12 July 2014
Carlos Sainz makes it pole number six
Following his mixed weekend in Russia, Formula Renault 3.5 Series championship leader Carlos Sainz (DAMS) scored his sixth pole of the season at the Nürburgring on Saturday. The Spanish driver led the way from Fortec Motorsports duo Oliver Rowland and Sergey Sirotkin, with Roberto Merhi (Zeta Corse) and Marlon Stockinger (Lotus) completing the top five.
Cut short by five minutes because of heavy fog at the Nürburgring, the day’s qualifying session began with Pietro Fantin (International Draco Racing) setting the pace before Pierre Gasly (Arden Motorsport), Oliver Rowland, Roberto Merhi and Sergey Sirotkin traded fastest laps, with the Russian ending the exchange atop the timesheets .
Pietro Fantin came out fastest after the drivers had pitted to bolt on fresh tyres, only for Oscar Tunjo (Pons Racing) to dislodge him as the end of the session neared. Yet it was Carlos Sainz who took the morning’s honours with a final lap of 1:40.820, the points leader heading the grid from Fortec Motorsports pair Oliver Rowland and Sergey Sirotkin.
The opening Formula Renault 3.5 Series race of the Nürburgring weekend starts at 12.35.
