Spa-Francorchamps – Qualifying
As expected, the four big names in winter testing proved that they are the drivers to look out for this season, by taking the first four places on the front two rows of the grid. Valtteri Bottas (Motopark Academy) achieved a good result, taking both pole positions in front of Daniel Ricciardo (SG Formula), Andrea Caldarelli (SG Formula) and Roberto Merhi (Epsilon Euskadi). SuperPole
The weather was ideal the first SuperPole of the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. On the pace immediately, Valtteri Bottas turned in the best time of 2'20''579, ahead of Roberto Merhi and Siso Cunill (Jenzer Motorsport).
Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (BVM Minardi Team) moved into second position, while a good number of drivers were still setting their times, including the SG Formula drivers. At the session's half way stage, the driver order was as follows: Valtteri Bottas, Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, Roberto Merhi, Siso Cunill and Mathieu Arzeno (Epsilon Sport).
It was not until the second part of the session that the SG Formula drivers came out. Daniel Ricciardo snatched pole in front of Jean-Éric Vergne. Then Andrea Caldarelli set the fastest lap time. Valtteri Bottas wasn't going to take it lying down, reclaiming the lead with a time of 2'19''100. The last minutes of the session were looking decisive even if Bottas had made a big impact with his time.
Daniel Ricciardo climbed back to second position, while Roberto Merhi managed a place in the top three. Andrea Caldarelli, with a final push, slipped in between Ricciardo and Merhi. Albert Costa finished fifth, ahead of Michele Faccin and Jean-Éric Vergne.
The grid for the first race will be based on each driver's best time, and that for race two on their second-fastest time. In this case, the first seven will start in the same order.
Valtteri Bottas will therefore start in pole position for each of the two races, ahead of Ricciardo, Caldarelli and Merhi. The four favourites are living up to expectations
Valtteri Bottas: «The car was very running very well I took advantage of three clear laps, two of which went very well. We are ready; I'll do what it takes to win. Starting in both pole positions is a definite advantage.»
Daniel Ricciardo: «It could have been worse. Yesterday I was too careful, today I pushed harder. I was a little disappointed to end up in second position. I will need to put in a good performance from the start! The Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 really is a competitive series; the race will be wide open.»
Group AThe initial times set by the group of drivers with even race numbers fell and Tobias Hegewald (Motopark Academy) grabbed provisional pole position, immediately bettered by Daniel Ricciardo then Andrea Caldarelli.
The drivers had time to complete one more fast lap. Daniel Zampieri (BVM Minardi Team) improved on the fastest lap. Shortly afterwards Jean-Éric Vergne took the lead, before Caldarelli showed the best performance of the series in 2'20''266.
Group BIn the odd-number series, it was some minutes before the drivers were close to the times of the first group. Valtteri Bottas quickly took the top position over the rest of the competitors and set the fastest time of the two groups in 2'19''762. The two Jenzer Motorsport drivers, Michele Faccin and Siso Cunill, complete the top three.
