He had never seen the track before Thursday, but that didn’t stop John Martin claiming second place on the grid for Race 1 of Superleague Formula at Adria, Italy.
The 26-year-old Queenslander was quick to find his rhythm in the two practice sessions aboard the Alan Docking Racing (ADR) prepared Beijing Guoan FC machine at the twisty 2.702km venue which features 13 turns. Martin topped the 10-minute Group A Qualifying session with a time of 1m06.453s, a comfortable 0.117s quicker than FC Basel’s Max Wissel, while Alvaro Parente (FC Porto) and AC Milan’s Yelmer Buurman also advanced to the knockout qualifying stage.
A scant 0.492s covered the top six cars in Group A; however Group B was somewhat less competitive. RSC Anderlecht’s Davide Rigon was fastest in 1m06.128s, from Julien Jousse (AS Roma) by 0.344s, with series newcomer Ben Hanley (subbing for the injured Chris van der Drift) third in the Olympiacos entry and fellow rookie Frederic Versvich 0.609s behind Rigon in fourth.
Qualifying Quarter Final 1 saw championship leader Buurman knocked out by Rigon, 1m06.953s to 1m07.226s, the Dutchman to start from position eight.
In the second Quarter Final it was Hanley on top with a time of 1m06.909s to put Wissel (1m06.997s) fifth on the grid.
Parente held off Jousse in Quarter Final 3, 1m07.071s to 1m07.180s, the Frenchman to line up sixth for Race 1.
The fourth Quarter Final belonged to Martin with his time of 1m06.682s the fastest of the quarters and well clear of Versvich’s 1m07.200s lap which put the Liverpool entry seventh on the grid.
Semi Final 1 saw Rigon and Hanley go head-to-head and it was the 2008 Superleague Formula Champion who came out on top, 1m06.725s to 1m06.960s, relegating Olympiacos to fourth place for Race 1.
Martin continued his pacesetting way in Semi Final 2 with a time of 1m06.567s to defeat Parente whose 1m06.990s effort would see him line up third.
Unfortunately for Martin the Qualifying Final was over almost as soon as it had begun with a brake lockup into Turn 1 costing him dearly against Rigon. The Italian driver made the most of his local knowledge to take pole position in a time of 1m06.644s, with Martin crossing the line in 1m07.099s for his second front row qualification in succession.
“It is very good to be on the front row, but I am a bit disappointed that my mistake in the final cost me the chance of pole position,” said Martin.
“Davide did a good job though and we have got new tyres for tomorrow so we will see what the race brings. It is difficult to pass here, but our car feels good on old and new tyres.”
“I qualified on the front row at Brands Hatch and won Race 1 and the Super Final last time out, so it is a pretty good spot to be starting from.”
Sunday sees two, 45-minute races at Adria with the second race a reverse grid based on drivers’ finishing positions in the opening encounter. The top six drivers on points then contest the Super Final, a five lap dash for cash with €100,000 going to the race winner.
