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Boschung sets the pace on day two in Estoril

Swiss rookie Ralph Boschung topped the timesheet on the second and final day of pre-season testing at Estoril. The Jenzer Motorsport driver posted a best laptime of 1: 27.789 in the morning session. Carlin’s Mitchell Gilbert was quickest in the afternoon.

Dry but breezy conditions greeted the GP3 paddock for the final day of testing in Portugal. ART Grand Prix’s Alfonso Celis Jr set the early pace before Gilbert claimed P1. It was a busy start to the morning test with the drivers making the most of the good weather.

Birthday boy Marvin Kirchhofer (ART Grand Prix) was first to lap in the 1m27’s with a 1:27.969 and he sat pretty at the top of the timesheet until Boschung pipped the German by a tenth. Arden Motorsport’s Emil Bernstorff and Koiranen GP’s Jimmy Eriksson were third and fourth as the session approached the final hour. There was a short stoppage when Kevin Ceccon's Arden Motorsport car stopped at turn one.

However, nobody was able to improve on Boschung's best efforts and at the chequered flag the Jenzer Motorsport driver held on ahead of Kirchhofer, Bernstorff, Eriksson, Antonio Fuoco, Gilbert, Luca Ghiotto, Jann Mardenborough, Esteban Ocon and Sandy Stuvik.

As the temperature increased and the sun shone down, the afternoon session commenced with the Carlin trio of Gilbert, Mardenborough and Fuoco leading the way, until Koiranen GP’s Matthew Parry rose to P3. Alex Fontana (Status Grand Prix) shot to second quickest at the midway point, six tenths off Gilbert’s best.

In the latter stages Ghiotto jumped up the order to P2 ahead of Ceccon, two tenths adrift of the Australian. Matheo Tuscher, Pal Varhaug and Boschung made their way into the top five in the final ten minutes with Ghiotto holding P3. Try as they may but the pack was unable to deny Gilbert of top spot in the afternoon session. Behind Gilbert at the chequered flag were Tuscher, Bernstorff, Ghiotto, Varhaug, Boschung, Ceccon, Fontana, Artur Janosz and Mardenborough.

The second pre-season test will run in Valencia, Spain on 09-10 April.

Estoril: Day 2

Morning Results

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Ralph Boschung Jenzer Motorsport 1:27.789 36
2. Marvin Kirchhofer ART Grand Prix 1:27.967 36
3. Emil Bernstorff Arden International 1:28.049 39
4. Jimmy Eriksson Koiranen GP 1:28.050 25
5. Antonio Fuoco Carlin 1:28.268 36
6. Mitchell Gilbert Carlin 1:28.312 35
7. Luca Ghiotto Trident 1:28.366 38
8. Jann Mardenborough Carlin 1:28.520 37
9. Esteban Ocon ART Grand Prix 1:28.546 33
10. Sandy Stuvik Status Grand Prix 1:28.594 37
11. Matheo Tuscher Jenzer Motorsport 1:28.601 39
12. Alex Palou Campos Racing 1:28.749 37
13. Matthew Parry Koiranen GP 1:28.772 33
14. Pal Varhaug Jenzer Motorsport 1:28.848 30
15. Seb Morris Status Grand Prix 1:28.941 31
16. Alex Fontana Status Grand Prix 1:29.015 19
17. Alfonso Celis. Jr ART Grand Prix 1:29.031 35
18. Adderly Fong Koiranen GP 1:29.052 33
19. Oscar Tunjo Trident 1:29.091 29
20. Kevin Ceccon Arden International 1:29.239 34
21. Artur Janosz Trident 1:29.866 29
22. Aleksander Bosak Arden International 1:29.932 24
23 Zaid Ashkanani Campos Racing 1:30.846 27

Afternoon Results

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Mitchell Gilbert Carlin 1:28.517 56
2. Matheo Tuscher Jenzer Motorsport 1:28.628 29
3. Emil Bernstorff Arden International 1:28.751 39
4. Luca Ghiotto Trident 1:28.786 35
5. Pal Varhaug Jenzer Motorsport 1:28.953 30
6. Ralph Boschung Jenzer Motorsport 1:28.962 46
7. Kevin Ceccon Arden International 1:29.120 35
8. Alex Fontana Status Grand Prix 1:29.126 25
9. Artur Janosz Trident 1:29.406 29
10. Jann Mardenborough Carlin 1:29.611 66
11. Oscar Tunjo Trident 1:29.630 19
12. Adderly Fong Koiranen GP 1:29.682 40
13. Seb Morris Status Grand Prix 1:29.811 43
14. Sandy Stuvik Status Grand Prix 1:30.086 47
15. Zaid Ashkanani Campos Racing 1:30.257 31
16. Matthew Parry Koiranen GP 1:30.450 26
17. Aleksander Bosak Arden International 1:30.749 35
18. Esteban Ocon ART Grand Prix 1:30.763 47
19. Alex Palou Campos Racing 1:30.925 42
20. Antonio Fuoco Carlin 1:31.102 59
21. Marvin Kirchhofer ART Grand Prix 1:31.283 53
22. Jimmy Eriksson Koiranen GP 1:31.454 59
23 Alfonso Celis. Jr ART Grand Prix 1:32.236 51