Formula Renault 2.0
When the Group A drivers took to the track the question was - slicks or grooved tyres? Slicks proved to be the answer. Stoffel Vandoorne was on the pace straight away and kept on improving his times with Esteban Ocon and Ed Jones a little further back.
Vandoorne’s 2m 10.891s proved unbeatable while Jones was second quickest from Guilherme Silva.
Daniil Kvyat set the pace in Group B and beating Vandoorne’s time was his aim. The track was quicker so the drivers improved. Javier Tarancon, Kvyat, Paul-Loup Chatin, Nyck de Vries and Pierre Gasly were at it hammer and tongs for pole.
The final lap proved decisive. Mikko Pakari thought he’d snatched pole at the flag, his first in the FR 2.0 Eurocup, in 2m 02.233s. Shortly afterwards his time was cancelled because he did not respect the track limits. So pole went to Tarancon from Kvyat.
Stoffel Vandoorne: “Going out on slicks wasn’t an easy decision to take. I looked at the track and I took the decision just before leaving the pits. It was important to go out on slicks straight away as I was able to get them up to the right working temperature and find my marks. My main aim in qualifying was to be in front of Daniil Kvyat. But I have to do the same thing in the race to score more points than him.”
Official Renault Sport Press Release.