Photo: ACI Sport
Prema’s Frederik Vesti made it six poles in a row in Formula Regional European Championship qualifying at the Red Bull Ring.
The championship leader was near unbeatable around the 4.318km circuit, which at the very start of qualifying had some damp spots due to rain earlier in the day.
Enzo Fittipaldi was second to his team-mate in the first session, but was beaten by DR Formula by RP Motorsport’s Igor Fraga in the second session. The drier track meant the faster lap times were set in the latter of the two sessions, and as a result Fraga also completes the front row on the race three grid, which is based off second fastest lap times.
The third Prema car of Olli Caldwell struggled throughout, and will start the the three races from ninth, sixth and fifth.
US Racing’s David Schumacher couldn’t match Prema’s pace, and rued not being more consistent as after going third and fourth fastest in the two sessions, was only ninth quickest on his second best lap time.
. Single-seater rookie Matteo Nannini, making his second FREC appearance, shone for Scuderia DF Corse by Corbetta with a position on the third row for the first two races and fourth place on the grid for race three.
There was little to enjoy at Van Amersfoort Racing, with Alexandre Bardinon off the pace and Sophia Floersch unable to set a lap in either session, spending most of her time in the pits examining the rear of her car with the team.
Qualifying round-up
Race 1 grid
1 Frederik Vesti Prema 1m26.005s
2 Enzo Fittipaldi Prema +0.315s
3 David Schumacher US Racing +0.373s
4 Igor Fraga DR Formula by RP Motorsport +0.487s
5 Isac Blomqvist KIC Motorsport +0.648s
6 Matteo Nannini?Scuderia DF Corse by Corbetta +0.730s
7 Raul Guzman DR Formula by RP Motorsport +0.731s
8 Marcos Siebert US Racing +0.886s
9 Olli Caldwell Prema +0.928s
10 Konsta Lappalainen KIC Motorsport +1.145s
Race 2 grid
1 Vesti 1m25.600s
2 Fraga +0.234s
3 Fittipaldi +0.364s
4 Schumacher +0.511s
5 Nannini +0.526s
6 Caldwell +0.602s
7 Siebert +0.622s
8 Guzman +0.662s
9 Blomqvist +0.693s
10 Tom Beckhauser Technorace +0.829s
Race 3 grid
1 Vesti 1m25.706s
2 Fraga +0.150s
3 Fittipaldi +0.272s
4 Nannini +0.470s
5 Caldwell +0.588s
6 Blomqvist +0.612s
7 Siebert +0.652s
8 Guzman +0.664s
9 Schumacher +0.745s
10 Beckhauser +1.079s