Last-gasp Masters pole for Hulkenberg
By Steven English Saturday, August 9th 2008, 13:29 GMT
Nico Hulkenberg clinched pole position for this weekend's Masters of Formula 3 at Zolder with a sensational late effort in this afternoon's final qualifying session.
The German, who is bidding to become the first driver ever to win back-to-back Masters titles, produced an incredible lap in the dying seconds of the session to pinch the pole from his ART Grand Prix teammate Jules Bianchi.
Bianchi was more than half a second clear of the field for half the top 20 shootout after staying out on his first set of tyres for three laps longer than his rivals. Several attempts to topple Bianchi with new tyres failed, until Henkie Waldschmidt's stranded SG Formula car forced the session to be red flagged.
Once it was recovered, there was only time for two flying laps each. Several drivers took it turns to catapult themselves into the top six, but none could match Bianchi's earlier effort. Hulkenberg's first effort was two tenths shy and only good enough for third, but he improved by half a second on his final lap to snatch the pole from Bianchi by more than quarter of a second.
"It was quite tough," said Hulkenberg. "We are at the top of the pit lane so there were a lot of cars in front of me after the red flag. I knew that last lap would have to be perfect, but I thought there would be too much traffic. There was a little, but I also got a tow which helped a bit.
"Of course I want to win every race, but because this isn't part of a championship I am quite relaxed about it. We will either win or we won't, lets just see what happens tomorrow."
Renger van der Zande got within a tenth of Bianchi with his last effort and earned third place on the grid, while Koudai Tsukakoshi completed the second row, heading a train of 14 cars covered by less than half a second.
Stefano Coletti finished up fifth, ahead of Max Chilton, who was best of the British championship drivers in sixth. Jon Lancaster, Mika Maki, Brendon Hartley, and Daniel Campos-Hull completed the top ten.
Tom Dillman set the best time of the Group B session to earn 21st place on the grid. He was embroiled in a three way battle with Atte Mustonen and Sam Bird for much of the half hour, but Dillman secured the top spot from Bird as the times dipped into the high 1:24s at the end.
Yann Clairay pipped Mustonen for third (23rd) at the end, and James Jakes took fifth (25th) with his final lap of the session.
Group A
Pos Driver Team Car Time Gap
1. Nico Hulkenberg ART D/M 1:24.280
2. Jules Bianchi ART D/M 1:24.550 +0.270
3. Renger van der Zande Prema D/M 1:24.640 +0.360
4. Koudai Tsukakoshi Manor D/M 1:24.813 +0.533
5. Stefano Coletti Prema D/M 1:24.869 +0.589
6. Max Chilton Hitech D/M 1:24.884 +0.604
7. Jon Lancaster ART D/M 1:25.044 +0.764
8. Mika Maki Mucke D/M 1:25.058 +0.778
9. Brendon Hartley Carlin D/M 1:25.071 +0.791
10. Daniel Campos-Hull HBR D/M 1:25.086 +0.806
11. Rodolfo Gonzalez Carlin D/M 1:25.109 +0.829
12. Richard Philippe Carlin D/M 1:25.113 +0.833
13. Jaime Alguersuari Carlin D/M 1:25.117 +0.837
14. Henkie Waldschmidt SG D/M 1:25.139 +0.859
15. Edoardo Mortara Signature D/V 1:25.203 +0.923
16. Christian Vietoris Mucke D/M 1:25.294 +1.014
17. Roberto Merhi Hitech D/M 1:25.299 +1.019
18. Nick Tandy JTR M/M 1:25.452 +1.172
19. Michael Devaney Ultimate M/M 1:25.597 +1.317
20. Dani Clos Prema D/M 1:26.157 +1.877
Group B
Pos Driver Team Car Time Gap
1. Tom Dillman Jo Zeller D/M 1:24.860
2. Sam Bird Carlin D/M 1:24.900 +0.040
3. Yann Clairay SG D/M 1:25.129 +0.269
4. Atte Mustonen Double R D/M 1:25.233 +0.373
5. James Jakes ART D/M 1:25.471 +0.611
6. Erik Janis Mucke D/M 1:25.502 +0.642
7. Daniel Ricciardo SG D/M 1:25.525 +0.665
8. John Martin Double R D/M 1:25.682 +0.822
9. Esteban Guerrieri Ultimate M/M 1:25.725 +0.865
10. Jean-Karl Vernay Signature D/V 1:25.729 +0.869
11. Kazuya Oshima Manor D/M 1:25.789 +0.929
12. Niall Breen Manor D/M 1:25.921 +1.061
13. Henry Arundel Double R D/M 1:25.939 +1.079
14. Basil Shaaban HBR D/M 1:26.160 +1.300
15. Martin Plowman Signature D/V 1:26.349 +1.489
16. Franck Mailleux Signature D/V 1:26.565 +1.705
17. Ricardo Teixeira Ultimate M/M 1:27.207 +2.347
parrilla definitiva:
http://www.raceresults.nu/uitslagen/...d%20result.htm
Das Qualifying in der Übersicht:
01. Nico Hülkenberg (ART) - 1:24.280 Minuten
02. Jules Bianchi (ART) - 1:24.550
03. Renger van der Zande (Prema) - 1:24.640
04. Koudai Tsukakoshi (Manor) - 1:24.813
05. Tom Dillman (Jo Zeller) - 1:24.860
06. Stefano Coletti (Prema) - 1:24.869
07. Max Chilton (Hitech) - 1:24.884
08. Sam Bird (Manor) - 1:24.900
09. Jon Lancaster (ART) - 1:25.044
10. Mika Mäki (Mücke) - 1:25.058
11. Brendon Hartley (Carlin) - 1:25.071
12. Daniel Campos-Hull (HBR) - 1:25.086
13. Rodolfo Gonzales (Carlin) - 1:25.109
14. Richard Philippe (Carlin) - 1:25.113
15. Jaime Alguersuari (Carlin) - 1:25.117
16. Yann Clairay (SG Formula) - 1:25.129
17. Henkie Waldschmidt (SG Formula) - 1:25.139
18. Edoardo Mortara (Signature) - 1:25.203
19. Atte Mustonen (Double R) - 1:25.233
20. Christian Vietoris (Mücke) - 1:25.294
21. Roberto Mehri (Hitech) - 1:25.299
22. Nick Tandy (JTR) - 1:25.452
23. James Jakes (ART) - 1:25.471
24. Erik Janis (Mücke) - 1:25.502
25. Daniel Ricciardo (SG Formula) - 1:25.525
26. Michael Devaney (Ultimate) - 1:25.597
27. John Martin (Double R) - 1:25.682
28. Esteban Guerrieri (Ultimate) - 1:25.725
29. Jean-Karl Vernay (Signature) - 1:25.729
30. Kazuya Oshima (Manor) - 1:25.789
31. Niall Breen (Manor) - 1:25.921
32. Henry Arundel (Double R) - 1:25.939
33. Dani Clos (Prema) - 1:26.157
34. Basil Shaaban (HBR) - 1:26.160
35. Martin Plowman (Signature) - 1:26.349
36. Franck Mailleux (Signature) - 1:26.565
37. Ricardo Teixeira (Ultimate) - 1:27.207