Palmer takes stunning pole position

FPA returnee blows away the chasing pack at Silverstone

Jolyon Palmer has secured a dominant pole position during qualifying one at Silverstone this morning (Friday) after setting a lap time more than half a second clear of the chasing pack.

Under glorious sunshine FPA new boy Ramon Pineiro and Frenchman Tristan Vautier were second and third respectively.

Adam Foster and Tristan Vautier traded provisional pole position in the early stages, whilst Palmer settled close behind. Kazim Vasiliauskas and Paul Rees were also running well during the opening ten minutes.

German debutant Bastian Graber topped the times at the midway point but Palmer crossed the line shortly after, becoming the first man to break into the 1:47s bracket. The grip levels continued to improve in what can only be described as perfect conditions and Palmer was soon on another flying lap. He immediately bettered his own benchmark and the 18-year-old's lap time of 1:47.229s would not be challenged for the remainder of the session.

Palmer is making a return to FPA this weekend as he wants to keep himself sharp ahead of the FIA Formula Two Championship season finale in Barcelona in four weeks time. Clearly he has improved even further as a driver during his debut season of international racing and he showed his undoubted talent during qualifying. "That felt pretty good," said Palmer. "I had a clear track throughout the session which was great, and I was able to just keep getting the laps in. The pole lap was just really neat and tidy - it didn't feel like anything too special at the time. It has felt really natural jumping back into the FPA car actually and I will simply be going all out for wins this weekend."

With Palmer's work done it was left to the rest to fight for the other places during the latter stages of qualifying. Pineiro jumped from eighth to second with five minutes to go, just as Vautier slotted into third. Graber dropped down to a still impressive fourth, whilst Kazim Vasiliauskas was the last driver to be within one second of Palmer's pole time.

Maxime Jousse left it late to take a top six grid slot, whilst Adam Foster and Jose Alonso Liste complete row four. Emma Kimilainen was able to set one final lap and fire herself into the top ten ahead of Paul Rees.

It was a miserable session for championship leader Richard Plant who had to settle for a lowly 13th fastest time - he will have it all to do in the opening race later today.

Formula Palmer Audi - Silverstone GP circuit - qualifying one results:

1. Jolyon Palmer, 1:47.229s
2. Ramon Pineiro, +0.547s
3. Tristan Vautier, +0.640s
4. Bastian Graber, +0.725s
5. Kazim Vasiliauskas, +0.899s
6. Maxime Jousse, +1.156s
7. Adam Foster, +1.173s
8. Jose Alonso Liste, +1.175s
9. Emma Kimilainen, +1.220s
10. Paul Rees, +1.226s

The 21-car field will next be on track for qualifying two at 14:30 later today and the first of the weekend's three races will commence at 17:00. For the latest news and results, visit the official Formula Palmer Audi homepage by clicking the link below.