Morin Tops Vila Velha Practice as Championship Contenders Strike Early
Peter Morin served notice of his championship intentions by topping Saturday’s free practice session at Vila Velha de Ródão, setting the pace with a best lap of 49.695 seconds as the UIM F2 World Championship contenders began their final preparations for Sunday’s title-deciding finale.
The veteran Frenchman’s benchmark time came despite a dramatic session that saw both Stefan Arand and Morin himself run out of fuel, whilst championship outsider André Solvang suffered power steering issues that limited his running and left him at the foot of the timesheets.
Championship Battle Intensifies
The practice session provided an early indication that Sunday’s title fight will be closely contested, with championship leader Hilmer Wiberg and his sister Mathilda both showing strong pace in the opening exchanges.
Mathilda emerged as Morin’s closest challenger, finishing just 0.052 seconds adrift of the session leader with a best lap of 49.747. Her performance validates father Andreas Wiberg’s pre-weekend prediction that she would be “very fast in these conditions,” with the calm waters at Vila Velha suiting her measured driving style.
However, championship leader Hilmer found himself further down the order in 11th position, over a second off the ultimate pace with a best effort of 50.731. The gap to his title rivals will be a concern for the Swedish driver, though free practice times rarely reflect true championship pace.
Portuguese Podium Promise
Local favourite Duarte Benavente provided home fans with reasons for optimism by claiming third position, his lap of 49.888 putting him within striking distance of the championship contenders. The Portuguese driver’s strong showing adds an intriguing subplot to Sunday’s finale, with the former world champion capable of influencing the title battle.
Matthew Palfreyman, whose championship hopes took a severe blow with zero points at Peso da Régua, showed encouraging signs of recovery with fourth position and a time of 50.195. The British driver’s mathematical chances may be slim, but his pace suggests he could still play a pivotal role in determining the final championship order.
Session Dramas
The 13:21 conclusion time came earlier than scheduled following several incidents that disrupted the session’s flow. Most significantly, both Stefan Arand and Peter Morin ran out of fuel during their running programmes, highlighting the delicate balance between performance and fuel conservation that teams must strike.
Morin’s fuel shortage was particularly dramatic given his session-topping performance, suggesting the Frenchman and his team were extracting maximum performance from every available lap. The incident serves as a reminder of the strategic elements that could prove crucial in Sunday’s championship decider.
André Solvang’s power steering problems represent another setback for the Norwegian driver, whose season has been plagued by technical difficulties. Finishing last, over five seconds off Morin’s pace, Solvang faces an uphill battle to salvage points from the championship finale.
Dark Horses Emerge
Beyond the championship protagonists, several drivers demonstrated the pace to influence Sunday’s outcome. Owen Jelf claimed fifth position for Britain, while UAE’s Rashed Al Qemzi showed strong pace in sixth, both drivers posting competitive times within seven-tenths of the ultimate benchmark.
Nelson Morin, Peter’s compatriot, secured seventh position and could prove a valuable ally in the championship battle, whilst Giacomo Sacchi—fresh from his dominant victory in Portugal—occupied ninth position with room for improvement ahead of qualifying.
The session also saw encouraging signs from Tobias Munthe-Kaas, who despite finishing 17th and struggling with technical issues all season, managed to complete 18 laps without major incident—a positive development for the Norwegian and his team ahead of the weekend’s competitive sessions.
Championship Mathematics
The championship mathematics remain finely balanced:
• Hilmer Wiberg (39 points): Needs to finish ahead of Mathilda to secure the title
• Mathilda Wiberg (34 points): Must win or hope Hilmer falters significantly
• Peter Morin (32 points): Requires victory and misfortune for both Wibergs
Morin’s practice pace suggests he possesses the speed to capitalise on any championship drama, whilst Mathilda’s consistent performance indicates she’s ready to seize her historic opportunity.
As teams analyse data and fine-tune setups ahead of Saturday’s qualifying session, Friday’s practice has established that Sunday’s championship finale will be decided by the smallest of margins on Portugal’s demanding Vila Velha circuit.
Free Practice Results
| Pos | Num | Driver | Nat | Gap | Best Lap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Peter Morin | FRA | — | 49.695 | 49 |
| 2 | 7 | Mathilda Wiberg | SWE | +0.052 | 49.747 | 31 |
| 3 | 45 | Duarte Benavente | POR | +0.193 | 49.888 | 28 |
| 4 | 14 | Matthew Palfreyman | GBR | +0.500 | 50.195 | 43 |
| 5 | 3 | Owen Jelf | GBR | +0.570 | 50.265 | 57 |
| 6 | 1 | Rashed Al Qemzi | UAE | +0.669 | 50.364 | 38 |
| 7 | 33 | Nelson Morin | FRA | +0.724 | 50.419 | 45 |
| 8 | 18 | Stefan Arand (Fuel) | EST | +0.748 | 50.443 | 48 |
| 9 | 74 | Giacomo Sacchi | MON | +0.787 | 50.482 | 40 |
| 10 | 41 | Edgaras Riabko | LTU | +0.806 | 50.501 | 39 |
| 11 | 70 | Hilmer Wiberg | SWE | +1.036 | 50.731 | 40 |
| 12 | 96 | Roope Virtanen | FIN | +1.113 | 50.808 | 41 |
| 13 | 25 | Tino Lehto | FIN | +1.621 | 51.316 | 37 |
| 14 | 36 | Salem Al Yafei | UAE | +1.683 | 51.378 | 41 |
| 15 | 9 | Mette Bjerknæs | GBR | +1.719 | 51.414 | 33 |
| 16 | 2 | Johan Österberg | SWE | +2.344 | 52.039 | 51 |
| 17 | 77 | Tobias Munthe-Kaas | NOR | +4.725 | 54.420 | 18 |
| 18 | 27 | André Solvang (Power steering) | NOR | +5.649 | 55.344 | 5 |