Arthur Pic claims pole position in MRF Challenge

The MRF Challenge 2013 season kicked off in style today with Formula Renault 3.5 driver Arthur Pic claiming pole position at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) here.
The FIA-sanctioned MRF Challenge, which is the only support race for the Formula One Indian Grand Prix this year, saw a three way battle for pole position including Pic, Tio Ellinas and Harry Tincknell.
At the end of the qualifying session there was less than two tenths separating the top three drivers as they constantly traded positions with 5 minutes to go in the session. Earlier in the day Pic had also been fastest in the sole practice session.

Sam Dejonghe and Yudai Jinkawa were the early pace-setters when the 30 minute session begun. Dejonghe set the ball rolling with a 1:57:101 before Jinkawa pipped him by 3 tenths off a second. Rupert Svendsen-Cook then went to the top of the times with a 1:56:698 as the lap times started to come down with more rubber on the circuit.
GP3 race winner Ellinas became the first driver to go into the 1:55:745 and looked favourite to start on pole. British F3 driver Tincknell came close to beating him but just missed out by 1 tenth off a second and did a lap of 1:55:852.

Pic managed to beat both of them with one minute to go as he posted a time of 1:55:684 to take a brilliant pole position. Dejonghe and Jinkawa will start in 4th & 5th places respectively.
Young Indian driver Parth Ghorpade was on a quick lap on his last run and was poised for a top 6 position but got held up in traffic and had to settle for 10th position on the grid.
Pole position man Pic was thrilled to be on pole for his first ever MRF Challenge race. He said, "It was a bit difficult on the first run as the track had changed quite a bit from the morning session. My first run in qualifying was not that great but the car kept getting better as the session went on.