FR3.5 – Sorensen beats Magnussen at Red Bull Ring

Qualifying for the first Formula race Renault 3.5 Series au Red Bull Ring offered a great duel between the Danes Marco Sorensen (Lotus) and Kevin Magnussen (Dams). The resident of the Young Driver Development Program McLaren looked set to secure his third pole of the season, but the 2011 British runner-up F3 finally lost 72 thousandths behind his compatriot Marco Sorensen. The latter won his first qualifications in the discipline after setting a time of 1'15"976 at the very end of the session.

Nigel Melker (Tech 1 Racing) and Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing) follow on the second row three tenths behind. Arthur Pic (AV Formula) will also be able to aim for a good result by starting from fifth place. The Frenchman will share the third row with Championship leader Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) who will struggle to maintain his three-point lead against Kevin Magnussen this afternoon. Sergey Sirotkin (ISR), who could soon see the doors of F1 open with Sauber, took seventh position ahead of Antonio Félix da Costa (Arden Caterham). Nicolai Martsenko (Pons Racing) and Norman Nato (Dams) complete the top ten on the grid.

The start of the first race of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series at Spielberg will be given at 14:30 p.m.