Lilja grabs pole at Monza

The Abarth 695 Assetto Corse Evolution driver will start on pole for Saturday's race, flanked by Alex Campani.

Manuel Buffoli and Cosimo Barberini sit on the second row of a grid that sees 22 Abarth 695 Assetto Corse Evolution and 500 Assetto Corse models.

Lilja set a benchmark time of 2'11"001 - at an average of nearly 160 km/h (159.195) - in his Abarth 695 Assetto Corse Evolution.

The two races at Monza, the first one scheduled for early Saturday afternoon and the second one on Sunday, will be decisive in the Trofeo Abarth Selenia Europe, which sees Lilja and Campani vying for supremacy.

Campani heads into the weekend in the lead, 16 points ahead of Lilja. The Italian has already won the National ACI/CSAI Abarth Selenia Trophy Italy.

Among the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse, young Finn Jusso Pajuranta was fastest overall. Pajuranta has already won the European title and is the current leader of the Italian series, while Italian Franco Cimarelli still harbours aspirations of glory.

1. Niklas Lilja in 2’11”001, avg. 159,195 Km/h;

2. Alex Campani +0”692;

3. Manuel Buffoli +1”327;

4. Cosimo Barberini +1”447;

5. Luca Anselmi +1”488;

6. Michele Monetti +2”998;

7. Santosh Berggren +3”104;

8. Piero Longhi +3”405;

9. “Fisherman” +3”349;

10. “Gioga” +3”884.