Brands Hatch - Rounds 15 & 16 – 18 August 2007 - Qualifying.

After dropping to third in the title chase last time out, Ericsson stamped his authority back on the timesheets in two closely fought sessions.

“The first session was very close and I didn’t get the perfect lap but I managed to do enough. This afternoon the car was still very good and I put a much better lap together. I have Kral and Arundel alongside for each round tomorrow which should make for some good races. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Ericsson.

Championship leader Josef Kral (Double R Racing) has been chasing down Ericsson in the table ever since ending in the gravel at Brands Hatch in Round One. The Czech will line up second and third for tomorrow’s races and this time around is looking to take a full set of points.

“It’s extremely close but I think I will be able to go quicker tomorrow,” smiled Kral. “It’s going to be good fun and I’m hoping it will turn out better than last time I was here. I can still win from these positions!”

Henry Arundel (Fortec Motorsport) is poised within striking distance of Ericsson and Kral after qualifying third and second respectively for Rounds 15 and 16, only 0.001s ahead of Kral in Round 16.

Arundel commented, “It’s really exciting having the top three in the Championship up there for both races. Anything can happen tomorrow.”

Henry Surtees (Carlin Motorsport), currently lying fourth in the Championship and second to Ericsson in the Rookie Cup, hopes to make his presence felt starting fourth and sixth. In an extremely close session, he clocked exactly the same time as Jonathan Legris (Motaworld Racing) and Valle Makela (Nexa Racing) who will start fourth and fifth respectively ahead of him for Round 16. All three have notched up wins this season and will be in the running tomorrow with their experience set to help them deal with the predicted wet conditions.
 
“It’s quite frustrating everyone being so close but I just need to pull out a good start tomorrow and push hard all race long,” said Surtees. “I’ve won from seventh on the grid so I’m confident in myself, and whatever weather comes my way I can fight my way up.”

Other drivers making an impression included Doru Sechelariu who joined Fortec Motorsport ahead of this weekend, and claimed 14th and 10th positions in only his second event. Anthony Comas (Carlin Motorsport) put in his best qualifying performance of the year to start sixth and eighth for each of tomorrow’s races.

In what seemed a fitting end to both qualifying sessions, the top three title runners claimed the top three spots for both races. Tomorrow’s rounds promise to be thrilling as the title fight looks set to go down to the wire.

Results – Qualifying Round 15.

Pos Driver Nat Team  Time
1. Marcus Ericsson  SWE (Fortec Motorsport)  R  46.999
2. Josef Kral CZ (Double R Racing)               47.018
3. Henry Arundel GB (Fortec Motorsport)              47.083
4. Henry Surtees  GB (Carlin Motorsport)  R  47.160
5. Valle Makela SF (Nexa Racing)  47.198
6. Anthony Comas F (Victory Engineering)  47.314
7. Kimiya Sato  J (Nexa Racing)  47.408
8. Oliver Webb  GB (Carlin Motorsport)  R  47.413
9. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs GB (Fortec Motorsport) R 47.416
10. Jonathan Legris GB (Motaworld Racing)   47.422
11. Sam Abay AUS (Team Loctite)  47.476
12. Jordan Williams GB (Team Loctite)  47.553
13. Daniel McKenzie GB (Fortec Motorsport)  47.651
14. Doru Sechelariu ROM (Fortec Motorsport)  47.668
15. Carlos Huertas  COL (Double R Racing)  R  47.677
16. Michael Moyers GB (Hyperion Motorsport)  47.770
17. Tom Gladdis  GB (Team BRD)  R 47.908
18. Rupert Svendsen-Cook GB (Team Loctite)  R 47.914
19. Matt Bell GB (Motaworld Racing) R 47.978
20. Callum Holland GB (Nexa Racing) R 48.030
21. Adam Butler GB (Team BRD) R 48.404

Results – Qualifying Round 16.

Pos Driver Nat Team  Time
1. Marcus Ericsson  SWE (Fortec Motorsport)  R  47.181
2. Henry Arundel GB (Fortec Motorsport)              47.334
3. Josef Kral CZ (Double R Racing)               47.335
4. Jonathan Legris GB (Motaworld Racing)   47.406
5. Valle Makela SF (Nexa Racing)  47.406
6. Henry Surtees  GB (Carlin Motorsport)  R  47.406
7. Kimiya Sato  J (Nexa Racing)  47.534
8. Anthony Comas F (Victory Engineering)  47.647
9. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs GB (Fortec Motorsport) R 47.664
10. Doru Sechelariu ROM (Fortec Motorsport)  47.714
11. Michael Moyers GB (Hyperion Motorsport)  47.733
12. Oliver Webb  GB (Carlin Motorsport)  R  47.747
13. Sam Abay AUS (Team Loctite)  47.747
14. Carlos Huertas  COL (Double R Racing)  R  47.858
15. Daniel McKenzie GB (Fortec Motorsport)  47.859
16. Jordan Williams GB (Team Loctite)  47.943
17. Tom Gladdis  GB (Team BRD)  R 48.077
18. Rupert Svendsen-Cook GB (Team Loctite)  R 48.094
19. Adam Butler GB (Team BRD) R 48.297
20. Matt Bell GB (Motaworld Racing) R 48.400
21. Callum Holland GB (Nexa Racing) R 48.720
 
R indicates driver eligible for Rookie Cup

Championship Points Tables.

Drivers
1. Kral (6 wins) 503, 2. Arundel 494 (1 win), 3. Ericsson (3 wins) 492, 4. Surtees 421 (1 win), 5. Sato (1 win) 394, 6. Makela (1 win) 390, 7. Legris 348 (1 win), 8. Abay 333, 9. Quiafe-Hobbs 315, 10. McKenzie 308..

Rookies
1. Ericsson 492, 2. Surtees 421, 3. Quaife-Hobbs 315, 4. Webb 294, 5. Huertas 290, 6. Gladdis 206, 7. Svendsen-Cook 158, 8. Holland 76, 9. Butler 60, 10. Bell 30.

Teams
1. Fortec Motorsport 1038, 2. Double R Racing 796, 3. Nexa Racing 796, 4. Carlin Motorsport 714, 5. Team Loctite 604, 6.  Motaworld Racing 438, 7. Victory Engineering 160, 8. Team BRD 118, 9. Hyperion Motorsport 32.