EU: Series Zandvoort qualifying notes

Timmy Hansen claims his first Formula BMW Europe Pole.

Zandvoort, 5 June 2010. Timmy Hansen (SE/Mucke Motorsport) claimed the first pole of his Formula BMW Europe career in Zandvoort today. He was among the pace setters from the start of the session and, with less than two minutes to go, set a time of 1min 42.537secs to take the coveted spot ahead of Jack Harvey (GB/Fortec Motorsports) and Facu Regalia (AR/Eifelland Racing). BMW Junior driver, Carlos Sainz (ES/Eurointernational), was the fastest Rookie.

The dry and sunny weather conditions could not have been better for the session on the Circuit Park Zandvoort, which is set in the sand dunes of the Dutch seaside town. Regalia went to the top of the time sheets after the first flying lap, but it was Hansen who broke the one minute forty two barrier with ten of the 25 minutes left to run.

Hansen had been quick all day, setting second quickest in free practice behind Harvey. However, the Brit gave his team a lot of work to do when he damaged his car after going off in that first session. It was not such a good day for the local drivers as the Josef Kaufmann duo of Robin Frijns and Hannes van Asseldonk could only manage fourth and 16th respectively.

Pole Round 3 - Second Round 4: Timmy Hansen (SE/Mucke Motorsport): "I am on pole so I am very happy. I just went out on the track and drove flat out. Then I made my pit stop quite early and I was about fifth or sixth in the first part of the second run. Then I made some good lap times and that was enough for pole. The track is a bit smaller and narrower and a bit more up and down than usual, so it suits this BMW car very well. I love it.

Second Round 3 Pole Round 4: Jack Harvey (GB/Fortec Motorsports): "The boys worked really hard between free practice and qualiyfing, so a massive thank you to the team for getting me back out in time. We had to change the whole rear corner of the car, and at one time it looked like an engine change, but luckily we didn't have to. Timmy just pipped me for pole, but this looks set up to be a good race tomorrow. I don't know why, but this weekend the track seems particularly slippery, but that is a challenge ."

Third Round 3 Seventh Round 4: Facu Regalia (AR/Eifelland): "I am happy with that and the team has worked so hard here to have me in the top three for most of the time. In free practice the set up was not the way we had it for the official test, but in qualifying we solved the problem and I did a good job as I was really on the limit. I am looking forward to the race tomorrow as I am starting on the clean part of the track. I am hoping for a good start and looking for a podium position as we have a good pace. At this track the handicap is that it is not really easy to overtake, so I have to make the most of the start. "

Top Rookie - Rounds 3 and 4: Carlos Sainz (ES/Eurointernational): "Everything was very close. I am happy to be the best Rookie, but not so happy with my position, as one tenth would have been another two or three positions. Another tenth would have been possible if I had put all the sectors together, but I didn't manage that. Let's see tomorrow in the race as they tell me here it is not that easy to overtake, so I have to do a good start and try to push as hard as possible. "

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. Both of the 13 lap races round the 4.320 kilometre Circuit Park Zandvoort will be on Sunday. The first will start at 09.55 and the second at 17.15. All times are local CET.

-source: bmw