Jenzer Motorsport's Fabio Leimer clinched his first Formula Master pole in today's qualifying session at the Circuito do Estoril in Portugal for round seven of the Series.
The 19-year-old Swiss posted the 30-minute session's fastest lap in 1:32.335, ahead of Iris Project's Michael Ammermüller who claimed second place with a best time of 1:32.474.
Ammermüller secured P2 with five minutes to go although a strong lap later on in the session could have seen the German move up to pole had he not spun at turn nine.
Driver Classification leader Chris van der Drift clinched third place for JD Motorsport with a best time of 1:32.528. The New Zealand-born Dutchman was fastest for most of the session until Leimer and Ammermüller bettered their times.
Fellow race winner Trident Racing's Harald Schlegelmilch will start tomorrow race in fourth place, alongside van der Drift, after completing a fastest lap of 1:32.979.
Cram Competition's Arturo Llobell secured fifth place with a best time of 1:32.986, whilst Tim Sandtler claimed his best qualifying position of the season with a lap of 1:33.032, good enough for sixth place.
Kasper Andersen secured seventh place with his best lap of 1:33.116 for Trident Racing, ahead of ADM Motorsport's Norbert Siedler whose 1:33.138 time completes the top eight.
Team-mate Davide Rigon secured P13 for his first Formula Master qualifying with a best lap of 1:33.434, whilst 16-year-old newcomer Tomas Pivoda completed his best lap in 1:36.527 for Euronova Racing.
With only four points separating van der Drift and Ammermüller, tomorrow's race could prove decisive for the Drivers Classification.
Eurosport's coverage for Formula Master's race weekend in Portugal, will begin Saturday 12 July with race one shown live at 13:00 (CET) on Eurosport International and Asia Pacific. Sunday's race two will be broadcast live on Eurosport 2 and Asia Pacific at 16:30 (CET).
Fabio Leimer, Jenzer Motorsport
"I'm very lucky to have pole and hope to win my first race tomorrow. I have had good speed the whole year but have yet to make a victory. The important thing is to make a very good start so Ammermüller and van der Drift can't overtake in the first corner. Here I think it is very important to get pole as it is hard to overtake on the straight. I need to make it a pole to podium win."
Michael Ammermüller, Iris Project
"Qualifying in P2 is not so bad. The leader of the championship is behind so hopefully I can gain points and decrease the gap; everyone is very close. The track is not so easy to overtake; the problem will be the start. On my quickest lap I spun but it is nice to know that I am second on the grid but can still go quicker."
Chris van der Drift, JD Motorsport
"The first half of qualifying was good for me, I set the fastest time but my best two laps in the later part of the session were hindered by traffic. I was able to set competitive times in the next two laps but it wasn't good enough. I'm happy for Leimer though, and we'll have to see in the race tomorrow if I can overtake him and Ammermüller!"
Formula Master - Estoril Qualifying (Round 7)
1. Fabio Leimer (SUI), Jenzer Motorsport (#23), 1:32.335
2. Michael Ammermüller (GER), Iris Project (#27), 1:32.474
3. Chris van der Drift (NED), JD Motorsport (#6), 1:32.528
4. Harald Schlegelmilch (LAT), Trident Racing (#31), 1:32.979
5. Arturo Llobell (ESP), Cram Competition (#1), 1:32.986
6. Tim Sandtler (GER), ISR (#19), 1:33.032
7. Kasper Andersen (DEN), Trident Racing (#32), 1:33.116
8. Norbert Siedler (AUT), ADM Motorsport (#17), 1:33.138
9. Vladimir Arabadzhiev (BUL), JD Motorsport (#4), 1:33.251
10. Filip Salaquarda (CZH), ISR (#18), 1:33.253
11. Josef Kral (CZH), Team JVA (#29), 1:33.376
12. Daniel Mancinelli (ITA), Euronova Racing (#46), 1:33.430
13. Davide Rigon (ITA), ADM Motorsport (#7), 1:33.434
14. Sergey Afanasiev (RUS), JD Motorsport (#5), 1:33.443
15. Alejandro Núñez (ESP), Trident Racing (#33), 1:33.612
16. Pablo Sanchez Lopez (MEX), Cram Competition (#2), 1:33.631
17. Luca Persiani (ITA), Scuderia Famà (#25), 1:33.665
18. Yuhi Sekiguchi (JAP), Euronova Racing (#45), 1:33.708
19. Matei Mihaescu (ROM), Jenzer Motorsport (#24), 1:33.710
20. Marcello Puglisi (ITA), Pro Motorsport (#9), 1:33.814
21. Michele Caliendo (ITA), ADM Motorsport (#22), 1:34.045
22. Frankie Provenzano (ITA), Scuderia Famà (#21), 1:34.079
23. Tor Graves (GBR), Team JVA (#30), 1:35.645
24. Tomas Pivoda (CZH), Euronova Racing (#35), 1:36.527
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- RSM -
