned up the heat to go top half-way through qualifying with a 1m 58.039s.

Plato responded with a superb 1m 57.610s to knock me from the top, but I was not done yet, posting 1m 57.595s on my final flying lap to wrest pole position from his grasp. Plato attempted a response but was unable to better me and after qualifying he shook my hand in pit lane.

To clinch my first pole position is an incredible feeling. It's not been easy - we've had a really difficult day today. We gave it our all in second free practice and were nearly two seconds off the pace. The brains of the organisation did a lot of thinking and we came out with a much improved Toyota with which I could do exactly as I wanted.

I think that last lap was as quick as I could go, and luckily Jason couldn't match it. It's nice to know that I'm pushing the big budget works teams.

I don't know how tomorrow is going to go. It will be a nice feeling lining up on pole and we'll see what happens. I've had some good battles with Jason before; he's a good driver and he drives with his head. I'm comfortable to be going into the first corner against him.

Frank #11

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