Jon Lancaster will start from the sixth row of the grid for the first of two Formula 3 Euroseries races at Zandvoort this weekend. The 19 year-old, in his first season in the series, struggled to get the best out of his new tyres in the morning free practice and wound up 17th.

In the afternoon qualifying session, the Multiflight-backed teenager started off well and was consistently quick in the first and third sectors round the 2.67mile former Dutch Grand Prix circuit. However following the thirty minute session in which he finished 12th quickest the BRDC Superstar admitted to being unsure as to why he lost a valuable half a second in the second sector.

“Practice wasn’t bad and we were right up at the front, running third quickest for the first part but unfortunately I didn’t get the best out of my new tyres,” said Jon. “But that’s no major problem and we were confident going into qualifying that we could improve.

“The session started well and we were right on the pace but then when everyone else started improving, I didn’t. I lost around half a second in just one sector and to be honest I’m not completely sure why. I know I was braking too hard for the first part of the sector which cuts the speed for the rest, and there I wasn’t braking late enough.

“But I don’t think that accounts for all of it. However it’s early days and we have two races to get through. If I can get a good start tomorrow and make up some places I should be able to get a strong finish and therefore a good start position for Sunday’s race.

“The car was fantastic and once again Team Principal Fred Vasseur and the whole ART Grand Prix team did a great job so I hope I can give them a good result in tomorrow’s race.”

The Leeds teenager took his first podium finish with third place at Pau last month and was denied a potential victory in the last round at Norisring two weeks ago. Now in rounds nine and ten of the series, the ART Grand Prix star will be hoping for a change of fortune that saw him eliminated from race two as he challenged for the lead in Germany.

A strong result this weekend could catapult him right into the championship battle which has seen several different winners so far leaving the championship wide open. A post qualifying briefing with his engineers showed Jon was quicker in some sections than his team-mate and race one pole-sitter Nico Hulkenberg, leaving Jon optimistic of converting qualifying pace into podium finishes.

Jon will be on track tomorrow for the first of two races, with the second to be held on Sunday.

Qualifying for Race 1
1. Nico Hülkenberg ART Grand Prix Dallara F308 Mercedes 1:32.087
2. Mika Mäki Mücke Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes 1:32.167
3. Jules Bianchi ART Grand Prix Dallara F308 Mercedes 1:32.225
4. Sam Bird Manor Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes 1:32.372
5. Jean Karl Vernay Signature-Plus Dallara F308 Volkswagen 1:32.512
6. Koudai Tsukakoshi Manor Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes 1:32.539
12. Jon Lancaster ART Grand Prix Dallara F308 Mercedes 1:32.803