Photo: F1 Academy
F1 Academy championship leader Abbi Pulling claimed a double pole position in qualifying for this weekend’s races on the streets of Singapore.
Alpine junior Pulling has previous experience of the Marina Bay circuit from the last ever W Series contest two years ago, and the Rodin-run driver was fastest in the free practice session on Friday afternoon.
She went to the top of the times early in qualifying, but her first attempt was bettered by Maya Weug and then Doriane Pin when they crossed the line. The same happened on their second flying laps, with Pin leading from Prema team-mate Weug and Pulling.
After all the drivers pitted in the middle of the session for a change of tyres, Pulling went quickest once again with five minutes left on the clock, posting a 2m03.631s that would not be beaten.
Weug and Pin did improve their times on their next laps but were still two tenths of a second adrift of Pulling, with Ferrari junior Weug now ahead of Mercedes-backed Pin.
None of the trio could go quicker on their last laps, but Pulling did post a 2m03.747s that puts her on pole for race two in front of Pin and Weug.
Lia Block was an impressive best of the rest in fourth, the circuit racing rookie grabbing the position with her final lap but also set to line up in the same place for race two.
Hamda Al Qubaisi was fifth just ahead of Chloe Chambers, who spun in the final corner at the end of the session but remained in front of Campos team-mate Nerea Marti.
Ella Lloyd has been handed the wildcard fourth Prema drive for this weekend following a strong debut season in British Formula 4. She ran as high as fifth in the closing stages of qualifying and ended up eighth.
Qualifying round-up
Race 1 grid
1 Abbi Pulling Rodin 2m03.631s
2 Maya Weug Prema +0.238s
3 Doriane Pin Prema +0.265s
4 Lia Block ART Grand Prix +0.567s
5 Hamda Al Qubaisi MP Motorsport +0.608s
6 Chloe Chambers Campos Racing +0.619s
7 Nerea Marti Campos Racing +0.627s
8 Ella Lloyd Prema +0.678s
9 Bianca Bustamane ART Grand Prix +0.801s
10 Carrie Schreiner Campos Racing +0.902s
Race 2 grid
1 Pulling 2m03.747s
2 Pin +0.158s
3 Weug +0.261s
4 Block +0.558s
5 Marti +0.688s
6 H Al Qubaisi +0.715s
7 Schreiner +0.857s
8 Lloyd +0.861s
9 Chambers +0.979s
10 Bustamante +1.041s