Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Alex Dunne claimed pole position in a frantic qualifying session at Zandvoort this morning (Saturday).
The Irishman left it late in the twice red-flagged session, setting a time of 1m30.197s in vastly improved conditions compared to yesterday, to eclipse Elite Motorsport’s McKenzy Cresswell by 0.154s. Cresswell had held top spot late on, but has consolation in the form of race two pole, courtesy of topping the time sheets for second fastest times.
Arden VRD’s Nico Christodoulou was third quickest and 0.082s further back from Cresswell, while JHR’s championship contender Joseph Loake was fourth having topped the times for much of the session.
Hitech Pulse-Eight's Souta Arao enjoyed by far his best qualifying result since the Oulton Park season opener with the fifth fastest time, and within half a second of pole.
JHR's Matthew Rees was sixth quickest, 0.022s away from Arao and just under a tenth clear of Arden VRD's James Hedley, with Fortec's Jarrod Waberski next up.
Tymek Kucharczyk (Douglas) and championship leader Callum Voisin (Rodin Carlin) completed the top-10, which was covered by just over three quarters of a second.
The title challengers will fancy their chances of making inroads into Voisin's advantage at the top of the standings, as the British Swiss driver encountered his most difficult session of the season, he was involved in a collision with Michael Shin early on, which brought out the first red flag. While both drivers were able to return back to the pits, Voisin had to deal with floor damage for the remainder of the session, hampering his pace.
The second red flag was caused by a tap into the barriers in sector two for Douglas Motorsport's Shawn Rashid, who carries a five place grid penalty into the meeting courtesy of his race three incident at Brands Hatch.
On the second fastest times, Cresswell was 0.130s clear of Dunne, with the pair swapping places on the front row for the second contest, and Christodoulou third again.
Hedley, Loake and Arao complete the top-six, with Waberski, Kucharczyk, Voisin and Oliver Stewart (Elite) forming the top-10.
The first race of the weekend is due to commence at 11.40 local time.
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Zandvoort qualifying provisional result:
1. Alex Dunne, Hitech Pulse-Eight, 1m30.197s
2. McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport, +0.154s
3. Nico Christodoulou, Arden VRD, +0.236s
4. Joseph Loake, JHR Developments, +0.277s
5. Souta Arao, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.445s
6. Matthew Rees, JHR Developments, +0.467s
7. James Hedley, Arden VRD, +0.549s
8. Jarrod Waberski, Fortec Motorsport, +0.628s
9. Tymek Kucharczyk, Douglas Motorsport, +0.721s
10. Callum Voisin, Rodin Carlin, +0.768s
11. Oliver Stewart, Elite Motorsport, +0.873s
12. Zak Taylor, Chris Dittmann Racing, +0.938s
13. John Bennett, Rodin Carlin, +1.064s
14. Max Esterson, Fortec Motorsport, +1.066s
15. Arthur Rogeon, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.066s
16. David Morales, JHR Developments, +1.099s
17. Edward Pearson, Fortec Motorsport, +1.138s
18. Costa Toparis, Rodin Carlin, +1.210s
19. Noah Ping, Arden VRD, +1.297s
20. Michael Shin, Rodin Carlin, +1.305s
21. Gerrard Xie, Hillspeed, +1.393s
22. Jack Sherwood, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.719s
23. Daniel Mavlyutov, Hillspeed, +1.755s
24. Shawn Rashid, Douglas Motorsport, +2.058s
25. Patrick Heuzenroeder, Elite Motorsport, +2.367s
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Zandvoort qualifying second fastest result:
1. McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport, 1m30.473s
2. Alex Dunne, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.130s
3. Nico Christodoulou, Arden VRD, +0.242s
4. James Hedley, Arden VRD, +0.312s
5. Joseph Loake, JHR Developments, +0.327s
6. Souta Arao, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.327s
7. Jarrod Waberski, Fortec Motorsport, +0.502s
8. Tymek Kucharczyk, Douglas Motorsport, +0.528s
9. Callum Voisin, Rodin Carlin, +0.566s
10. Oliver Stewart, Elite Motorsport, +0.613s
11. Matthew Rees, JHR Developments, +0.704s
12. Zak Taylor, Chris Dittmann Racing, +0.720s
13. David Morales, JHR Developments, +0.882s
14. Max Esterson, Fortec Motorsport, +0.893s
15. Edward Pearson, Fortec Motorsport, +0.895s
16. John Bennett, Rodin Carlin, +0.919s
17. Costa Toparis, Rodin Carlin, +0.939s
18. Noah Ping, Arden VRD, +1.189s
19. Gerrard Xie, Hillspeed, +1.311s
20. Arthur Rogeon, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.405s
21. Michael Shin, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +1.440s
22. Jack Sherwood, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.718s
23. Daniel Mavlyutov, Hillspeed, +2.132s
24. Shawn Rashid, Douglas Motorsport, +2.175s
25. Patrick Heuzenroeder, Elite Motorsport, +2.211s