Four In A Rowe
Comments Off on Four In A Rowe
AGI Sport's Nick Rowe has claimed an equal record four pole positions in a season after qualifying for the final round of the 2017 CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship on the Gold Coast today.
The session was interrupted with two red flag periods, with Rowe's teammate Sage Murdoch stranded in the middle of the track in the opening minutes with a lack of drive after a collision.
The second interruption was caused by JRD's Jordan Mazzaroli colliding with the barriers, but it was Zagame Autosport's Tyler Everingham who stole the headlines with a spectacular near-flip after straight lining the beach chicane.
The aptly sponsored JetGo pilot returned to the pits and was otherwise uninjured afterwards, and his earlier qualifying time was sufficient for seventh place.
"I took a bit too much kerb and had to go straight, I didn't really have a choice. From then on I was just a passenger," Everingham said.
"As soon as the air got under the car I thought I was going over but managed to stay the right way! I never thought I was going to land, it was just sky.
"Definitely a little bit winded and shaken but I'll get over it. Hopefully push my way back in the races."
For championship leader Rowe, he was pleased to finish his year and Formula 4 career with a spectacular pole position.
"It's a good way to finish the last qualifying of the year. It was a massive couple of laps there after the red flag, I gave it one of the biggest cracks I've ever had," Rowe said.
"Had a go, put it on the line and we got pole. Hopefully we can finish the job off and get this championship done.
"Everything's going really well lately with the team, all the guys are getting on really well. I can't thank them all enough they've done such a great job all year."
It was an equally impressive display by Team BRM drivers Simon Fallon and Aaron Love, who both qualified in second and third respectively. Despite starting tomorrow on the front row, Fallon was aiming for pole position after strong showings in practice.
"I was bit unhappy, I hit a wall. That sort of did the front end, I did it with about three laps to go. Even with the bent thing we still set our fastest lap time afterwards, the potential could have been a lot better," Fallon said.
"This track's a bit different to what I'm used to and I love it. Being able to take kerbs and really rag the car around. It's a track you don't really get a break at… it's all about giving everything you've got."
Love however was thrilled to nab his best qualifying result of the season with third place.
"It was awesome out there, had a lot of fun. Best qualifying of the year I'm really happy," Love said.
"Little bit to work on to improve on, but a chance of rain tomorrow so we'll see how it goes."
New Zealander Liam Lawson edged ahead of teammate Cameron Shields for fourth and fifth position for tomorrow morning's opening race.
Returning Australian Formula 4 and current Formula Renault Eurocup driver Luis Leeds will start from the third row alongside Shields as the leading Zagame Autosport car.
Queenslander Ryan Suhle will start alongside his teammate Everingham from eighth place, with Zane Morse, Zak Best and Jordan Mazzaroli rounding out the remaining positions.
Two races await the CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship field tomorrow, with 11 laps of racing at 9:25am and 12:15pm AEST.
All races will be televised live on Fox Sports 506 as part of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship support coverage.
Provisional Qualifying Results
1. Nick Rowe – AGI Sport: 1:16.8048
2. Simon Fallon – Team BRM: +0.1898
3. Aaron Love – Team BRM: +0.4861
4. Liam Lawson – Team BRM: +0.5866
5. Cameron Shields – Team BRM: +0.6202
6. Luis Leeds – Zagame Autosport: +0.6393
7. Tyler Everingham – Zagame Autosport: +0.6765
8. Ryan Suhle – Zagame Autosport: +0.7625
9. Zane Morse – Team BRM: +0.8111
10. Zakkary Best – AGI Sport: +1.4030
11. Jordan Mazzaroli – JRD: +2.8576
No Time: Sage Murdoch – AGI Sport
2017F4AUFormula 4Gold CoastNick RoweTyler Everingham