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A1-Ring qual 1: Paffett reigns in Austria

Britain's Gary Paffett gatecrashed Austria's first German Formula 3 pole of the season at its home circuit, denying local hero Bernhard Auinger his moment of glory with just seconds of the A1-Ring qualifying session remaining for today(Saturday)'s race

Auinger was getting ready to celebrate his first-ever German F3 pole in his BSR-run Dallara-Opel, but series leader Paffett (Rosberg Dallara-Opel) pipped him at the death. Auinger could cycle from his home in Zeltweg to the A1-Ring, such is its proximity, and he proved that local knowledge was worth a tenth or two by topping the times for most of the session.

But Paffett came within hundredths of his time on his first flyer, but then ruthlessly pole axed the local's hopes with a 1m26.452s flyer the next time around.

Norbert Siedler (SRT Dallara-Opel) bolstered the chances of a home victory this afternoon with the third fastest time, ahead of Frank Diefenbacher, who showed a return to form in his BSR Dallara-Opel after a dismal sequence of races. Timo Glock was fifth fastest in his KMS Dallara-Opel, with the ultra-consistent Robert Doornbos taking sixth for the second time this weekend.

Paffett's title rival, Japanese driver Kousuke Matsuura, was only eighth fastest in his PREMA-run Dallara-Opel.


1 Gary Paffett, Rosberg Dallara-Opel, 1m26.452s
2 Bernhard Auinger, BSR Dallara-Opel, 1m26.598s
3 Norbert Siedler, Swiss Tony Racing Team Dallara-Opel, 1m26.785s
4 Frank Diefenbacher, BSR Dallara-Opel, 1m26.856s
5 Timo Glock, KMS Dallara-Opel, 1m26.962s
6 Robert Doornbos, Ghinzani Dallara-Mugen, 1m26.025s


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