Highlander bags first GP3 poleposted in MSPOR25 | 06 | 2011
HIGHLANDER LEWIS WILLIAMSON scored his maiden GP3 pole position of the season in qualifying for the first race of the weekend in Valencia. Watched by Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who along with F1 racer Mark Webber owns the MW Arden team, the 21-year-old from Golspie moved to the top of the times in the final minute of the session.
Williamson's time of 1min 58.693secs eased him 0.164s ahead of the Addax of England's Dean Smith with Manor's Adrian Quaife-Hobbs third. Williamson's team-mate Mitch Evans starts fourth. Williamson, understandably, was delighted.
"It's absolutely fantastic to get my first pole position in GP3, not just for myself but for everyone in the MW Arden team," the Scot, backed by the Highland Arena consortium, admitted. "This is a big moment for everyone associated with the team.
"Yesterday we had to look at few things because I was struggling in certain places, so I spent a lot of time last night looking over data and the track. Today on the first set of tyres I felt like I had improved slightly, but I still had quite a bit to look for in the middle sector.
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"It was quite key on the second set to manage the space and get a good gap and try and do the best job I could, because you knew everyone else was so close you can’t predict who will up there. The team a really good job helping me out to get space and I kept my head right at the end.
"I think all the whole team is doing a really good job, and all three drivers in the team are working well together. Everywhere we go we work off each quite well, and the relationship is really good, so I think it just makes it a lot easier.
"Most importantly they are really good team, and at the end of the day when all the work is done we can relax and have a bit of fun together which makes it easier.
"Hopefully now I can turn my pole position into my first win of the year, but I know it's going to be tough because there are a lot of very fast drivers out there. But believe me, I'll be doing my best to win."
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Jim McGill