Formula 3 Euro Series 2009

Jules Bianchi (ART Grand Prix, 1:48.890 minutes) secured himself the last fastest lap time in a qualifying of the current Formula 3 Euro Series season. On the 4.574 kilometres long Grand Prix Circuit, he was 0.729 seconds quicker in his fastest lap than Valtteri Bottas (ART Grand Prix, 1:49.619 minutes). Into third place followed Roberto Merhi (Manor Motorsport, 1:49.974 minutes), ahead of newcomer Victor Garcia (Prema Powerteam, 1:50.038 minutes).

The qualifying session took place under difficult conditions. During the complete session of 30 minutes duration, it was slightly raining and the track was wet and slippery. With his ’off’ at the Motodrom section, Basil Shaaban (Prema Powerteam, 1:52.469 Minuten) caused the single interruption in this qualifying. After the short break it started to rain more heavily again so that there was no more chance to improve the times in the leading group. The sixth pole position achieved by Jules Bianchi was thus not in danger. With his second place, Valtteri Bottas gained an advantage over his rival in the rookie classification, Alexander Sims (Mücke Motorsport, 1:51.143 minutes), who finished only tenth.

Jules Bianchi (ART Grand Prix): “This was a very good qualifying. My car was quick and we had found a perfect set-up for the session. After the race victory at Dijon and the title win that same weekend, it is just super for me that I have gained pole position here in the rain, too.”

Valtteri Bottas (ART Grand Prix): “The conditions had been very difficult. I started too late as we thought that the weather would improve. But quite the contrary, it got worse and worse. I was therefore not as quick as Jules, but I am nevertheless happy with my second place. It is most important for me to be ahead of Alexander Sims due to my close battle with him in the fight about the rookie title.”

Roberto Merhi (Manor Motorsport): “The qualifying was not that good as I have always had traffic, in particular in the last sector. I was even blocked by another driver in my fast lap. Everything had been running perfectly in today’s free practice but with the problems I had in qualifying I was simply not able to set faster lap times. I do, however, in any case want to win tomorrow’s race.”

24 octobre 2009 | Catégorie Infos courses