Andrea Kimi Antonelli on pole for Formula Regional European race two at Mugello

Sunday at Mugello Circuit started with the second qualifying session to determine the grid for the final race of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in Tuscany. Group B took to the track first this morning. Kas Haverkort, the Dutchman from Van Amersfoort Racing, was among the early leaders of the session, later being bested by Santiago Ramos, the Mexican driver from RPM. It was then the turn of Andrea Kimi Antonelli from PREMA Racing, who set the new fastest lap time and continued to improve until the end of the session as the track heated up lap after lap.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli qualified on pole for race two of the Formula Regional European championship at Mugello. (ACI Sport / Dutch Photo Agency)

The best lap time from the driver from Bologna was achieved towards the end, at 1’42.650. Haverkort finished in P2, also improving his time on the final lap, with a gap of 0.184. Ramos secured third place with a gap of 0.442. Owen Tangavelou from Team Trident claimed fourth position with a gap of 0.477. Behind him was his teammate Nikhil Bohra, finishing fifth with a gap of 0.524.

Group A took to the track to challenge the reference set by the driver from Bologna. Among the early leaders was Rafael Camara, the Brazilian driver from Prema Racing and teammate of Antonelli. Camara then relinquished the top spot to Roman Bilinski, the Polish driver from Trident, and later to the French driver from RPM, Macéo Capietto. It was Capietto who held the fastest time for most of the session. In the final minute, the reference time switched back to Camara, who ended the session with the fastest time in the group at 1’42.667. Although not enough to secure the pole position, it provided the Vicenza-based Team with the entire front row for Race 2. Second place went to Martinius Stenshorne, the Norwegian driver from R-ace GP and the winner of Race 1, who set the best lap time in the final stages with a gap of 0.061. Capietto finished third with a gap of 0.197. Fourth position went to Joshua Dufek, the Swiss driver from Van Amersfoort Racing, with a gap of 0.246. Tim Tramnitz, the German driver from R-ace GP, rounded out the top 5 with a gap of 0.260 from Camara.

Rafael Camara will start on the front row for race two of the Formula Regional European championship at Mugello. (ACI Sport / Dutch Photo Agency)

Once again, the pole position for the race came from the first group on track, providing Antonelli with an excellent opportunity to add to his tally of victories in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, where he is currently locked in a battle for the top of the standings with Martinius Stenshorne.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

“It was a really good quali. The track was very slippery compared to yesterday. We did a massive step from yesterday I think, in terms of driving and also with the car. The Team did a mega job. To be in pole is a really good feeling, hopefully we can close the day really well.”

Rafael Camara

“For sure it was a big improvement from yesterday. I think with the setup we found a good solution. We were working really hard yesterday to find out what we were missing. At driving, I think, I was improving as well. We just put together and came back to the top. I’m looking forward to start the race, by little bit we are not P1 in general…I’m looking forward to start the race and have some good figths with Kimi!”

The final race of the weekend, will start at 16:20. Live streaming will be available on the official Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine YouTube page.