Rodin driver Callum Voisin is set to start on pole position for Sunday’s Formula 3 feature race after a wild end to qualifying at Spa.
Voisin took his first F3 pole by setting the best time of a 2’04.321, a tenth of a second quicker than McLaren junior driver Alex Dunne.
However, the end of qualifying was marred by a potentially dangerous scenario in the final minutes where the majority of the 30-car field bunched together approaching the final chicane while jockeying for track position to secure a slipstream for their final timed lap. Several drivers missed the timing line before the chequered flag, with other drivers on push laps forced to slow to avoid the crush.
It was provisionally an all-ART front row heading into the closing minutes, with Laurens van Hoepen quickest of all, only milliseconds ahead of team mate Christian Mansell. However, the pair dropped to lower half of the field as several drivers improved, with Callum Voisin going on top with a 2’04.321.
With all drivers looking for a slipstream on their final lap, the last sector became a traffic jam with around 25 cars all crawling through Blanchimont and the final chicane. Dunne ended up leading the field over the line with just over ten seconds remaining, meaning that many drivers, including championship leader Gabriele Mini, Voisin, Mansell, Noel Leon and others, missed out on the chance to complete a final lap.
Due to the fact those who did reach the line in time were running effectively line astern, there were no improvements. That ensured that Voisin will, pending the outcome of any investigations, be on pole for Sunday’s feature race, with Dunne alongside on the front row.
Leonardo Fornaroli qualified third ahead of Sebastian Montoya, with Leon, Maxwell Esterson, Luke Browning and Sami Meguetounif behind. Tim Tramnitz was ninth ahead of Santiago Ramos, Mini and Dino Beganovic in 12th meaning he will start on reverse grid pole for Saturday’s sprint race.
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Championship contender Arvid Lindblad was in the top ten in ninth, but lost his best time for exceeding track limits at Pouhon. As a result, he sank down to 27th position and was unable to find the chance to improve in the rush at the end of the session.
Formula 3 Belgium qualifying results
| Position | Car | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | Callum Voisin | Rodin |
| 2 | 9 | Alex Dunne | MP |
| 3 | 4 | Leonardo Fornaroli | Trident |
| 4 | 11 | Sebastian Montoya | Campos |
| 5 | 20 | Noel Leon | Van Amersfoort |
| 6 | 18 | Max Esterson | Jenzer |
| 7 | 14 | Luke Browning | Hitech |
| 8 | 5 | Sami Meguetounif | Trident |
| 9 | 7 | Tim Tramnitz | MP |
| 10 | 6 | Santiago Ramos | Trident |
| 11 | 2 | Gabriele Minì | Prema |
| 12 | 1 | Dino Beganovic | Prema |
| 13 | 25 | Tuukka Taponen | ART |
| 14 | 10 | Oliver Goethe | Campos |
| 15 | 24 | Laurens Van Hoepen | ART |
| 16 | 27 | Nikita Bedrin | PHM |
| 17 | 19 | Matias Zagazeta | Jenzer |
| 18 | 31 | Joseph Loake | Rodin |
| 19 | 21 | Sophia Floersch | Van Amersfoort |
| 20 | 23 | Christian Mansell | ART |
| 21 | 15 | Martinius Stenshorne | Hitech |
| 22 | 12 | Mari Boya | Campos |
| 23 | 30 | Piotr Wisnicki | Rodin |
| 24 | 28 | Josh Dufek | PHM |
| 25 | 22 | Tom Smith | Van Amersfoort |
| 26 | 16 | Cian Shields | Hitech |
| 27 | 3 | Arvid Lindblad | Prema |
| 28 | 17 | Charlie Wurz | Jenzer |
| 29 | 26 | Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak | PHM |
| 30 | 8 | Kacper Sztuka | MP |
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