Mitch Evans claimed GP3 pole position at Spa-Francorchamps this morning, just ahead of MW Arden teammate Matias Laine.
Daniel Abt headed the Lotus charge, taking 3rd spot despite being blocked on his final quick run.
Evans spent much of the session at or near the top of the timing screens, with Abt and Lewis Williamson in close company.
The Kiwi lost a quick run several minutes from the end when he was blocked by Carmen Jorda; however the points leader recovered to put the top spot beyond reach four minutes from the end.
Laine missed out on a shot at pole when he made a slight error on one of his quick laps – the MW Arden racer may well have gone faster later in his run were it not for his aging Pirelli’s.
Abt led the session for the moist part, losing out as track conditions improved during the thirty minutes. Being blocked on his last lap only compounded frustrations for the German.
Antonio Felix da Costa continued his impressive run. The Portuguese pilot fills out the second row, just ahead of Conor Daly (5th) and Lewis Williamson (6th). Indeed the GP3 returnee pipped a close group to the top six, with Williamson, Aaro Vainio (7th), Venturini (8th), Alex Fontana (9th) and Tio Ellinas (10th) all covered by less than two-tenths.
Former Indy Lights racer Carmen Jorda just made the field. After a spectacular spin early in the session, the Spaniard ended the session over eight seconds adrift of pole.
2012 GP3 Round of Spa-Francorchamps (Rd 8, Qualifying) Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Mitch Evans MW Arden 2m10.513s 2. Matias Laine MW Arden 2m10.738s + 0.225s 3. Daniel Abt Lotus 2m10.754s + 0.241s 4. Antonio Felix da Costa Carlin 2m10.980s + 0.467s 5. Conor Daly Lotus 2m11.064s + 0.551s 6. Lewis Williamson Status 2m11.320s + 0.807s 7. Aaro Vainio Lotus 2m11.366s + 0.853s 8. Giovanni Venturini Trident 2m11.382s + 0.869s 9. Alex Fontana Jenzer 2m11.397s + 0.884s 10. Tio Ellinas Manor 2m11.501s + 0.988s 11. Marlon Stockinger Status 2m11.541s + 1.028s 12. Patric Niederhauser Jenzer 2m11.637s + 1.124s 13. Vicky Piria Trident 2m11.723s + 1.210s 14. Will Buller Carlin 2m11.742s + 1.229s 15. Kevin Ceccon Ocean 2m11.746s + 1.233s 16. David Fumanelli MW Arden 2m11.804s + 1.291s 17. Alex Brundle Carlin 2m12.224s + 1.711s 18. Robert Visoiu Jenzer 2m12.410s + 1.897s 19. Tamas Pal Kiss Atech CRS 2m12.508s + 1.995s 20. Alice Powell Status 2m12.530s + 2.017s 21. Ethan Ringel Atech CRS 2m12.713s + 2.200s 22. Robert Cregan Ocean 2m12.765s + 2.252s 23. Dmitry Suranovich Manor 2m12.886s + 2.373s 24. Fabiano Machado Manor 2m12.917s + 2.404s 25. John Wartique Atech CRS 2m13.478s + 2.965s 26. Carmen Jorda Ocean 2m18.719s + 8.206s
