GP3: DAMS locks out front row for debut

DAMS swept the front row for its maiden GP3 race in Barcelona qualifying, with Jake Hughes beating Kevin Jorg to pole position.

The two Formula Renault 2.0 graduates emerged on top in a frenetic end to the first qualifying session for GP3's all new Dallara GP3/16, in sunny conditions after Friday's damp free practice.

The 1m34.632s lap with which Hughes deposed European Formula 3 convert and Ferrari protege Charles Leclerc from provisional pole in the closing minutes was eight tenths of a second faster than Luca Ghiotto's 2015 pole at the venue.

Jorg, who led the way into the closing stages, fell 0.140 seconds short of Hughes with his last shot but managed to take second from champion team ART Grand Prix's leading contender Leclerc.

ART's Honda junior Nirei Fukuzumi was another of the many drivers to spend a while on provisional pole and will start fourth for his first race outside Japan.

Arden had a spell provisionally first and second, but Jake Dennis ended up its top man in sixth ahead of Oscar Tunjo.

Antonio Fuoco made a late leap from the tail end to seventh. Alexander Albon, Ralph Boschung and Jack Aitken completed the top 10, the latter delayed in traffic on his final lap.

The session ran relatively incident free, bar Alex Palou being stranded at the trackside when his Campos car hit problems while leaving the pits.

Originally on Autosport.com