TAYLOR COCKERTON GRABS POLE ON INTERNATIONAL FORMULA MASTERS DEBUT

April 8, 2017

Bombay-based racer Taylor Cockerton has made a barnstorming debut in the opening round of the 2017 Formula Masters Series open-wheeler category, qualifying second and first for the category's opening two races of the season at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

 

Cockerton excelled in both rain-affected qualifying sessions. The Castrol Toyota Racing Series regular took second in first qualifying, with a best time of 2:23.583 — beaten only by Singaporean driver Danial Frost. 

 

Then, with times tumbling in the second qualifying session, Cockerton secured pole with a lap time of 2:13.480 — just two-tenths up on nearest rival Frost. Both drivers were a cut above the rest of the pack, with three seconds separating second from third.

 

Both Cockerton and Frost held their cards close to their chests earlier in the day, with neither showing front-running pace in the category's free practice one session; the pair finishing sixth and seventh respectively. 

 

Takashi Hata (Japan), Daniel Lu (China), and James Yu (China) rounded out the top five drivers in qualifying one, while Luo Kailuo (China), Hata, and Yu rounded out the top five in qualifying two.