Antonio Giovinazzi and Tom Blomqvist have secured a front row lock out in the second qualifying session of the FIA Formula Three European Championship round at the Red Bull Ring, Austria. Dealing with a red flag along the way both Jagonya Ayam with Carlin drivers built on their earlier race podiums to clinch a front row lock out ahead of the racing action tomorrow with Giovinazzi lining up at the very front. Team mate Sean Gelael was once again enjoying another solid qualifying session and will start tomorrow’s race from 15th on the grid.
Following their double podium this morning, Blomqvist and Giovinazzi were full of confidence as they headed out on track for the start of the second qualifying session. It was a slow start for the three Jagonya Ayam with Carlin drivers with them leaving it a few minutes before setting their flying laps however when they did it was another 20 minute session with the times switching on a very regular basis.
Blomqvist, who had clinched his fourth win of the season earlier today, was the first of the three drivers to make his move and had made his way up to second with Gelael in fourth. However the positions wouldn’t stay the same for long and it was soon a big battle for the top positions with everybody on track playing their part.
Things would soon change when Hector Hurst stopped on track which caused a red flag to fall over the circuit. As a result all cars were brought in to the pit lane with Giovinazzi on provisional pole at the time, Blomqvist was just behind him in second while Gelael, who had been unable to get another flying lap in at the time, was 21st overall.
After just a few minutes stationary the cars were free to take to the track once again and when they did they had just a couple more laps left before they would run out of time. With five minutes remaining Esteban Ocon and then Antonio Fuoco had both claimed provisional pole as their own. However the Jagonya Ayam boys were not content to let the position slip away from them – Giovinazzi set the perfect lap in the dying minutes to claim two pole positions as his own. Blomqvist was close behind in second and ensures that it’s a front row lock out for the team. Gelael also improved to set a time which will see him line up tomorrow morning in 15th position overall.
Speaking of his two pole positions Giovinazzi said, ‘It was a really good qualifying and my first pole position of the year so I have to be very pleased with that. The car was really great today and we’re looking good for tomorrow because the speed is there and I think we can fight for the win. The weather might play a part however overall I’m feeling pretty confident.’
Blomqvist added, ‘There was a red flag in the session and we had been going really well before that point. However I did struggle with traffic on my out laps which meant I couldn’t complete my warm up procedure as I had to keep the cars behind me but overall I was happy with our pace and our position. It’s a good team result and we can have two great races from here tomorrow.’
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