DAMS driver over two tenths clear as Hockenheim temperatures soar
Friday 18 July 2014 18:13, UK
Championship leader Jolyon Palmer eased to a dominant GP2 pole position in Germany at a sweltering Hockenheim.
The DAMS driver maintained his remarkable record of never qualifying lower than second this season thanks to a great lap at the very start of the session, giving him the luxury of not having to take part in the frantic final ten minute scramble of fresh tyres.
The four points of pole sees Palmer extend his championship lead to 42 points, and with Felipe Nasr only fifth quickest and Johnny Cecotto in seventh, the Briton has a great opportunity to widen that gap in Saturday’s Feature Race.
Given how competitive the GP2 field is – just 0.039 separated the top four in qualifying at Silverstone – the fact that Stoffel Vandoorne was the only man able to get within three tenths of Palmer shows how outstanding the DAMS man’s lap was.
Stefano Coletti equalled his best qualifying performance of the season to take third, with Caterham newbie Tom Dillmann taking fourth with his final effort in the 30 minute session. Felipe Nasr could perhaps have been higher than fifth, but blew his final flying lap by running wide at the first turn.
Numerous drivers throughout the rest field are likely to face post-session penalties for blocking infringements after traffic proved to be a major issue. Ferrari protégé Raffaele Marciellio was one to be notably affected and had two laps ruined in the final sector which would have seen him improve on his eighth place position.
The Feature Race takes place following F1 qualifying on Saturday and marks the 200th race in GP2 history. You can see the action live on Sky Sports F1 from 2:35pm.
GP2 Qualifying – Germany
1) Jolyon Palmer (GBR) – DAMS – 1:23.383
2) Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL) – ART Grand Prix - +0.282
3) Stefano Coletti (MON) – Racing Engineering - +0.339
4) Tom Dillmann (FRA) – Caterham Racing - +0.393
5) Felipe Nasr (BRA) – Carlin - +0.398
6) Arthur Pic (FRA) – Campos Racing - +0.476
7) Johnny Cecotto (VEN) – Trident - +0.477
8) Raffaele Marciello (ITA) – Racing Engineering - +0.535
9) Alexander Rossi (USA) – Campos Racing - +0.582
10) Simon Trummer (SUI) – Rapax - +0.600
Selected others
19) Jon Lancaster (GBR) – Hilmer Motorsport - +1.070
23) Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (GBR) – Rapax - +1.207
