Alfonso Celis Jr. to start in pole position in the first race of the season in Spa-Francorchamps

The Mexican driver Alfonso Celis Jr. will start in pole position in the first race on Friday, May 5, in Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), in the second round of the 2017 World Series Formula V8 3.5 season. He recorded a time of 1:59.387 minutes, beating the championship leader, Pietro Fittipaldi, by 323 milliseconds. Fittipaldi will join him on the starting line.

"I am very happy, especially to finally achieve the result, to show what I have been saying, that I have matured, the pace is there. In Silverstone (first round), things did not go well, but it is the way to prove it. Spa is a track that I really like, so there is no better place to start the race," Celis said via telephone to La Afición.

The Mexican, who finished second in the first race in Silverstone to start the season, acknowledged that the change in track conditions in Belgium was key for him to clinch the top spot.

"The car's foundation is very good, the car in general is very competitive, and I demonstrated it in practice 2 (I was the leader). What we have to see now is the inclement weather that characterizes this place. Spa is a lottery in terms of how the weather is, and that will have a significant impact," Celis added.

Starting from the pole position, but alongside the championship leader, strategy will be crucial to finish with a victory on the track, which would be the first in his career in the category.

"The important thing is to have a good start, it is the basis of everything. From there, a good first lap, because if I stay at the front, I have high chances of winning the race. I know that I am in a good position, I believe I can handle the race better than the others, and I have the car to support it," Celis explained.

The second place finish in Silverstone, being in third place in the championship, and the pole position in Spa confirm that this could be the season that the Force India Formula One test driver was hoping for to make the big leap.

"The progress is noticeable, and in general, I am happy. I had always been told that there would come a day when the experience adds up and things start to align, and that moment is arriving. Now, I must obtain results," Celis concluded.

His compatriot and teammate at Fortec Motorsports, Diego Menchaca, also had a good performance and will start in fifth place.