Full Throttle

Jonny Reid of New Zealand snatched pole position for the A1 Indonesian Grand Prix in dramatic style with a last-gasp flying lap. Reid, who performed consistently throughout qualifying, ended up just 0.034 seconds ahead of Great Britain’s Robbie Kerr who also came with a late charge.

Germany’s Nico Hulkenburg - who currently leads the championship - completed the top three. The young German went fastest in the first of the four segments, but could not maintain his pace.

It was Kerr who led after the second session, but he slipped back after going only fifth quickest in the third. Hulkenburg looked all set to clinch pole as fourth reached its climax, but Reid and Kerr saved their best for last.

In the end it was the New Zealander who prevailed to clinch his second pole of the season, having also secured top spot on the grid in Brno.

“It’s was quite a hard work in today’s qualifying due to the weather conditions, but I’m glad to be on the pole position, and looking forward to the race,” Reid stated.

Kerr, despite finishing second, was not content with his efforts, insisting he had his sights set on pole.

“Even in today’s sessions I’m disappointed for not being on pole, but I will try and give the best performance I can tomorrow and let’s just see what happens,” he declared afterwards.

Mexico’s Salvador Duran took fourth and America’s Phil Giebler fifth, with Australia, France, South Africa, Canada and Netherlands completing the top ten.

1. New Zealand (Jonny Reid) - 2′33.242
2. Great Britain (Robbie Kerr) - 2′33.276
3. Germany (Nico Hulkenburg) - 2′33.485
4. Mexico (Salvador Duran) - 2′33.664
5. USA (Phil Giebler) - 2′33.693
6. Australia (Ryan Briscoe) - 2′33.838
7. France (Nicolas Lapierre) - 2′33.839
8. South Africa (Alan van der Merwe) - 2′34.001
9. Canada (Sean McIntosh) - 2′34.608
10. Netherlands (Jeroen Bleekemolen) - 2.34.691
11. Switzerland (Neel Jani) - 2′34.835
12. China (Ho-Pin Tung) - 2′34.878
13. Malaysia (Alex Yoong) - 2′34.966
14. Czech Republic (Jaroslav Janis) - 2′35.039
15. Italy (Enrico Toccacelo) - 2′35.195
16. India (Armaan Erbrahim) - 2′35.361 17. Indonesia (Ananda Mikola) - 2′35.519
18. Ireland (Richard Lyons) - 2′35.610
19. Brazil (Tuka Rocha) - 2′36.734
20. Lebanon (Basil Shaaban) - 2.37.946
21. Pakistan (Nur Ali) - 2.42.114

NOTE: A1 Team Canada has had its time from the fourth Qualifying segment disallowed after A1GP Stewards found that driver, Sean McIntosh, had blocked Brazil