Nyck de Vries signs in Spa his third pole position in the 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS. The Dutch, racing with Koiranen GP, current Championship leader, set an impressive 2:18.041 in his session. In the first session the quickest was the young Russian Matevos Isaakyan (JD Motorsport), already protagonist in Red Bull Ring where two weeks ago he managed two wins.
The first race of the weekend thus, scheduled for tomorrow, will see in the front row the top two drivers of the season. Right behind them the Monaco driver racing with Fortec Motorsports, Charles Leclerc, along with de Vries the only one capable to lap below the 2:19 margin. In his session, the second one, third time for Dario Capitanio (BVM Racing), at his best result of the season so far in qualify, the Canadian Luke Chudleigh (Tech 1 Racing) and the Brit Ben Barnicoat (Fortec Motorsports).
In Group A, after Isaakyan, the best one is Simon Gachet (Arta Engineering). Third best for the newcomer Raoul Owens on the Mark Burdett Motorsport car, ahead of Sebastien Morris (Fortec Motorsports) and Alessio Rovera (Cram Motorsport).
“When I set the pole I knew I still had some margin so I kept pushing and further improved. - commented Nyck de Vries - I’m really happy”.
Not as happy as the pole setter was Leclerc, that notwithstanding his good performance, blamed about the qualify. All fine for Isaakyan. The 16 y/o definitely proved more skills than his age.
To be pointed out one single red flag, waived in the second session due to the stuck car of the Brazilian Thiago Vivacqua (Fortec Motorsports). Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of the twice F1 World Champion Emerson, managed 11th in Group A at his debut on the MGR Motorsport car.
Tomorrow the green flag of Race 1 to be held on the 25’ plus a lap distance, will be given at 11.15. The race will be live streamed on www.renaultsportitalia.it. Race 2 is set for Sunday at 10.30.
Qualify Group A (top 5): 1. De Vries (Koiranen GP) 2’18”041; 2. Leclerc (Fortec Motorsports) 2’18”930; 3. Capitanio (BVM Racing) 2’19”188; 4. Chudleigh (Tech 1 Racing) 2’19”378; 5. Barnicoat (Fortec Motorsports) 2’19”418.
Qualify Group B (top 5): 1. Isaakyan (JD Motorsport) 2’19”022; 2. Gachet (Arta Engineering) 2’19”517; 3. Owens (Mark Burdett Motorsport) 2’19”880; 4. Morris (Fortec Motorsports) 2’19”889; 5. Rovera (Cram Motorsport) 2’19”955.
The Championship (top 5): 1. Nyck de Vries NDL (Koiranen GP) 130; 2. Matevos Isaakyan RUS (JD Motorsport) 68; 3. George Russell GBR (Koiranen GP) 65; 4. Simon Gachet FRA (Arta Engineering) 62; 5. Charles Leclerc MC (Fortec Motorsports) 50.
