GP3: Tuscher quickest on day two in Yas Marina
The second day of post-season testing at the Yas Marina Circuit again got underway with beautiful sunshine and a light breeze as the drivers exited the pitlane, some of which had switched teams and some making their maiden appearance in a GP3 car.
Jenzer Motorsport’s Matheo Tuscher was first to set the pace in the 1m57's, but there was an early red flag when Colombian driver Tatiana Calderon went off at the Armco at turn two. Trident’s Ghiotto led the way once the session resumed before Ferrari Academy driver Antonio Fuoco who had switched to Carlin for day two – flew to the top of the standings, the first driver to dip into the 1m56's.
Alex Palou with French squad ART GP for his second day was able to better the Italian’s time to take P1, before the second red flag of the morning session occurred when Australian Dylan Young on his first day testing with Hilmer Motorsport spun at turn 7.
Fuoco was on a mission and in the final thirty minutes, he re-claimed his position at the head of the timesheet, one tenth faster than Palou. But Ghiotto lit up the timing screens with a 1:55.976 – first into the 1m55's barrier to end the session fastest, with Jimmy Eriksson up to third. With eight minutes left on the clock Carlin’s Jack Aitken made contact with the barrier at turn 19. At the checkered flag it ended as Ghiotto, Fuoco, Eriksson, Palou, Seb Morris, Tuscher, Mitch Gilbert, Steijn Schothorst, Ralph Boschung and Alfonso Celis. Jr.
Following GP2's turn on track, G3P returned to the track for their afternoon session. Gilbert headed the pack initially as the Australian was first into the 1m56’s, before Swede Eriksson snatched P1. Gilbert returned to the top of the timings when he was first to lap in the 1m55’s before Ghiotto recorded the best time of the session. Morris rose to second, displacing the Arden International driver as the clock ticked down.
The final part of the day saw many drivers opt for new Pirelli tires (soft compound): Morris found some extra pace to take P1 ahead of Ghiotto, Palou and Fuoco, until Tuscher put in a flier to go top by a mere 0.008s. A red flag at the end of the session brought a premature close to the second day of the testing when Gilbert stopped at turn 9. At the checkered flag Tuscher headed Morris, Ghiotto, Palou, Eriksson, Fuoco, Matt Parry, Celis. Jr, Gilbert and Pizzitola.
The third and final day of testing will run at the same local times: 09.00 – 11.30 and 15.00 – 17.30 (GMT+4).
Yas Marina – Day 2 – Morning
Pos | Driver | Team | Laptime | Laps |
1. | Luca Ghiotto | Trident | 1:55.976 | 27 |
2. | Antonio Fuoco | Carlin | 1:56.183 | 27 |
3. | Jimmy Eriksson | Koiranen GP | 1:56.208 | 19 |
4. | Alex Palou | ART Grand Prix | 1:56.211 | 26 |
5. | Seb Morris | Status Grand Prix | 1:56.226 | 29 |
6. | Matheo Tuscher | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:56.281 | 20 |
7. | Mitch Gilbert | Arden International | 1:56.327 | 16 |
8. | Steijn Schothorst | Koiranen GP | 1:56.398 | 20 |
9. | Ralph Boschung | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:56.490 | 20 |
10. | Alfonso Celis. Jr | ART Grand Prix | 1:56.722 | 27 |
11. | Ryan Cullen | Koiranen GP | 1:56.750 | 19 |
12. | Matt Parry | Status Grand Prix | 1:56.821 | 25 |
13. | Raoul Hyman | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:56.909 | 31 |
14. | Gustavo Menezes | Status Grand Prix | 1:57.301 | 27 |
15. | Andrea Pizzitola | Arden International | 1:57.343 | 18 |
16. | Ling Kang | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:57.434 | 25 |
17. | Artur Janosz | Arden International | 1:57.598 | 25 |
18. | Zaid Ashkanani | Trident | 1:57.603 | 23 |
19. | Jack Aitken | Carlin | 1:57.619 | 26 |
20. | Matt Rao | Carlin | 1:57.960 | 24 |
21. | Tatiana Calderon | ART Grand Prix | 1:58.454 | 7 |
22. | Amaury Bonduel | Trident | 1:58.611 | 19 |
23. | Dylan Young | Hilmer Motorsport | 2.00.174 | 30 |
Day Two – Afternoon
Pos | Driver | Team | Laptime | Laps |
1. | Matheo Tuscher | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:55.583 | 25 |
2. | Seb Morris | Status Grand Prix | 1:55.591 | 29 |
3. | Luca Ghiotto | Trident | 1:55.603 | 33 |
4. | Alex Palou | ART Grand Prix | 1:55.649 | 27 |
5. | Jimmy Eriksson | Koiranen GP | 1:55.660 | 23 |
6. | Antonio Fuoco | Carlin | 1:55.684 | 32 |
7. | Matt Parry | Status Grand Prix | 1:55.744 | 31 |
8. | Alfonso Celis. Jr | ART Grand Prix | 1:55.780 | 27 |
9. | Mitch Gilbert | Arden International | 1:55.815 | 38 |
10. | Andrea Pizzitola | Arden International | 1:55.830 | 34 |
11. | Ralph Boschung | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:55.841 | 19 |
12. | Steijn Schothorst | Koiranen GP | 1:55.888 | 20 |
13. | Gustavo Menezes | Status Grand Prix | 1:55.924 | 29 |
14. | Raoul Hyman | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:56.316 | 30 |
15. | Jack Aitken | Carlin | 1:56.359 | 23 |
16. | Tatiana Calderon | ART Grand Prix | 1:56.697 | 31 |
17. | Ryan Cullen | Koiranen GP | 1:56.837 | 17 |
18. | Artur Janosz | Arden International | 1:56.900 | 28 |
19. | Zaid Ashkanani | Trident | 1:57.092 | 30 |
20. | Ling Kang | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:57.114 | 35 |
21. | Matt Rao | Carlin | 1:57.223 | 31 |
22. | Armaury Bonduel | Trident | 1:57.418 | 33 |
23. | Dylan Young | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:58.609 | 29 |