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RUSSIAN TIME GP2 Series, Round 4. Austria Qualifying

06/19/2015

RUSSIAN TIME GP2 Series, Round 4. Austria Qualifying

Kiwi Mitch Evans (1:14.861) will start the Red Bull Ring feature GP2 race from 10th on the grid after a difficult qualifying session around the 4.326km circuit set amid stunning scenery in Austria’s Styrian mountains. Russian team mate Artem Markelov (1:14.978), was just over a tenth of a second slower, and will start 15th. Although Evans’ lap was actually 11th quickest on the official time sheet, eighth-placed Jordan King will serve a three-place grid penalty incurred in Monaco.

Evans finished the morning practice session with high hopes of challenging for a front row grid position after lapping quicker than everyone except Rapax driver Sergei Sirotkin. Unfortunately he could not match that performance in the afternoon qualifying session.

A record seventh GP2 pole position was taken by championship leader and McLaren reserve driver Stoffel Vandorne (1:14.174), with ART team mate Nobuharu Matsushita (1:14.263) making it an all ART front row.

The Red Bull Ring is the third shortest track on the F1 schedule and hence lap times are always close, the sweeping circuit containing just nine corners. The grid from Vandorne’s pole to Markelov in 15th place was covered by just 0.8s!

Mitch Evans: “We are scratching our heads a little bit, to be honest. It’s important to get into a rhythm here to put a lap together and the car felt good this morning. It didn’t feel bad in the afternoon but the time wasn’t there and we are trying to work out why. It is sometimes difficult to generate tyre temperature.”

Artem Markelov: “I like the track. With so few corners you have to maximise your braking in the slower section and keep the flow going through the second part of the lap. The closeness of the grid says everything and it could be a very exciting race, although overtaking is tough.”

Svetlana Strelnikova, team principal: “Despite some mechanical problems in earlier rounds, coming to Austria Mitch remains fourth in the championship, behind Vandoorne, Alexander Rossi and Rio Haryanto, and will be looking to make up as many race positions as possible to protect that position. Once again Artem showed his improved 2015 qualifying pace in an incredibly close classification.”




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