Shaun Torrente took a stunning pole in Portimao this afternoon after carding a 42:58 lap in Q3.

His team-mate, Thani Al Qemzi placed second with a 42:66 and Marit Stromoy celebrated Norway National Day a day late with a third.

Torrente told F1H2o’s Nigel Quilter after:

It was a pretty hectic qualifying for sure, but this is where it counts and where you need to deliver

Q2 was always going to be a fight, it really was just so tight with just 0.45s splitting the top six and then in the shootout I pulled out the lap I needed on the first run, but it was still slower than last year because of the conditions.

Tomorrow we have to seal the deal.

Al Qemzi was bullish:

If I have a good start tomorrow I can beat him.

And Shaun knows it!

Stromoy (above) showed her speed again:

I didn’t expect to be up there today after the morning session and quite a poor Q1, but when you are that close you are not happy with third, but third is good.

I did a small mistake and I know exactly where I lost it but really I am pretty happy.

2019 UIM F1H2o Grand Prix of Portugal - Rebellion Qualifications