Last up today is Peter Podlunsek
Nerves seem to be getting the better of Podlunsek as he picks up a handful of penalties in the track, including a pylon hit.
Podlunsek gets a call from the race tower to knock it off as he wanders over the safety line. It's a DQ for this run and the Slovenian pilot needs to hold it together in his first Qualifying session in the Master Class.
Just a short wait as the Air Gators do their thing and get the pylon up and ready
Podlunsek back in for Run 2... he's GOT to keep a level head
He's through the first vertical turn and he's flying cleaner and seems much more composed this time around
A much better performance from Podlunsek, just caught out at Gate 13 as he lines up for the final race to the finish for today... it's an extra +2s for Podlunsek and he takes 13th place overall. The penalty cost him a few places but he'll be feeling much more positive having finished Qualifying Day with a decent performance. Something to build on for Race Day tomorrow.
Podlunsek 1:02.154
That wraps up today's flying for Qualifying Day!
And the Challenger Cup kicks off on Race Day here in Abu Dhabi!
First up, it's Florian Berger. Just one run out there today in the track and one chance to lay down the best time. Berger sets the benchmark with 1:08.325, that's a little slower than his best Qualifying run yesterday without the penalties he picked up.
Berger 1:08.325
Next up it's newcomer Kevin Coleman from the USA.
Kevin Coleman blasts through the Start Gate and he's got a significant margin on Berger already. 0.3s ahead in the first split, he charges through the vertical turn with a clean sweep along Gates 5, 6, 7... he's keeping up the pace and gaining ground in the timesheets... 1.5s ahead in the third split and still gaining more time on Berger.
A quick, clean finish and no penalties from Coleman, his solid run in the track earns him 1:06.945
That's faster than Czepiela's first place time of 1:07.241 yesterday so Coleman puts the pressure on early in the racing.
Ben Murphy straight into the track. The former Red Arrows commanding offer and team leader is readjusting to life as a Challenger pilot, it's a completely different discipline.
After a DQ result in Qualifying yesterday Murphy will be looking to get a solid time down... he looks smoother and he's flying error-free, but he's not matching the pace of Berger or Coleman in the splits. He finishes without a penalty, it's a great performance and he's just 0.065s slower than Berger as he flies through the Finish Gate. Murphy currently sits in 3rd with 1:08.390
He'll be more reassured with that run and it gives him something positive to build on for his next Challenger Cup race.