Vandoorne eases to sixth successive GP2 pole
Stoffel Vandoorne continued his domination of the GP2 field with an unflustered run to a sixth consecutive pole position in qualifying at Barcelona.
Stoffel Vandoorne, ART Grand Prix
GP2 Series Media Service
After a short red-flag delay in the first few minutes of the session caused by Artem Markelov’s Russian Time-run car coasting to a halt, ART Grand Prix driver Vandoorne wasted no time in imposing himself at the top of the timesheets.
The Belgian set the early pace with a 1m29.781s in the first wave of flying laps, a time that would remain unbeaten until Vandoorne found over six tenths in the closing stages to record a 1m29.273s.
That proved comfortably enough for the McLaren protégé to extend a streak of GP2 pole positions that dates back to last year’s races at Spa-Francorchamps.
Vandoorne’s closest challenger was DAMS’ Alex Lynn, who came within a tenth and a half of pole in his first run, ultimately securing a front row spot with a final effort 0.407s off the pace.
The second DAMS car of Pierre Gasly will start third after a late surge by the Frenchman that demoted Mitch Evans’ Russian Time entry to fourth.
Alexander Rossi (Racing Engineering) and Daniel de Jong (MP Motorsport) meanwhile will share the third row for Saturday’s feature race, ahead of Ferrari Academy driver Raffaele Marciello (Trident), the last man to get within a second of Vandoorne’s searing pace.
Completing the top 10 on the grid are Rio Haryanto (Campos), GP2 debutant Nick Yelloly (Hilmer) and Julian Leal (Carlin).
Pos
|
Driver
|
Team
|
Time |
1
|
Stoffel Vandoorne |
ART Grand Prix
|
1:29.273
|
2
|
Alex Lynn |
DAMS
|
1:29.680
|
3
|
Pierre Gasly |
DAMS
|
1:30.051
|
4
|
Mitch Evans |
Russian Time
|
1:30.106
|
5
|
Alexander Rossi |
Racing Engineering
|
1:30.154
|
6
|
Daniel De Jong |
MP Motorsport
|
1:30.169
|
7
|
Raffaele Marciello |
Trident
|
1:30.191
|
8
|
Rio Haryanto |
Campos Racing
|
1:30.291
|
9
|
Nick Yelloly |
Hilmer Motorsport
|
1:30.375
|
10
|
Julian Leal |
Carlin
|
1:30.402
|
11
|
Arthur Pic |
Campos Racing
|
1:30.411
|
12
|
Norman Nato |
Arden International
|
1:30.416
|
13
|
Richie Stanaway |
Status Grand Prix
|
1:30.420
|
14
|
Nobuharu Matsushita |
ART Grand Prix
|
1:30.649
|
15
|
Jordan King |
Racing Engineering
|
1:30.686
|
16
|
Sergio Canamasas |
MP Motorsport
|
1:30.722
|
17
|
Robert Visoiu |
Rapax
|
1:30.879
|
18
|
Marco Sorensen |
Carlin
|
1:30.891
|
19
|
Nathanaël Berthon |
Lazarus
|
1:31.029
|
20
|
Marlon Stockinger |
Status Grand Prix
|
1:31.042
|
21
|
Johnny Cecotto |
Hilmer Motorsport
|
1:31.049
|
22
|
André Negrao |
Arden International
|
1:31.390
|
23
|
Sergey Sirotkin |
Rapax
|
1:31.394
|
24
|
Rene Binder |
Trident
|
1:31.397
|
25
|
Zoel Amberg |
Lazarus
|
1:31.751
|
26
|
Artem Markelov |
Russian Time
|
No time |
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments