EU: Hungaroring: Series qualifying report

Frijns and Harvey bag a pole each.

Budapest, 30 July 2010. Robin Frijns (NL/Josef Kaufmann Racing) has bagged his third pole of the season in Hungary. Alongside him on the front row of the grid will be Jack Harvey (GB/Fortec Motorsports), while third will be BMW Junior driver Carlos Sainz (ES/Eurointernational). It is a reversal of positions for race two, with Harvey on pole and Frijns second, while Sainz remains in third.

After the Formula BMW drivers had been first on the notoriously dirty Budapest track for free practice, they were pleased to find much more grip and, therefore, quicker times in qualifying after both the Formula One and GP2 cars had laid down some rubber. On the first flying lap Frijns took two tenths off his quickest morning time, and by the time he set his pole time, about five minutes before the end of the session, he was a second quicker.

As usual after four flying laps the majority of the runners came in for new tyres. The only front runner to stay out for an extra lap was Sainz who says he likes a reference point for when he does his first flyer on the second set of tyres.

In the past this race had been held in sweltering conditions with the temperature in the high twenties. This weekend is very different with the temperatures in the low twenties and even a threat of rain.

Pole Round 11 - Second 12: Robin Frijns (NL/Josef Kaufmann Racing): "It is not easy here at all. On my first set of tyres I immediately said on the radio they are quickly gone, because I only really had the first lap. I was flying and had a good feeling, but on the second lap I was already drifting in a few corners. I came in and switched tyres. I was in a little bit of a traffic jam on the second set so had to slow down, but I was driving in the dirt and I had to clean my tyres as well. Then I got a free lap and set a time and it was good enough for pole."

Second Round 11 Pole Round 12: Jack Harvey (GB/Fortec Motorsports):"I'm pretty pleased with that. I am a tenth off pole and second best lap was pretty much the same as my quickest lap so that has helped us by giving me pole for race two. The balance of the car wasn't too bad, but we can work on some small things. I was pretty satisfied with that run as it felt like a pretty maximum performance. We were a second quicker than in free practice so the track got a litlte bit better. But it has not been as warm as I thought it would be here, and it looked as if it would rain before we went out for that session. It has not been the Hungarian Grand Prix I have been expecting so far."

Third and Top Rookie Rounds 11 and 12: Carlos Sainz (ES/Eurointernational): "It is not an easy track, especially as to use the new tyres you have to be very comforabtle with the car and trust in it. That then gives you a lot of time, and by the end I set a good time and am happy. I felt I could have been my second pole of the year, but it wasn't to be. Congratulations to Robin as he did a good job. So let's see what happens tomorrow."

The grid positions for race one are determined by each driver's quickest time in qualifying, while each driver's second quickest time is taken to set the grid for race two. The first of the 13 lap races round the 4.381 kilometre Budapest circuit will be on Saturday at 09.45 and the second on Sunday at 08.30. All times are local CET.

-source: fbmw