FR3.5: Vaxiviere takes pole ahead of Visser

Lotus F1 junior racer Matthieu Vaxiviere claimed his second Formula Renault 3.5 pole position of the season at Spa-Francorchamps.

The Frenchman produced his fastest lap of 1m58.768s just 15 seconds before the checkered flag. Rivals were denied a final opportunity of challenging Vaxiviere when Carlin driver Sean Gelael found the gravel bed at the Pif Paf, prompting the appearance of yellow flags.

Canadian Nicholas Latifi showed that his impressive performance in Friday's second practice session was no aberration by taking third for Arden, ahead of Monaco winner and championship leader Jazeman Jaafar.

After a stellar drive through the field in Monaco last weekend, Oliver Rowland's Spa qualifying run in the second Fortec entry did not go to plan. The Briton had a jack bracket from another team wedged in his car and also had his final attempt disrupted by yellow flags, leaving him fifth.

Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup champion Nyck de Vries edged out Friday morning pacesetter Tio Ellinas by 0.013s to grab sixth spot.

Vaxiviere's Lotus teammate Meindert van Buuren qualified 10th, but has a 10-place grid penalty to apply for his involvement in a collision with Bruno Bonifacio in Monaco.

The session was interrupted by two red flag incidents. The first occurred with just under nine minutes left on the clocks, when Arden's Egor Orudzhev crashed at Les Combes.

After cutting the corner, the Russian had slowed to rejoin the circuit only to catch an awkward bounce over the curbs. Robbed of any steering when the front of the Arden car hopped into the air, Orudzhev was sent into a head-on impact with the barriers at relatively low speed.

The session had resumed for barely a minute when GP2 refugee Tom Dillmann's Carlin car parked with a damaged front wing, instigating another stoppage. Both Dillmann, who had been seventh at the time of his misfortune, and Orudzhev had their best laps deleted for causing a red flag.

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Originally on Autosport.com