Carella edges out Team Abu Dhabi's al Hameli as one second separates top six

LINYI, CHINA // Team Abu Dhabi's Ahmed al Hameli was edged out of top spot in the UIM F1 Pole Position Championship by just a fraction of a second yesterday.

Al Hameli and teammates Thani al Qamzi and newcomer Tim Seebold qualified in fourth, sixth and ninth places for today's Grand Prix of China on the Yihe River in Linyi. Just over a second separated the top six drivers in qualifying for the third round of the championship in which Italy's Alex Carella claimed the first pole position of his short career from Team Qatar's Jay Price.

Sami Selio qualified in third place, meaning the Finn leapfrogged al Hameli in the Pole Position Championship standings. Al Hameli had recorded the second fastest time in the first two time trial sessions of the new season in Portugal and Russia to lead the standing ahead of this weekend's event. Carella set the pace in the first session in China with a lap of 52.34secs. Al Hameli was the quickest out of the blocks in the second session with a lap of 51.32, but was passed by Price (51.03) in the first four minutes and later by Carella.

It came down to the third session to determine pole position for today's race and the championship points. Al Qamzi slotted into fourth with a lap of 51.39 behind Carella, Price and Selio with Seebold and al Hameli in sixth and ninth.

Carella then recorded a 49.68-lap to regain pole position with two minutes to go and there was no time left for the Abu Dhabi tril to improve on their positions. Majed al Mansoori qualified in third position for his first ever F4 race with Team Abu Dhabi. The Emirati recorded a time of 1min 17.25secs during his eight-lap qualifying session.

Sweden's Oskar Samuelsson set the pole position time for the first of the two F4 races. Samuelsson had also set the quickest time in the free practice session, with al Mansoori recording the second fastest lap.

* Agencies