Debutant Picariello takes pole position

Debutant and 2013 Formel 3 ADAC Masters driver Alessi Picariello took a stunning pole position at Round 2 of the MRF Challenge 2015 support race of the 2015 FIA WEC Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir.

Russian driver Nikita Troitckii and India’s Tarun Reddy will start second and third on the grid after missing out on pole position by 0.044 and 0.048 seconds respectively in one of the closest qualifying sessions ever in the MRF Challenge Championship, while Tatiana Calderon and Pietro Fittipaldi will start fourth and fifth on the grid.

The MRF Challenge drivers only got one practice session ahead of the 30 minute qualifying session. After a sunny morning session, qualifying was totally different with cool temperatures and the night sky greeting the drivers. Fittipaldi was quick to top the times after putting in a (2:06.587) followed by Troitckii (2:06.786).

The times started to tumble with all drivers going faster and with five minutes remaining Picariello (2:03.390) went the fastest with Troitckii just falling short.

Belgian driver Picariello was surprised to be in pole position in his first ever race in the series saying, “In the morning practice session, it took me some time to get used to the car and tyres. With only one practice session I knew I had to learn things fast. I am thrilled to be on pole position and amazed at how competitive this series is.”

Qualifying: 1 Alessio Picariello (2:03.390), 2 Nikita Troitckii (2:03.434), 3 Tarun Reddy (2:03.438), 4 Tatiana Calderon (2:03.470), 5 Pietro Fittipaldi (2:03.503).

Today’s schedule: (12.20pm) Race 1 (30 minutes). (7pm) Race 2 (30 minutes).