Luca Ghiotto took a surprise pole position in his debut outing in the GP3 Series this year.
The Italian teenager secured the top spot in his first outing in wet-to-dry conditions at the Francorchamps circuit.
Ghiotto took pole by three-tenths from Carlin’s Emil Bernstorff, while Jimmy Eriksson (Carlin) rounded out the top-three.
Berstorff maintained the top spot for a sizeable portion of the session; however Ghiotto’s late effort demoted the Briton to the outside of the front row.
Richie Stanaway will take 4th, having fallen two-tenths shy of row two stablemate Eriksson. Points leader Alex Lynn was at the front of the pack during the initial runner, but he fell back to 5th as the times came down slightly.
Patrick Kujala completed the third row, while Marvin Kirchhöfer led the ART Grand Prix charge. The German lost time when, like his teammates, the ART squad sent their drivers out on slicks on a track which was not quite ready.
Carmen Jorda did not set a lap – the Colombian spun off earlier in the session and became beached in the gravel before she had an opportunity to register a time.
2014 GP3 Series Round of Belgium (Qualifying) Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Luca Ghiotto Trident 2m22.251s 2. Emil Bernstorff Carlin 2m22.584s +0.333s 3. Jimmy Eriksson Koiranen 2m22.678s +0.427s 4. Richie Stanaway Status 2m22.862s +0.611s 5. Alex Lynn Carlin 2m23.081s +0.830s 6. Patrick Kujala Manor 2m23.303s +1.052s 7. Marvin Kirchhofer ART 2m23.413s +1.162s 8. Patric Niederhauser Arden 2m23.438s +1.187s 9. Matheo Tuscher Jenzer 2m23.481s +1.230s 10. Dino Zamparelli ART 2m23.565s +1.314s 11. Dean Stoneman Manor 2m23.586s +1.335s 12. Jann Mardenborough Arden 2m23.794s +1.543s 13. Nick Yelloly Status 2m23.920s +1.669s 14. Robert Visoiu Arden 2m23.996s +1.745s 15. Kevin Ceccon Jenzer 2m24.057s +1.806s 16. Alex Fontana ART 2m24.248s +1.997s 17. Sebastian Balthasar Hilmer 2m24.464s +2.213s 18. Santiago Urrutia Koiranen 2m24.687s +2.436s 19. Nelson Mason Hilmer 2m24.846s +2.595s 20. Luis Sa Silva Carlin 2m24.862s +2.611s 21. Pal Varhaug Jenzer 2m25.301s +3.050s 22. Alfonso Celis Status 2m25.553s +3.302s 23. Riccardo Agostini Hilmer 2m25.965s +3.714s 24. John Bryant-Meisner Trident 2m25.969s +3.718s 25. Ryan Cullen Manor 2m26.537s +4.286s
