Edoardo Piscopo tops group test sessions
Italian sets the pace with last gasp lap at Donington Park
21-year-old Italian Edoardo Piscopo set the quickest lap time
during the morning group sessions of the official Formula Two test
at Donington Park today (Tuesday).
Piscopo set the time on his penultimate tour of the 2.5 mile
circuit, which pushed Carlos Iaconelli down to second position.
Iaconelli only held top spot for a few seconds as the
Brazilian also left it late to set his quickest
time. Mikhail Aleshin had led the way for much of the morning,
but the Russian had to settle for third at the finish.
The 24 drivers were split into two groups and sent out in
separate 85 minute sessions, and it was Aleshin who led
during the early running. The Red Bull-backed driver saw off
the challenge of championship leader Andy Soucek by just 0.056s
when the first session closed, whilst consistent
Frenchman Julien Jousse was just behind.
It had seemed that no-one from the second session would be able
to break Aleshin's hold of the fastest time, until Iaconelli
completed his quickest lap and then Piscopo became the
first driver to set a time in the 1:23s bracket. Aleshin,
Jousse and Soucek held on to third, fourth and
fifth respectively.
The next trio of drivers also contested the later session and it
was Brands Hatch race winner Philipp Eng who rounded out the
top six - the Austrian was another to leave it late when
setting his ultimate flying lap with just two minutes
remaining. Sebastian Hohenthal continued to show his recent top
ten form by setting the seventh fastest time, ahead of Mirko
Bortolotti.
Two of the least experienced drivers in the F2 field
rounded out the top ten as Tom Gladdis and Kazim
Vasiliauskas relegated Jason Moore down to eleventh.
Vasiliauskas was the busiest driver of the morning - the Lithuanian
completed 32 laps.
The drivers will take to the Donington Park circuit together for
the first time when a 90 minute session gets underway at 2pm.
A final 60 minute session will commence at 4pm. The official
Formula Two website will bring you all the news throughout the
day.
FIA Formula Two Championship - Official Test
(morning group sessions combined) - Donington Park,
UK:
1. Edoardo Piscopo, 1:23.900s
2. Carlos Iaconelli, +0.195s
3. Mikhail Aleshin, +0.243s
4. Andy Soucek, +0.299s
5. Julien Jousse, +0.373s
6. Philipp Eng, +0.516s
7. Sebastian Hohenthal, +0.589s
8. Mirko Bortolotti, +0.694s
9. Tom Gladdis, +0.848s
10. Kazim Vasiliauskas, +0.892s
Click here to download the
full classification
2 for 1 tickets for the FIA Formula Two Championship at
Donington Park on 15/16 August cost from £16 per adult, with
free entry for children under 16. For more information call 0870
950 9000 or visit www.formulatwo.com/dp