Florescu heads a Carlin 1-2-3 in MSA Formula qualifying

Carlin’s Petru Florescu took his maiden pole position in Ford MSA Formula today in the first qualifying session of the season.  Florescu fought off team mates James Pull and Max Fewtrell who made it a Carlin 1-2-3 qualifying order.  Devlin DeFrancesco was also mixing it at the top of the timing screens, but was seventh at the chequered flag.

As the first qualifying session of the season got underway this morning at a sunny Brands Hatch circuit, it was DeFrancesco who was quickest out of the blocks.  The Canadian born racer was quick from the outset, going first in the early minutes of the session.

As the times tumbled quickly around the short Brands Hatch Indy circuit, there was little to separate the front runners.  Fewtrell started to pick up the pace and posted the second quickest time behind Jamie Caroline, with just 0.002 separating the pair.  Fewtrell improved next time round though, going fastest of all.

As many drivers pitted for new tyres, Florescu made the most of a quieter track to show his potential.  The Romanian racer went fastest, only to be bettered a few seconds later by team mate Pull while Fewtrell was fourth and DeFrancesco seventh.

With four minutes remaining Florescu snatched back provisional pole with Pull still second, Fewtrell fifth and DeFrancesco ninth.  Rookies Fewtrell and DeFrancesco made the most of the final minutes to make improvements, with Fewtrell making it a Carlin 1-2-3 and DeFrancesco improving to seventh.  Just 0.035 seconds separated Florescu, Pull and Fewtrell in the final standings.

Speaking about his pole position Florescu said, “I’m really happy.  I had a strategy for qualifying, so I just kept calm and concentrated on that.  I made the most of a quieter track to push hard with no traffic.  It’s very competitive at the front, but we have the best starting position.”

With drivers’ quickest laps setting the grid for race one, their second fastest laps set the grid for race three tomorrow.  Florescu consequently starts on pole for both race one and three, with Pull starting race three from third, just ahead of Fewtrell in fourth and DeFrancesco seventh.