QUALIFYING: Chambers clinches back-to-back poles during rain-interrupted session in Miami

Chloe Chambers narrowly edged out her Campos Racing teammate Alisha Palmowski to seal a 1-2 in Qualifying around a wet Miami International Autodrome.

Only 0.076s separated the top-four, with Doriane Pin sealing third ahead of Ella Lloyd as track position proved to be key to success with a heavy downpour interrupting running after the field’s first laps.

Greeted by overcast conditions, drivers were immediately given the hurry up over the radio as downpours loomed on the radar. With the advantage of being first in the queue of cars, Chambers kicked things off with a 2:00.458.

After being overtaken by her teammate, Palmowski followed along and slotted into second, being pipped to P1 by 0.018s. There was little room to separate the top-four who were covered by 0.076s, with Pin and Lloyd moving into third and fourth.

No sooner had the first flying laps trickled in, the rain began to fall. The drivers squabbled for track position, with a slippery Turn 11 catching out Chambers, Palmowski, Lia Block, Emma Felbermayr and Rafaela Ferreira in turn.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, the rain began to ease off as the drivers put down some mileage. However, the times remained unchanged, allowing Chambers to seal her second consecutive pole position as Palmowski, Pin and Lloyd completed the top-four.

It was a good morning for ART Grand Prix as Block and Aurelia Nobels achieved fifth and sixth. Ferreira ensured that the Campos trio would all start within the top-seven, outqualifying fellow rookie Felbermayr. Tina Hausmann finished in ninth, whilst Standings leader Maya Weug found herself stuck in traffic on her sole attempt and had to settle for 10th.

WHAT’S NEXT?

A busy Saturday sees eighth-place qualifier Felbermayr start on reverse grid pole for Race 1 this afternoon, with lights out at 14:55 local time (UTC -4).