We can hear Muroya pushing his way through the Gs, keeping a level head and he's gaining some serious ground in the second and third splits! A lead 3.8s advantage on Kopfstein and he's comfortably through to the Round of 8. First look of satisfaction from Muroya all week!
Muroya 1:01.154
Velarde scored a 2nd place finish this week and his personal best stands at 57.482... Arch will be a difficult competitor but Velarde has shown his capability. Could it be a surprise result in this heat?
He's almost on the nose as he passes through the Start Gate. He's got to set a competitive benchmark for Arch and push the Austrian in this first round of heats...
Looking good and he's looking fast and smooth... but the buzzer goes! Oh no! An extra 2s at Gate 6 for incorrect level flying, just a wobble there in his racing lines as he passed through.
Velarde still charging as he heads for the Finish Gate. Even with the +2s on the clock it's a good time. No guarantees for Arch to breeze through.
Velarde 1:01.684
Arch came into 6th during Qualifying but he's got a knack for keeping his game plan under wraps until the last minute.
He's no stranger to the Abu Dhabi podium so let's see what he's got...
A great start for the Austrian, he gains 2.719s on Velarde's time in that first split
Arch builds speed and he's got over 2.9s, he's going full throttle already as he knows he can't afford not to progress.
He's caught out at Gate 13 with an incorrect level flying penalty... he JUST makes it through by 0.077s
Arch 1:01.607
Le Vot has had a best result of 6th in practice, but he's got a job to do as Goulian has been looking really competitive all week.
We can hear Le Vot giving himself some encouragement as he roars his way through his heat. He's flown a great, solid performance and it's clean! Le Vot will be pleased with that performance, possibly his best flight all week. He posts the fastest time flown so far this session.
Le Vot 1:00.752
Goulian took third in Qualifying and is a real contender for the podium this weekend.
Goulian into the track and he's behind in the splits! He's taken a wider line and it's costing him precious seconds... just 0.023s behind Le Vot in lap 1 and he returns into the track for his second lap...
Goulian pushing hard on this second lap and he's gained 0.099s on Le Vot at the last moment!
Goulian 1:00.653
McLeod posted an 8th place in Qualifying after a shaky start in practice... he seems to have found his form yesterday though and we're seeing a similar performance out there in the track today.
Clean and aggressive but smooth, and he's looking fast and confident.
McLeod sets the bar with a clean run, and he's looking energetic and ready for another Abu Dhabi podium place today. Hard to read whether he's happy with that run, but he knows Lamb is a competitive contender and it's just a waiting to game to see if the British pilot can answer his time.
McLeod 1:00.408
Lamb ready for racing and he goes through the Start Gate on full throttle... but wait! He's under review as we hear the buzzer go just seconds into his run... That's an extra +1s on the clock and he'll have that in the back of his mind as he attacks the racetrack.
A great turn from Lamb there, he's scrubbed off some significant time and gains 0.269s in the third split. A late buzzer again there as he picks up +2s for incorrect level flying at Gate 12.
It looks as though Lamb just had the heat win snatched from his grip.
Lamb 1:01.722
We can hear Muroya pushing his way through the Gs, keeping a level head and he's gaining some serious ground in the second and third splits! A lead 3.8s advantage on Kopfstein and he's comfortably through to the Round of 8. First look of satisfaction from Muroya all week!
It was in the bag I was off my seat unlucky lamb. in it to win it!
