19 October 2014
Oliver Rowland takes final pole of the year
Formula Renault 3.5 Series – Qualifying 2: Handed a two-place penalty for obstructing another driver in Sunday’s qualifying session, Roberto Merhi (Zeta Corse) relinquished pole for the afternoon’s Formula Renault 3.5 Series race at the Circuito de Jerez to Oliver Rowland (Fortec Motorsports). The British driver will now head the grid from rookie Pierre Gasly (Arden Motorsport), with fellow FR 3.5 newcomers Merhi and Nicholas Latifi (Tech 1 Racing) making up the second row.
Carlos Sainz (DAMS) was the first man to set a benchmark time, which was promptly bettered by Jazeman Jaafar (ISR), Meindert van Buuren (Pons Racing) and then Zoel Amberg (AVF). Though the newly crowned 2014 champion hit back, it was Oliver Rowland who was sitting on top of the timesheets when the field came in for new tyres.
The British driver set an even faster pace when he emerged from the pits, but had no answer when Roberto Merhi took charge with a time of 1:27.525. The Spaniard ended the session on top from co-rookies Oliver Rowland, Pierre Gasly and Nicholas Latifi, with William Buller rounding off the top five. Following his penalty for causing an obstruction, however, Roberto Merhi will start third on the grid, with Oliver Rowland taking over in pole.
The final race of the tenth season of Formula Renault 3.5 Series starts at 13.45.
