Oulton Park: Series qualifying report

CHILTON AND GRUBMULLER SET THE PACE AT OULTON PARK

Max Chilton and Walter Grubmuller were the men to beat at Oulton Park today (Sat), Carlin Motorsport driver Chilton claiming pole position for Monday's opening round of the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series and Hitech Racing's Grubmuller ending the second session on top of the timesheets.

In qualifying 1, young Brit Chilton pipped his Australian team-mate Daniel Ricciardo to the pole by nearly three-tenths of a second in the closing moments of the session to establish a Dallara-Volkswagen 1-2. "I was surprised," said Max, who turns 18 later this month. "I knew it was a good lap, but I didn't realise until I saw the time that it had been that quick and that it was good enough for pole. I'm very pleased of course; it's a great start to my season."

Ricciardo ended the session just ahead of another Oulton Park and British F3 debutant, Daisuke Nakajima, the Japanese driver impressing with his unheralded pace in the Raikkonen Robertson Dallara and taking third on the grid and the honour of top Mercedes-powered runner. Nick Tandy's Mygale-Mercedes was fourth fastest. Less than a second covered the top nine.

The leading National Class runner was Fortec's Daniel McKenzie. Victor Correa's Litespeed SLC was third fastest in the National Class despite a session-ending off at the chicane.

Austrian veteran Walter Grubmuller earned his maiden F3 pole position this afternoon at Oulton, the Hitech Racing pilot setting the fastest time in the day's second qualifying session.

Grubmuller, 20, will start Monday afternoon's championship Round 2 from top spot, with Ricciardo alongside him. F3 newcomer Riki Christodoulou will line up third on the grid in his Fortec-prepared Dallara-Mercedes, with Tandy top Brit in his Mygale in fourth. Round 1 pole-sitter Chilton could not repeat his form and will start fifth.

T-Sport's Gabriel Dias emerged the quickest of the National Class runners on this occasion.

-credit: bf3