Luca Filippi storms to GP2 pole at Singapore

Luca Filippi has secured pole position for tomorrow’s final GP2 feature race of the season around the Marina Bay street circuit in Singapore, ahead of the Carlin of Max Chilton. Esteban Gutierrez will start tomorrow’s race from 3rd, whereas Championship contenders Valsecchi and Razia will start from 6th and 9th respectively.

In stark contrast to the conditions during practice earlier in the day, the GP2 qualifying session was run in dry conditions and under the floodlights for the first time in the history of the Series. James Calado once again led the field out as the session got underway, and also set the initial pace with a slow 02:10.475. This time was immediately thwarted by Fabio Onidi, before Calado once again returned to the top with a much quicker lap.

Felipe Nasr then went fastest, with a 02:01.378. The Brazilian is one of only two drivers on the grid who has previous experience of the tricky Marina Bay street circuit. Esteban Gutierrez then stormed to the top as the session progressed, whereas Simon Trummer ran wide at turn 9 and splashed through a puddle in the run-off area.

Championship leader Davide Valsecchi then flew to the top of the timing sheets with a 02:00.287, as his fellow Championship rival of Luiz Razia slotted into 2nd position. Many eyebrows were then raised throughout the GP2 paddock as Jolyon Palmer went fastest on the harder tyre with a 02:00.102. Regardless of Palmer’s pace on the harder of the two tyre compounds, the majority of the pack returned to the track still running the softer tyre compound.

Max Chilton, was was yesterday confirmed as the Marussia F1 reserve driver for the remainder of the season, then went fastest with a 01:59.496. The Briton’s reign at the top was quickly brought to an end by the Coloni of Luca Filippi, who stormed to provisional pole with a 01:59.444. Filippi’s reign at the top was cemented in the closing minutes of the session when the Ocean Racing Technology of Nigel Melker slammed into the wall at turn 18. This immediately brought out the red flag, prematurely ending the qualifying session.

With roughly only one minute of the session remaining, the session was not resumed, thus securing Luca Filippi pole position in only his second race of the season. Championship contenders Davide Valsecchi and Luiz Razia could only manage 6th and 9th respectively, with the Italian driver able to clinch the Championship tomorrow morning regarding he has a competitive race.

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