Aditya qualifies fourth in strong field

HOCKENHEIM - India’s Aditya Patel qualified fourth in the first round of the Volkswagen Scirocco Cup saloon car series here Saturday.

The 21-year old from Chennai, who was the second quickest in practice Friday night, clocked one minute, 59.183 seconds in a field that included former double World Rally champion Carlos Sainz of Spain, who was placed eighth.

Former Formula One driver Martin Brundle (1:59.013) qualified second behind Kris Heidorn (1:58.784) while Poland’s Maciek Steinhof was third in 1:59.119.

The Scirocco Cup series is unique as the cars are powered by a two-litre, four-in-line turbocharged engine. The power plant has been optimised for use in racing and is based on the TSI engine and deliveres 225 horsepower with 275nm of torque.