Hungaroring – Qualifying
Since the start of the season, Valtteri Bottas (Motopark Academy) has claimed every pole position in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. But things changed at Hungaroring as Daniel Ricciardo (SG Formula) brought home the two first pole positions ahead of team mate Andrea Caldarelli. For the first time, a qualifying session was between drivers who did not qualify in the super pole. It was taken by Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (BVM Minardi).
Group A
The SG Formula drivers stood out in this group as Daniel Ricciardo set the best time of 1'43''709 ahead of team-mate Andrea Caldarelli. Michele Faccin (Jenzer Motorsport) was third for most of the session but was pipped to the post by Patrick Reiterer (Prema Powerteam).
Group B
Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) took control of his group ahead of Richard Campollo (Epsilon Euskadi) and Pal Varhaug (Jenzer Motorsport). Valtteri Bottas soon had the last word with a lap of 1'44''440, taking the lead with ease. At the end of the session, Jean-Éric Vergne (SG Formula) and Roberto Merhi (Epsilon Euskadi) had claimed third and fourth position respectively.
SuperPole
Valtteri Bottas got down to business right away, making his first run before entering the pits to put on new tyres. At this point, only a handful of cars were out on the track. Eight minutes from the end of the session, Daniel Ricciardo went on the offensive. On his first flying lap, the Australian claimed pole position with a time of 1'44''157.
Spurred into action, Bottas struck back, briefly reclaiming the top spot before Ricciardo went one better. Pole position went to the SG Formula driver with a time of 1'43''719. As holder of the second fastest lap, he took pole position for both races.
Andrea Caldarelli turned a few heads at the end of the session. The Italian will be starting alongside his team mate in both races.
In third, Valtteri Bottas had to relinquish his times due to technical non-conformity of his engine's flywheel. He was relegated to the back row of the qualifying race. Jean-Éric Vergne (SG Formula) moved into third position for both start grids, in front of Roberto Merhi for the first race and Tobias Hegewald for the second.
Qualifying race
Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (BVM Minardi Team), who failed to qualify for the SuperPole for the first time this season, claimed the qualifying race. In nineteenth place and last on the start grid, Valtteri Bottas had climbed up to eleventh place at the end of the first lap, before passing his opponents one-by-one to finish second, hot on the heels of the winner! Quaife-Hobbs and Bottas will start both races in twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth position respectively. McKenzie, Butorac and Morgan failed to qualify.
Daniel Ricciardo: «I quickly gained confidence for my first drive on this circuit. The car was going very well from the start. And I beat Valtteri Bottas in qualifying! It's a double victory, as I've got both pole positions!»
Andrea Caldarelli: «I'm a little frustrated, as I was always in a position to get a good result and for one little thing, I'm in second! But on the bright side, we're competitive! I'm hoping to upset the trend in the race.»
- Blanca de Foronda -
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