Switzerland’s Fabio Leimer has clinched pole position for the first GP2 Final, which takes place in Abu Dhabi this weekend. The Racing Engineering driver will share the front row with Rapax man Dani Clos, with leading Briton Jolyon Palmer fifth for Addax.
Second in practice, Leimer moved ahead in qualifying with a best lap time of 1:49.363. However, this only came after a spin at the notorious Turn 19 from which he escaped without damage. Clos managed to grab second, despite being two tenths of a second slower. The pole man was helped by a late red flag with only three and a half minutes remaining, preventing anybody from improving their times in the last knockings.
"Everything went really perfect," said pole winner Leimer. "We had already seen we were quick during free practice and that everything would be possible in qualifying. I also knew that I myself could still go quicker.
"In qualifying, everything fell into place and I would like to pass a big thank you on to the team as they gave me a really, really good car. I am really happy, as it was actually my last possible lap when I set the fastest time. Now we will see what's possible for tomorrow's race, but I am really, really happy."
Czech Josef Kral and Brazilian Luiz Razia will set off from the second row, with the aforementioned Palmer and Max Chilton making it an all-British Row 3. The top ten is completed by Stefano Coletti on the Monegasque’s first GP2 weekend since crashing at Spa and coming perilously close to facing paralysis.
The first GP2 race of the weekend starts at 11am local time (GMT +4) on Saturday
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