Home News Vaxiviere claims maiden Formula Renault 3.5 pole at Aragon

Vaxiviere claims maiden Formula Renault 3.5 pole at Aragon

by Valentin Khorounzhiy
Photo: Francois Flamand / DPPI / Renault Sport Media

Photo: Francois Flamand / DPPI / Renault Sport Media

Lotus driver Matthieu Vaxiviere confirmed the legitimacy of his pre-season pace by claiming pole position for the Formula Renault 3.5 opener at Aragon.

Vaxiviere, who claimed his two wins in FR2.0 at this track, remains unbeaten in the FR3.5 opener so far, having also topped both practice sessions.

But his pole was far from a sure thing as he edged newcomer Gustav Malja by just 0.025s in the end.

Malja moved into the lead with two minutes to go and Vaxiviere initially could not match his time. However, he improved with the subsequent lap, crossing the line with seconds left on the clock and taking pole away from the Swede.

Oliver Rowland had a chance to beat the leading duo after the checkered flag but had to settle for third, ahead of Vaxiviere’s teammate Meindert van Buuren, whose Lotus debut yielded his best qualifying result in the series in.

Jazeman Jaafar led the session at halfway point but will ultimately start fifth, ahead of Carlin’s Tom Dillmann and top DAMS driver Dean Stoneman.

Malja’s squadmate Tio Ellinas will get his debut FR3.5 race underway from eighth, with Nicholas Latifi and Nyck de Vries rounding out the top ten.

Last year’s race winner Roberto Merhi has qualified 13th for his first race with Pons, a second off Vaxiviere.

Qualifying results
Pos. Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Matthieu Vaxiviere Lotus 1:41.446 11
2 Gustav Malja Strakka Racing 1:41.471 0.025 13
3 Oliver Rowland Fortec Motorsports 1:41.628 0.182 13
4 Meindert van Buuren Lotus 1:41.674 0.228 12
5 Jazeman Jaafar Fortec Motorsports 1:41.692 0.246 12
6 Tom Dillmann Jagonya Ayam with Carlin 1:41.709 0.263 11
7 Dean Stoneman DAMS 1:41.757 0.311 13
8 Tio Ellinas Strakka Racing 1:41.844 0.398 13
9 Nicholas Latifi Arden Motorsport 1:41.921 0.475 12
10 Nyck de Vries DAMS 1:42.041 0.595 13
11 Pietro Fantin International Draco Racing 1:42.149 0.703 12
12 Beitske Visser AVF 1:42.270 0.824 13
13 Roberto Merhi Pons Racing 1:42.471 1.025 11
14 Egor Orudzhev Arden Motorsport 1:42.529 1.083 12
15 Sean Gelael Jagonya Ayam with Carlin 1:42.624 1.178 10
16 Alfonso Celis AVF 1:42.678 1.232 13
17 Roy Nissany Tech 1 Racing 1:42.678 1.232 12
18 Bruno Bonifacio International Draco Racing 1:42.895 1.449 13
19 Patric Armand Pons Racing 1:42.965 1.519 12
20 Aurelien Panis Tech 1 Racing 1:43.090 1.644 12