Home News Roberto Merhi tops second FR3.5 practice at the Nurburgring

Roberto Merhi tops second FR3.5 practice at the Nurburgring

by Peter Allen
Roberto Merhi

Photo: Jean Michel Le Meur/DPPI

Roberto Merhi kept the Moscow winners on top in second practice for the latest round of the Formula Renault 3.5 season at the Nurburgring.

The Spaniard went seven tenths quicker than fellow Russian victor Sergey Sirotkin had managed during the earlier session. Merhi edged out Pierre Gasly by 0.029 seconds, while championship leader Carlos Sainz was also within a tenth of the pace.

Just as in the first session, Will Buller was fourth fastest, with fellow Britons Oliver Rowland and Will Stevens rounding out the top six.

After leading much of the session, Marlon Stockinger slipped back to seventh, with Matias Laine, Marco Sorensen and the returning Matthieu Vaxiviere completing the top ten.

Sirotkin ended up back in 15th place, just over a second off the pace. Debutants Cameron Twynham and Alfonso Celis were 19th and 21st respectively.

Session results
Pos Driver? Team Time? Gap Laps?
1 Roberto Merhi Zeta Corse 1:42.179 17
2 Pierre Gasly Arden Motorsport 1:42.208 0.029 16
3 Carlos Sainz Jr. DAMS 1:42.275 0.096 15
4 William Buller Arden Motorsport 1:42.445 0.266 17
5 Oliver Rowland Fortec Motorsports 1:42.557 0.378 17
6 Will Stevens Strakka Racing 1:42.608 0.429 17
7 Marlon Stockinger Lotus 1:42.624 0.445 18
8 Matias Laine Strakka Racing 1:42.796 0.617 16
9 Marco Sorensen Tech 1 Racing 1:42.837 0.658 16
10 Matthieu Vaxiviere Lotus 1:42.904 0.725 19
11 Norman Nato DAMS 1:42.976 0.797 17
12 Luca Ghiotto International Draco Racing 1:43.001 0.822 17
13 Oscar Tunjo Pons Racing 1:43.004 0.825 17
14 Pietro Fantin International Draco Racing 1:43.160 0.981 18
15 Sergey Sirotkin Fortec Motorsports 1:43.216 1.037 15
16 Roman Mavlanov Zeta Corse 1:43.494 1.315 15
17 Beitske Visser AVF 1:43.759 1.580 14
18 Jazeman Jaafar ISR 1:43.870 1.691 16
19 Cameron Twynham Comtec Racing 1:44.293 2.114 21
20 Meindert van Buuren Pons Racing 1:44.304 2.125 8
21 Alfonso Celis Tech 1 Racing 1:44.554 2.375 16
22 Zoel Amberg AVF 1:44.642 2.463 14