Formula Two news

Aleshin on top of first Brands practice

Russia's Mikhail Aleshin has finished quickest in the first practice session of the weekend at Brands Hatch, the last venue to host a round of the Formula 2 championship in its previous guise twenty-five years ago. The 22-year-old edged out Julien Jousse with championship leader Andy Soucek looking strongly placed in third.

As bright sunshine quickly dried the track following heavy rain overnight and this morning, Red Bull-backed Aleshin was closely followed by Jousse, who set his time right at the end of the session. The session was red flagged twice - once after Mirko Bortolotti ground to a halt on Cooper Straight, and then again after 15 minutes when Natacha Gachnang spun into the gravel on the run up to Sheene Curve.

Alex Brundle dominated in the early stages as the young Briton improved his benchmark time no fewer than three times, whilst Formula Palmer Audi graduates Jason Moore and Jack Clarke also fared well.

Andy Soucek set the second fastest time behind Brundle, before the second red flag period brought about a flurry of changes at the front. The session was restarted with ten minutes remaining and the ultimate pace setter changed no fewer than seven times in the closing stages.

Soucek pushed his way to the top, before Wickens went quickest for a little over 30 seconds. Formula Palmer Audi champion Jason Moore was next to set the fastest lap of the session, but Soucek returned to the top of the timesheets with just five minutes remaining.

With the stage set for further improvements in the final minutes, it was Mikhail Aleshin who stormed to the top with a lap time of 1.19.634. Jousse also improved to take second, whilst Soucek held on to third.

Edoardo Piscopo set a late flying lap to take fourth, ahead of Jason Moore and Sebastian Hohenthal respectively. Moore unfortunately spun late on when pushing to improve, whilst Swedish driver Hohenthal enjoyed one his best sessions of the season so far - maintaining a top six position for the majority of the 30 minutes.

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