Eng on pole-position for second race

Date published : 17 Apr 2010 - 17:43:00

Formula 2 news Eng on pole-position for second race17 April 2010 / Results / PhotosPhilipp Eng set the quickest time in qualifying two at Silverstone this afternoon (Saturday) and will start tomorrow's second F2 race from pole position. Provisional pole position changed hands no few than five times in the final twelve minutes as Sergey Afanasiev, Johan Jokinen and Jolyon Palmer were amongst those to have set a benchmark time at one stage. The session took the familiar theme of drivers using worn tyres for the first half of the session, before switching to new rubber for a final stages shootout. With five minutes remaining Jack Clarke led from Johan Jokinen and Tom Gladdis, but it seemed the trio had used their fresh tyres too early. With the circuit improving with every lap, Eng quickly moved into second and jumped up to first soon after. Palmer made a mistake and ruined his overboost enabled lap, but with no extra power to call upon the Englishman still impressively managed to take second shortly after. Dean Stoneman was the only runner left on circuit to have a realistic chance of stealing pole, and everything was on course when the 19-year-old set the fastest first sector overall on his final lap. He followed that up with a personal best in sector two, but with pole seemingly at his mercy Stoneman locked up going into Abbey and could only take third at the finish. Behind Eng, Palmer and Stoneman was the impressive Jack Clarke who enjoyed his best qualifying session in F2. The ex-Formula Palmer Audi driver has shown much improved pace during pre-season testing and the 22-year-old will be pleased to have backed that up in qualifying. Johan Jokinen and Tom Gladdis complete the line-up for row three, ahead of Will Bratt and early pacesetter Sergey Afanasiev. Lithuanian star Kazim Vasiliauskas could only manage ninth as he continues to acclimatise to the upgraded Williams JPH1B F2 car, whilst Will Bratt completed the top ten order.