EU 2000: Magny-Cours Friday qualifying notes

Clairay and Pagenaud Safe at Home

Qualifying 1. (Bright, dry track.) Another marvellous show from the Renault Formula 2000 drivers. The Eurocup field is truly one of the most exciting out there, and the battle raged hard over the Magny-Cours circuit's 4.411 km, with the French drivers putting in star performances for their home round. Clairay (SG Formula) starts race 1 in pole ahead of Pilet (Graff Racing). And it would seem last winter's testing at this track is paying off for the US drivers, with Fleming (Jenzer Motorsport) and Speed (Motorpark Academy) starting in 3rd and 4th on row two in front of Pagenaud (Graff racing) Olivier (Green Team) and Moreau (SG Formula).

But officially establishing these results actually took longer than the session itself! The track stewards were determined in their observations that 14 drivers drove over the rumble strips, a strict no-no in the eyes of the race director. The result: the 14 drivers had their fastest times discounted and Duran, Cinti, Claessens and Maldonado were left to plead their case in front of the stewards to take part in the race.

Elsewhere, it was a lucky escape for Olivier, who sent his car into a roll during the session, the driver thankfully escaping shaken but unhurt. Qualifying 2 (Cloudy and wet). It was a wet start to the second FR 2000 qualifying session, but the rain would stop before the cars. The top names were in evidence again, as Pagenaud (Graff racing) took another pole position to add to the one he claimed at Valencia. Beside him on the front row for race 2 will be Kofler (JD Motorsport), with some very dangerous challengers right behind them: Speed (Motopark Academy) showed his ability to focus, while Meijer (ARMotorsport) continues to rank high on the grid. For the second race of the weekend, current championship leader Maldonado (Cram Competition) starts in 10th position, with Moreau (SG Formula) back in 14th.

-frenualt-