American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier will start tomorrow’s Grand Prix of Malaysia on the third row of the grid after qualifying ninth on Saturday, two spots better than fellow Californian Joe Roberts. Beaubier’s teammate Sean Dylan Kelly ended the day 25th fastest.
Beaubier’s best effort from FP3 pushed him directly into Q2 where he clicked off a 2:06.950 on his final lap of the Sepang International Circuit to qualify ninth for Sunday’s penultimate Grand Prix of the season. Beaubier’s fast lap puts him just .545 of a second from pole man and World Championship leader Ai Ogura.
Roberts was forced to come through Q1 to get to Q2 and the Italtrans Racing rider did what he needed to do to lead the session. In Q2, Roberts clicked off a 2:07.011 for the 11th quickest lap and a spot on the fourth row.
“In today’s qualifying we found a better feeling and I am confident that tomorrow we will be fast in the race,” Roberts said in a team release.
Kelly’s best effort in Q1, a 2:08.440, lands him on the ninth row for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia’s Ogura’s 2:06.405 earned him pole position, just .083 of a second ahead of Elf Marc VDS Racing’s Tony Arbolino. Flexbox HP40’s Aron Canet will join Ogura and Arbolino on the front row of the grid.
