R-ace GP will lock out the front row with Max Defourny on pole position with a time of 1min 58.267. The Belgian driver benefitted from Henrique Chaves‘ personal best time being deleted due to the Mexican running over track limits.
It was another damp and dreary Silverstone that welcomed the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 drivers as group one eased themselves onto the circuit.
It wasn’t long before championship leader Will Palmer took the initiative, setting the benchmark as Robert Shwartzman looked to challenge his team-mate. Shwartzman though would fall just short as Palmer kept the field honest, setting the top time for Group 1.
This would leave Defourny, Max Fewtrell and Chaves as the favourites going into the second group. All three had performed adamantly during practice, with Defourny the man to beat.
It would be Sacha Fenestraz who took first blood though, going quickest as the clock counted down. His time wasn’t enough to beat Palmer’s benchmark though and the Brit looked to have pole locked out as Luis Leeds ran off at Corpse, bringing out the Full Course Yellow.
With only a few minutes left to run, Defourny and Chaves finally showed their hand, with the Mexican topping the timesheet and beating Palmer’s lap. Sadly, his run was disallowed due to track limits, with Defourny inheriting the pole.
Defourny and Palmer will lock out the front row as Chaves is forced to settle for third alongside Shwartzman. Behind them, Fewtrell and Alex Peroni were best of the rest in their respective groups.
Elsewhere, Axel Matus and Richard Verschoor will be hoping to make up for a mediocre Monza weekend. Finally, rounding out the top ten will be Fenestraz, who dropped down in the closing stages and fellow countryman Gabriel Aubry.