Teams from Czechia, Brazil and Germany shared the pole positions for the trio of Quarter Finals on the first day of competition at Valencia.
The full field of 57 nations took to the fleet of Fanatec-supplied sim rigs situated in the city’s spectacular City of Arts & Sciences across Thursday morning. Team Czechia took control of the opening session thanks to Vojtech Fiala, who pulled a 0.28s gap on Team Malaysia’s Naquib Azlan. Team Morocco driver Ahmed Erquizi was third ahead of Kieran Prendergast from Team United Kingdom.
Igor De Oliveira Rodrigues set the fastest time in session two for Team Brazil and will share the front row of the second Quarter Final with Philippa Boquida of Team Australia. Team Japan’s Sota Muto was third, with Ho Cheung Chan of Team Hong Kong fourth.
Niklas Houben secured top spot for the last Quarter Final for Team Germany, but only just. Only 0.06s separated him and Team France’s Mathys Leitao, while Youngchan Kim (Team South Korea) and Grantas Kareckas (Team Lithuania) will occupy the second row.
The first of the Quarter Final contests takes place on Friday at 08:45 local time. Qualifying for Esports F4 is this afternoon from 15:15.