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Aragon Formula Renault 3.5: Gustav Malja stripped of front row spot

Swedish Formula Renault 3.5 newcomer Gustav Malja has lost his front row qualifying position for Saturday afternoon's opening race of the season at Aragon

Malja's Strakka car encountered a ride-height issue in post-qualifying technical checks after going second fastest, and will start from the back of the grid for race one.

Strakka chief engineer Mike Henderson explained: "The floor was very slightly under the limit.

"We checked it last night and everything was OK. It's obviously very disappointing.

"Gustav did do a fantastic job, though. It was one of the best performances from a rookie making his debut that I think World Series has seen.

"You can't take that away from him."

Tio Ellinas in the second Strakka car is promoted to seventh on the grid as a result of the penalty.

"Tio is in the ballpark," continued Henderson. "He was three and half tenths off.

"The position is not what we wanted as he has been so strong in testing. Hopefully he can make up some places."

Malja's demotion means Oliver Rowland now joins polesitter Matthieu Vaxiviere on the front row.

Follow the Formula Renault 3.5 opener with AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live from 1.30pm UK time

REVISED STARTING GRID:

Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1 Matthieu Vaxiviere Lotus 1m41.446s -
2 Oliver Rowland Fortec Motorsports 1m41.628s 0.182s
3 Meindert van Buuren Lotus 1m41.674s 0.228s
4 Jazeman Jaafar Fortec Motorsports 1m41.692s 0.246s
5 Tom Dillmann Jagonya Ayam with Carlin 1m41.709s 0.263s
6 Dean Stoneman DAMS 1m41.757s 0.311s
7 Tio Ellinas Strakka Racing 1m41.844s 0.398s
8 Nicholas Latifi Arden Motorsport 1m41.921s 0.475s
9 Nyck de Vries DAMS 1m42.041s 0.595s
10 Pietro Fantin International Draco Racing 1m42.149s 0.703s
11 Beitske Visser AVF 1m42.270s 0.824s
12 Roberto Merhi Pons Racing 1m42.471s 1.025s
13 Egor Orudzhev Arden Motorsport 1m42.529s 1.083s
14 Sean Gelael Jagonya Ayam with Carlin 1m42.624s 1.178s
15 Alfonso Celis AVF 1m42.678s 1.232s
16 Roy Nissany Tech 1 Racing 1m42.678s 1.232s
17 Bruno Bonifacio International Draco Racing 1m42.895s 1.449s
18 Philo Paz Armand Pons Racing 1m42.965s 1.519s
19 Aurelien Panis Tech 1 Racing 1m43.090s 1.644s
20 Gustav Malja Strakka Racing - -

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