Aragon: Series qualifying report

Fauzy's very happy birthday!

Mofaz Fortec Motorsport's Fairuz Fauzy started his birthday celebrations in style today by claiming pole position; the last for this season, and a first for him. Still on course for second place in the championship, the Malaysian driver leads Epsilon Euskadi's Chris Van der Drift and Comtec Racing's Jon Lancaster. In order to really celebrate, Fauzy will be dreaming of a win this weekend.

Group A:

From the start, International Draco Racing's Bertrand Baguette took control of Group A. The Belgian driver's thunder was stolen by P1 Motorsport's James Walker, before returning to the pits to change tyres. Out on fresh rubbers, Pons Racing's Marcos Martinez was the first to make the break. In 1'45"390, he climbed into top spot. James Walker managed to go one better with a tile of 1'44"201, to lead Chris Van der Drift, who had for the first time found himself in the SuperPole. In sixth, Baguette was the last driver to qualify.

Group B:

Tech 1 Racing's Brendon Hartley, Carlin Motorsport's Oliver Turvzey and P1 Motorsport's Daniil Move were first out on track in Group B, before they coming in to change tyres. Jaime Alguersuari launched the first wave of improvements, claiming provisional pole. Brendon Hartley and Comtec Racing's Greg Mansell then took their turns at the top of the timesheet. The fastest lap seemed to swap back and forth between the Carlin Motosport drivers Aguersuari and Turvey. However, at the very end of the session, Move and Hartley made the break, the Russian leading the New Zealander. Alguersuari, Turvey, Mansell and Pons Racing's Federico Leo were the other drivers to qualify for the SuperPole.

SuperPole:

The twelve drivers who qualified for the last SuperPole of the year went out for fifteen hotly contested minutes. Except that the session was immediately interrupted when Hartley broke down in the middle of the track. It was all over for the Kiwi driver. Marcos Martinez set the first provisional pole in 1'45"666. Baguette then took first place. Next it was Alguersuari's turn to lead in 1'44"314, before Fauzy made a splash, dislodging him from top spot. Chris Van der Drift, looking very comfortable since the start of the weekend, joined him on the front row. On his final attempt, Jon Lancaster managed to budge Bertrand Baguette from third place. Eighth; Oliver Turvey profited from the reverse grid to start in pole position in the first race.

Quote, unquote:

Fairuz Fauzy: "It's my birthday, so this is my present to myself. I'd like to thank my team, as we have really been on form since we got here. I can still finish second in the championship. To do that I absolutely must have one podium finish in the first race and a win on Sunday!"

Chris Van der Drift: "At last I've got a good result in qualifying! I felt really good during collective testing. Taking part in the SuperPole was my main objective. To qualify on the front row, that's even better. Now anything is possible for the race. It's always good winning the last race of the season, and we're going all out to do it!"

-credit: wsr