POS NUMBER DRIVER TEAM LAP TIME GAP_FIRST KPH LAPS 1 11 Valtteri BOTTAS MOTOPARK ACADEMY 4 2:19.100 - 181.2 7 2 12 Daniel RICCIARDO SG FORMULA 3 2:19.225 +0.125 181.1 6 3 14 Andrea CALDARELLI SG FORMULA 4 2:19.337 +0.237 180.9 5 4 8 Roberto MERHI EPSILON EUSKADI 2 5 2:19.534 +0.434 180.7 7 5 7 Albert COSTA EPSILON EUSKADI 2 3 2:19.746 +0.646 180.4 5 6 27 Michele FACCIN JENZER MOTORSPORT 6 2:19.825 +0.725 180.3 8 7 6 Jean Eric VERGNE SG DRIVERS PROJECT 3 2:19.945 +0.845 180.1 6 8 25 Cesar RAMOS BVM MINARDI TEAM 5 2:20.083 +0.983 180.0 7 9 28 Pal VARHAUG JENZER MOTORSPORT 7 2:20.087 +0.987 180.0 8 10 26 Adrian QUAIFE-HOBBS BVM MINARDI TEAM 6 2:20.142 +1.042 179.9 8 11 75 Paul MEIJER MP MOTORSPORT 3 2:20.218 +1.118 179.8 5 12 34 Mathieu ARZENO EPSILON SPORT 5 2:20.232 +1.132 179.8 7 13 24 Daniel ZAMPIERI BVM MINARDI TEAM 4 2:20.249 +1.149 179.8 6 14 29 Siso CUNILL JENZER MOTORSPORT 5 2:20.338 +1.238 179.6 8 15 41 Dean SMITH FORTEC MOTORSPORT 5 2:20.355 +1.255 179.6 7 16 3 Richard CAMPOLLO EPSILON EUSKADI 1 5 2:20.454 +1.354 179.5 8 17 15 Nelson LUKES SG FORMULA 3 2:20.594 +1.494 179.3 6 18 4 Ramez AZZAM SG DRIVERS PROJECT 3 2:20.725 +1.625 179.1 6 19 1 Jake ROSENZWEIG EPSILON EUSKADI 1 3 2:20.827 +1.727 179.0 6 20 10 Tobias HEGEWALD MOTOPARK ACADEMY 4 2:20.838 +1.738 179.0 5 21 37 Miki MONRAS HITECH JUNIOR TEAM 5 2:20.956 +1.856 178.9 6 22 44 Alex MORGAN FORTEC COMPETITION 5 2:21.103 +2.003 178.7 8 23 36 Richard SINGLETON HITECH JUNIOR TEAM 4 2:21.227 +2.127 178.5 4 24 33 Tristan VAUTIER EPSILON SPORT 5 2:21.411 +2.311 178.3 8
POS NUMBER DRIVER TEAM TIME GAP_FIRST GAP_PREVIOUS
1 11 Valtteri BOTTAS MOTOPARK ACADEMY 2:19.100 - - 2 12 Daniel RICCIARDO SG FORMULA 2:19.575 +0.475 +0.475 3 14 Andrea CALDARELLI SG FORMULA 2:19.645 +0.545 +0.070 4 8 Roberto MERHI EPSILON EUSKADI 2 2:19.668 +0.568 +0.023 5 7 Albert COSTA EPSILON EUSKADI 2 2:19.937 +0.837 +0.269 6 27 Michele FACCIN JENZER MOTORSPORT 2:19.983 +0.883 +0.046 7 6 Jean Eric VERGNE SG DRIVERS PROJECT 2:20.156 +1.056 +0.173 8 26 Adrian QUAIFE-HOBBS BVM MINARDI TEAM 2:20.221 +1.121 +0.065 9 75 Paul MEIJER MP MOTORSPORT 2:20.258 +1.158 +0.037 10 34 Mathieu ARZENO EPSILON SPORT 2:20.304 +1.204 +0.046 11 28 Pal VARHAUG JENZER MOTORSPORT 2:20.392 +1.292 +0.088 12 25 Cesar RAMOS BVM MINARDI TEAM 2:20.540 +1.440 +0.148 13 24 Daniel ZAMPIERI BVM MINARDI TEAM 2:20.611 +1.511 +0.071 14 3 Richard CAMPOLLO EPSILON EUSKADI 1 2:20.663 +1.563 +0.052 15 29 Siso CUNILL JENZER MOTORSPORT 2:20.761 +1.661 +0.098 16 15 Nelson LUKES SG FORMULA 2:20.779 +1.679 +0.018 17 41 Dean SMITH FORTEC MOTORSPORT 2:20.779 +1.679 +0.000 18 4 Ramez AZZAM SG DRIVERS PROJECT 2:21.050 +1.950 +0.271 19 37 Miki MONRAS HITECH JUNIOR TEAM 2:21.076 +1.976 +0.026 20 44 Alex MORGAN FORTEC COMPETITION 2:21.194 +2.094 +0.118 21 1 Jake ROSENZWEIG EPSILON EUSKADI 1 2:21.271 +2.171 +0.077 22 33 Tristan VAUTIER EPSILON SPORT 2:21.649 +2.549 +0.378 23 10 Tobias HEGEWALD MOTOPARK ACADEMY 2:21.787 +2.687 +0.138 24 36 Richard SINGLETON HITECH JUNIOR TEAM 2:43.609 +24.509 +21.822
