In a qualifying session that can only be described as “controlled” by Matthieu Vaxivière the Frenchman claimed pole with the only lap to go in the 1:30s all weekend. The Frenchman recorded a time of 1:39.828 to put his Lotus at the front, 0.58 seconds ahead of Oliver Rowland who was the closest driver to him. Yesterday’s man of the moment Tio Ellinas couldn’t replicate that success, putting in the 7th quickest time.
Starting off quick, the two drivers who ultimately finished 1st and 2nd had very different sessions. While it was rare not to see Vaxivière at the front, Rowland dropped to as low 15th in his fight to keep his championship advantage.
8 minutes into the session the drivers were already bettering Ellinas’ time from yesterday. After a disappointing non-race, Nick Yelloly returned to form in the early laps, challenging Vaxivière, and ultimately got himself 3rd on the grid.
All drivers were reminded about track limits throughout, but further infringements led to Dean Stoneman and Gustav Malja being investigated. While no further action was warranted for the Brit on home soil, Malja wasn’t so fortunate, having his best lap time, which had put him 5th, deleted.
Results:
POS | DRIVER | NAT | TEAM | TIME | GAP | LAPS |
1 | Matthieu VAXIVIERE | FRA | LOTUS | 1:39.828 | 11 | |
2 | Oliver ROWLAND | GBR | FORTEC MOTORSPORTS | 1:40.408 | + 0.580 | 13 |
3 | Nicholas YELLOLY | GBR | LOTUS | 1:40.559 | + 0.731 | 12 |
4 | Nicholas LATIFI | CAN | ARDEN MOTORSPORT | 1:40.612 | + 0.784 | 12 |
5 | Pietro FANTIN | BRA | INTERNATIONAL DRACO RACING | 1:40.656 | + 0.828 | 13 |
6 | Tio ELLINAS | CYP | STRAKKA RACING | 1:40.699 | + 0.871 | 13 |
7 | Dean STONEMAN | GBR | DAMS | 1:40.731 | + 0.903 | 13 |
8 | Nyck DE VRIES | NED | DAMS | 1:40.743 | + 0.915 | 14 |
9 | Egor ORUDZHEV | RUS | ARDEN MOTORSPORT | 1:40.820 | + 0.992 | 13 |
10 | Jazeman JAAFAR | MAS | FORTEC MOTORSPORTS | 1:40.877 | + 1.049 | 14 |
11 | Gustav MALJA | SWE | STRAKKA RACING | 1:40.898 | + 1.070 | 14 |
12 | Tom DILLMANN | FRA | JAGONYA AYAM WITH CARLIN | 1:41.005 | + 1.177 | 12 |
13 | Aurélien PANIS | FRA | TECH 1 RACING | 1:41.175 | + 1.347 | 13 |
14 | Roy NISSANY | ISR | TECH 1 RACING | 1:41.479 | + 1.651 | 13 |
15 | Sean GELAEL | INA | JAGONYA AYAM WITH CARLIN | 1:41.676 | + 1.848 | 14 |
16 | Bruno BONIFACIO | BRA | INTERNATIONAL DRACO RACING | 1:41.804 | + 1.976 | 14 |
17 | Alfonso CELIS Jr | MEX | AVF | 1:41.958 | + 2.130 | 10 |
18 | Beitske VISSER | NED | AVF | 1:42.069 | + 2.241 | 14 |
19 | Philo Paz Patrick ARMAND | INA | PONS RACING | 1:43.005 | + 3.177 | 12 |
20 | William BRATT | GBR | PONS RACING | 1:43.538 | + 3.710 | 13 |