Molina takes pole at Estoril
Miguel Molina has qualified on pole-position for the penultimate round of the Formula Renault 3.5 series at Estoril
The 19 year-old Prema driver was a comfortable two tenths of a second ahead of Tech 1's French line-up, Julien Jousse and Charles Pic.
Carlin's Robert Wickens and Ultimate-Signature's Fabio Carbone set an identical time of 1:25.987 for fourth. Wickens will take the position due to being the first to record the time.
Molina will be shooting for a repeat of his 2007 win, achieved with Pons Racing, in tomorrow's feature race. The four points won today for pole moves Molina from eighth to sixth in the championship.
"I tried to use only one set of tyres in qualifying, so that I could enter the Super Pole with one new set in hand," said Molina. "But with three minutes remaining I was in P6 (and just one place away from being bumped from the Super Pole), so I had to go out again.
"I had just enough time for one lap and that got me through. Super Pole was very difficult, and I had to dig really deep to do pole-position, but this track has been good to me again. I have had two thirds here is Spanish F3 and, of course, winning last year. I could really use a win tomorrow as I have no plans finalised for next year."
Jousse was philosophical about being beaten to the pole, as he has closed by two points on Fabio Carbone, his rival for the runner-up position in the championship.
"Yesterday I thought I could have been on pole, but Molina was too fast today. He's almost three tenths quicker which is a lot around here. Anyway, I am happy to score points on Carbone, and from second there is still a good possibility that I can get my first win tomorrow."
Alex Marsoin's Epsilon-Euskadi machine was unable to take part in the Super Pole after sustaining severe damage in qualifying. Fortunately Marsoin did not have any major injuries to show for the shunt.
"I just have a few pains in my back," said Marsoin. "It was a really heavy shunt. The whole front of the car is destroyed but fortunately not the tub. I arrived at turn one with no brakes at all. Not anything.
"The car had been so good, and we had just set the second fastest time. Having Filipe (Albuquerque) here really makes a difference as we have been able to work together. It was a big, big shame. I really think we could have made a good job in the Super Pole."
Marco Bonanomi, in eighth, will line-up on the reverse grid "pole" for Comtec in this afternoon's race, with Draco's Bertrand Baguette joining the Italian on the front row.
Super-pole results: Pos Driver Team Time 1. Miguel Molina Prema Powerteam 1:25.728 2. Julien Jousse Tech 1 Racing 1:25.941 + 0.213 3. Charles Pic Tech 1 Racing 1:25.962 + 0.234 4. Robert Wickens Carlin Motorsport 1:25.987 + 0.259 5. Fabio Carbone Ultimate Signature 1:25.987 + 0.259 6. Marcos Martinez Pons Racing 1:26.211 + 0.483 7. B.Baguette Draco Racing 1:26.227 + 0.499 8. Marco Bonanomi Comtec 1:26.239 + 0.511 9. Alvaro Barba Prema Powerteam 1:26.270 + 0.542 10. E.Guerrieri Ultimate Signature 1:26.462 + 0.734 11. Marco Barba Draco Racing 1:26.717 + 0.989
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