Roberto Merhi keeps pole for the Masters of Formula 3, as Marco Wittmann tops wet second qualifying
Roberto Merhi will start the Masters of Formula 3 from pole position, despite Marco Wittmann setting the fastest time in a wet second qualifying session at Zandvoort
Signature driver Wittmann was 0.335s quicker than Merhi in the session, but his table-topping time of 1m47.803s was still around 17s slower than the Spaniard managed in the dry earlier session.
Indeed, deteriorating conditions prior to qualifying two prompted the race officials to delay its start, as it was clear drivers would be powerless to improve on their grid placings.
"It is a good start for me and the team," said Merhi. "In the Euro Series we have not been so competitive during qualifying, but we're really fast during the races. Today we showed to everybody that we can be very competitive.
"I did a mistake on my last two sectors on my fastest lap, but it was enough for pole. My goal is obviously to win such an important race tomorrow, and I think I have a good chance as were so competitive in both the rain and the dry."
Daniel Juncadella's glum predictions following the opening session that rain could scupper his chances to overhaul a 0.008s deficit to Merhi were realised. The Catalan will join his Prema Powerteam-mate on the front row of the grid for Sunday's 25 lap race.
"It's a little bit of a shame for me to start second by eighth-thousandths," said Juncadella. "I did a little mistake on my lap, but perhaps the result is fair as he also made a mistake. The important thing is that the team is going great. If nothing strange happens we should finish one-two, I just really hope that it's not me who is second."
The trying track conditions contributed to a couple of minor off-track incidents. Fortec's British F3 regular Lucas Foresti, making an outing with Euro Series frontrunners Mucke Motorsport, brought out the red flags in the closing minutes when his car became beached in a gravel trap.
At the time of the stoppage Merhi headed Carlin racer Kevin Magnussen at the top of time sheets, but neither driver elected to take to the track for the final three minutes of action.
Wittmann, who will start fourth tomorrow behind Swede Felix Rosenqvist (Mucke Motorsport), was among the majority of drivers who decided to make a final run.
While Wittmann was rewarded with the honour of fastest time, Rupert Svendsen-Cook was less fortunate and removed the front wing of his Carlin machine after finding the tyre barriers.
Second qualifying times
Pos Driver Team Car Time Gap 1. Marco Wittmann Signature Dallara-VW 1m47.803s 2. Roberto Merhi Prema Dallara-Merc 1m48.183s + 0.335s 3. Kevin Magnussen Carlin Dallara-VW 1m48.648s + 0.845s 4. Daniel Abt Signature Dallara-VW 1m48.723s + 0.920s 5. Lucas Foresti Mucke Dallara-Merc 1m48.995s + 1.192s 6. Daniel Juncadella Prema Dallara-Merc 1m49.141s + 1.338s 7. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke Dallara-Merc 1m49.291s + 1.488s 8. Carlos Munoz Signature Dallara-VW 1m49.493s + 1.690s 9. Nigel Melker Mucke Dallara-Merc 1m49.909s + 2.106s 10. Laurens Vanthoor Signature Dallara-VW 1m49.972s + 2.169s 11. Pipo Derani Prema Dallara-Merc 1m51.583s + 3.780s 12. Jimmy Eriksson Motopark Dallara-VW 1m51.590s + 3.787s 13. Rupert Svendsen-Cook Carlin Dallara-VW 1m51.636s + 3.833s 14. Kimiya Sato Motopark Dallara-VW 1m51.742s + 3.939s 15. Jazeman Jaafar Carlin Dallara-VW 1m52.220s + 4.417s 16. Carlos Huertas Carlin Dallara-VW 1m53.408s + 5.605sCombined qualifying timesPos Driver Team Car Time Gap 1. Roberto Merhi Prema Dallara-Merc 1m30.750s 2. Daniel Juncadella Prema Dallara-Merc 1m30.758s + 0.008s 3. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke Dallara-Merc 1m31.055s + 0.305s 4. Marco Wittmann Signature Dallara-VW 1m31.266s + 0.516s 5. Kevin Magnussen Carlin Dallara-VW 1m31.295s + 0.545s 6. Nigel Melker Mucke Dallara-Merc 1m31.411s + 0.661s 7. Laurens Vanthoor Signature Dallara-VW 1m31.530s + 0.780s 8. Rupert Svendsen-Cook Carlin Dallara-VW 1m31.599s + 0.849s 9. Daniel Abt Signature Dallara-VW 1m31.914s + 1.164s 10. Lucas Foresti Mucke Dallara-Merc 1m31.933s + 1.183s 11. Pipo Derani Prema Dallara-Merc 1m32.096s + 1.346s 12. Jazeman Jaafar Carlin Dallara-VW 1m32.123s + 1.373s 13. Carlos Munoz Signature Dallara-VW 1m32.315s + 1.565s 14. Jimmy Eriksson Motopark Dallara-VW 1m32.526s + 1.776s 15. Carlos Huertas Carlin Dallara-VW 1m32.529s + 1.779s 16. Kimiya Sato Motopark Dallara-VW 1m32.694s + 1.944s
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