The two main Auto GP World Series championship contenders locked out the front row at Imola, but it was second placed Markus Pommer who took his third consecutive series pole position ahead of point’s leader Kimiya Sato.
Super Nova International driver Pommer set a best lap time of 1:31.401s to defeat Euronova Racing’s Sato by 0.470s around the former Formula 1 venue. Series returnee Pal Varhaug, who finished second in the 2012 championship behind Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, will line-up on the grid for this afternoons opening race of the weekend in third for Virtuosi UK.
Kevin Giovesi was the leading Italian driver in fourth for Eurotech Engineering, with a second Italian fifth in the form of Andrea Roda of Virtuosi UK. Tamas Pal Kiss was sixth in the leading Zele Racing entry, ahead of Michela Cerruti of Super Nova International.
Swiss driver Christof von Grunigen was eighth fastest for Zele Racing, while 2013 series champion Vittorio Ghirelli ended up ninth for Eurotech Engineering. The top ten was rounded out by the third Super Nova International entry of Francesco Dracone.
Three drivers were eliminated after the first part of the two-part qualifying session, with Gentleman drivers Michele La Rosa (MLR71 by Euronova), Giuseppe Cipriani (Ibiza Racing Team) and Salvatore de Plano (Euronova Racing) being the unlucky drivers.
Imola Race 1 Qualifying Result
POS | DRIVER | NAT | TEAM | TIME |
1 | Markus Pommer | GER | Super Nova International | 1:31.401 |
2 | Kimiya Sato | JAP | Euronova Racing | 1:31.871 |
3 | Pal Varhaug | NOR | Virtuosi UK | 1:31.897 |
4 | Kevin Giovesi | ITA | Eurotech Engineering | 1:32.013 |
5 | Andrea Roda | ITA | Virtuosi UK | 1:32.139 |
6 | Tamas Pal Kiss | HUN | Zele Racing | 1:32.220 |
7 | Michela Cerruti | ITA | Super Nova International | 1:32.748 |
8 | Christof von Grunigen | SWI | Zele Racing | 1:33.201 |
9 | Vittorio Ghirelli | ITA | Eurotech Engineering | 1:33.344 |
10 | Francesco Dracone | ITA | Super Nova International | 1:34.125 |
Eliminated in Session One |
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11 | Michele La Rosa | ITA | MLR71 by Euronova | 1:34.490 |
12 | Giuseppe Cipriani | ITA | Ibiza Racing Team | 1:34.946 |
13 | Salvatore de Plano | ITA | Euronova Racing | 1:39.718 |