A little blue sky broke through the clouds on Wednesday afternoon in Portimao as the Junior Qualifying Practice for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals got underway. The track was gradually warming up under the effect of the sun, as well as the ambient air temperature close to 20°.
Odd Session: Philips – 1’00”437
Ethan Jeff-Hall (GBR) and Vinnie Philips (GBR) battled it out for the fastest time with Scott Marsh (GBR) and Charlie Hart (GBR). Philips finished first – 1’00”437 – more than two tenths ahead of Mateja Radenkovic (BEL), with Jeff-Hall, Marsh and Hart completing the top five. Louis Iglesias (FRA) was 8th and Mathis Carnejac (FRA) 9th by 4 tenths. Maxence Bouvier (FRA) was 12th and Hugo Martiniello (FRA) 27th.
Even Session: van der Struijs – 1’00”553
The majority of the drivers started in a tight group, as in a race, 5′ before the end of the time limit. Jorge R. Ortiz (USA) was replaced by Muhammad Wally (KUW), followed by Tommie van der Struijs (NLD) in the lead. The Dutchman remained the fastest with 1’00”553, without dropping pole position. Wally finished 2nd by 68 thousandths and Yam Pinto (ISR) was 3rd ahead of Nik Trobec (SVN) and Yusuki Sato (JPN) in 5th.
Info Kartcom with Kartlink / Photo © KSP