DragonSpeed locks out front row in ELMS Red Bull Ring 4H Qualifying

The American outfit’s two ORECA 07 Gibsons controlled qualifying at the 4.318-km Austrian circuit. Its cars finished just 0.005 apart, with the number 22 G-Drive Racing by DragonSpeed ORECA of Léo Roussel taking pole position ahead of the number 21 10Star machine following Roussel’s blistering 1:18.435 tour of the circuit, which shattered the ELMS pole lap record. 
 
It was Roussel’s first shot at qualifying for the team, the 21-year-old Frenchman putting in a perfect performance to record DragonSpeed's second pole position of the 2017 season.
 
“I can’t believe it,” Roussel, who is sharing the number 22 with Memo Rojas and Nic Minassian this weekend, said. “I knew it was a great lap, but I didn’t realise it would be that perfect. I don’t know where it came from!
 
“It’s very difficult here, as it’s such a short circuit. I had a cool-off lap and then pushed, as I knew the second and third laps in the session were going to be the peak of the tyre.”
 
In the number 21 10Star ORECA, Nicolas Lapierre – who ran fastest in free practice 1 and 2 for the team – was aboard, and claimed second place for tomorrow’s race, almost pipping Roussel to the top spot. 
 
Despite missing out on pole, Lapierre was ecstatic about both the team, and Roussel’s performance in the session.
 
“Léo did a great job out there,” he said. “A 1-2 here is a dream for the team. It was very close, and we knew it would be very close. The car has been competitive all weekend, so it’s looking good for tomorrow.”
 
DragonSpeed Team Principal Elton Julian echoed Lapierre’s feelings about Roussel’s effort, saying that it should come as no surprise.
 
“We’re super happy with how things have gone for the team," he said. "We’re where we want to be in terms of pace.
 
“It was Léo’s first shot in qualifying for the team, and he showed that he can match the best. It’s no surprise to us, he’s shown this sort of pace at Monza and Silverstone. I’m really proud of how he performed.”