GP2 news
D'Ambrosio on pole for first time
03 April 2009 / PhotosJérôme d'Ambrosio has claimed an impressive first pole position for the DAMS team at Sepang. The Belgian driver lines up on the best side of the front row with a lap time of 1.45.410 alongside his name, as top twenty cars were compressed within one second of each other. The Belgian's pole position promotes him to fifth in the drivers' championship thanks two his bonus points.
Raindrops fell onto the Sepang International Circuit ten minutes before the start of this afternoon's qualifying session. As the lights went green, only half of the cars chose to test the grip of the track, mainly equipped in wet tyres. While Championship leader Kamui Kobayashi stayed put in the pitlane, his teammate d'Ambrosio went into a reconnaissance lap in slick tyres. Those who chose the wet tyres option rapidly came back to the pits in order to change to slick compounds.
The first man who posted a significant laptime was Diego Nunes at Piquet GP in a 1:46.940, ten minutes into the session. A battle for the pole position ensued between the two Dams men, the two Piquet racers, Durango's Davide Valsecchi and a flying James Jakes at the wheel of his Super Nova machine.
But it was Jérôme d'Ambrosio that eventually set camp at the top of the timing sheet only to be dethroned for just a few minutes by Nunes. In the very last stages of the session, Jérôme d'Ambrosio went on a flyer and crossed the finish line in a 1:45.410. Winner of last year's Malaysian sprint race, Kamui Kobayashi set his best laptime in his very last attempt, but will start fourth tomorrow.
Behind the Belgian, the battle for second place was full on between Nunes and Jakes, but the Brazilian from Piquet GP eventually landed with tomorrow's front row position while the Brit finished with a satisfying third position. In fifth place, Javier Villa in the second Super Nova car keeps up with his good form displayed last week in Barcelona's test.
Impressive in Losail last round, today was another story for the Barwa squad: sixth in the session, Vitaly Petrov salvaged a disappointing qualifying result from teammate Sergio Perez, eighteenth. Behind the Russian, Davide Valsecchi at Durango keeps his title hopes alive with a seventh position, ahead of ART's Pastor Maldonado, Roldan Rodriguez on the second Piquet car and Alvaro Parente driving for local heroes Qi-Meritus.
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