GP3 Hot News

Sainz Jr fastest as second generation GP3 car makes its debut

The long winter is over! The GP3/13 car made its eagerly anticipated first appearance for the inaugural official pre-season test at Circuito Estoril today. With a full grid of 27 drivers, the new car has already proven to be a success with a trouble free day and already more than 3 seconds faster than its previous generation on the same track. Two teams join the Series: Koiranen GP from Finland and Bamboo Engineering from the UK.

The atmosphere in the pitlane was electric with nerves and excitement amongst the teams and drivers as expectations were high. Luis Sa Silva (Carlin) made history becoming the first driver to fire up the new 400hp car and venture onto the circuit. The roar of the engine was an incredible sound as it marked the start of the 2013 GP3 Series season.

The drivers got to grips with the demands of the GP3/13 car setting installation laps and gaining a feel of the car and its limits. Eric Lichtenstein (Carlin) was first to set the pace, with Kevin Korjus (Koiranen GP), David Fumanelli (Trident) and Daniil Kvyat (MW Arden) rounding out the top four for the early part of the session.

Russian Kvyat then topped the timesheets with a lap time a tenth shy of the previous track record until the final ten minutes when Tio Ellinas (Marussia Manor Racing) flew to P1 to set a best lap of 1:29.396 breaking the previous GP3 track record. At the checkered flag it was Ellinas, Kvyat, Fumanelli, Carlos Sainz Jr (MW Arden), Nick Yelloly (Carlin), Lichtenstein, Korjus, Robert Visoiu (MW Arden), Emanuel Zonzini (Trident) and Vicky Piria (Marussia Manor Racing) completing the top ten.

The temperatures dropped following the two hour break as Aaro Vainio shot to P1 after lapping in a 1:28.971 which set a new precedent. Fumanelli posted a hot lap to head the timings until Kvyat marched to the top of the timesheets with a 1.27.616, nearly three quarters of a second faster than the Italian.

At the start of the last hour there was a brief red flag for Ethan Ringel (Bamboo Engineering) after he spun. In the final fifteen minutes, Kvyat’s teammate Sainz Jr claimed P1 setting the day’s best of 1;26.815 over 8 tenths faster. At the checkered flag it was Sainz Jr, Kvyat, Ellinas, Fumanelli, Korjus, Visoiu, Giovanni Venturini (Trident), Patric Niederhauser (Jenzer Motorsport) and ART Grand Prix teammates Facu Regalia and Conor Daly finalizing the top ten.

MW Arden’s Carlos Sainz Jr said: “I am really happy today, this was my first time driving Circuito Estoril and I am P1. So many people had said how difficult the GP3/13 car would be to drive and they were right! I was so surprised with the amount of power and speed, in particular through the corners. It’s very challenging for us and it’s a very good feeling driving a car with 400hp, we had a great base to start with so we will see what we can achieve."

GP3 Series Technical Director Didier Perrin commented: “Today has been a big success. The car looks beautiful, it sounds fantastic and as anticipated it’s much quicker than the GP3/10. We have achieved over 650 laps on day one of testing. With more power, the car will be much more demanding for drivers’ therefore I am very confident that when we arrive in Barcelona for the first round, we will produce an even better show and a high level of exciting competition."

Tomorrow's test session will run from 09.00 – 12.00 with a two hour break. The afternoon session will run from 14.00 – 16.00 CET.

Day 1: Morning

Pos Driver Team Lap time Laps
1. Tio Ellinas Marussia Manor Racing 1: 29.396 13
2. Daniil Kvyat MW Arden 1:30.302 15
3. David Fumanelli Trident 1:30.605 16
4. Carlos Sainz Jr MW Arden 1:31.283 12
5. Nick Yelloly Carlin 1:31.351 17
6. Eric Lichtenstein Carlin 1:31.388 19
7. Kevin Korjus Koiranen GP 1:31.780 13
8. Robert Visoiu MW Arden 1:31.787 13
9. Emanuele Zonzini Trident 1:31.808 13
10. Vicky Piria Marussia Manor Racing 1:31.960 16
11. Giovanni Venturini Trident 1:32.162 19
12. Dino Zamparelli Marussia Manor Racing 1:32.467 11
13. Luis Sa Silva Carlin 1:32.584 20
14. Roberto La Rocca Bamboo Engineering 1:32.780 7
15. Patrick Kujala Koiranen GP 1:34.241 4
16. Adderly Fong Status Grand Prix 1:54.042 1
17. Lewis Williamson Bamboo Engineering 30:45.100 2
18. Ethan Ringel Bamboo Engineering 56:27.375 1
19. Jimmy Eriksson Status Grand Prix 2:20.016 1
20. Aaro Vainio Koiranen GP – 0
21. Josh Webster Status Grand Prix – 0
22. Alex Fontana Jenzer Motorsport – 0
23. Patric Niederhauser Jenzer Motorsport – 0
24. Samin Gomez Jenzer Motorsport – 0
25. Jack Harvey ART Grand Prix – 0
26. Facu Regalia ART Grand Prix – 0
27. Conor Daly ART Grand Prix – 0


Day 1: Afternoon

Pos Driver Team Lap time Laps
1. Carlos Sainz Jr MW Arden 1:26.816 29
2. Daniil Kvyat MW Arden 1:27.616 27
3. Tio Ellinas Marussia Manor Racing 1:27.681 19
4. David Fumanelli Trident 1:27.714 26
5. Kevin Korjus Koiranen GP 1:27.846 25
6. Robert Visoiu MW Arden 1:27.871 24
7. Giovanni Venturini Trident 1:28.021 30
8. Patric Niederhauser Jenzer Motorsport 1:28.068 42
9. Facu Regalia ART Grand Prix 1:28.112 27
10. Conor Daly ART Grand Prix 1:28.309 28
11. Jack Harvey ART Grand Prix 1:28.509 21
12. Patrick Kujala Koiranen GP 1:28.614 24
13. Aaro Vainio Koiranen GP 1:28.791 19
14. Alex Fontana Jenzer Motorsport 1:28.844 28
15. Nick Yelloly Carlin 1:29.019 28
16. Adderly Fong Status Grand Prix 1:29.029 26
17. Emanuele Zonzini Trident 1:29.159 28
18. Dino Zamparelli Marussia Manor Racing 1:29.201 30
19. Josh Webster Status Grand Prix 1:29.417 27
20. Samin Gomez Jenzer Motorsport 1:29.682 35
21. Vicky Piria Marussia Manor Racing 1:29.816 27
22. Eric Lichtenstein Carlin 1:29.852 27
23. Ethan Ringel Bamboo Engineering 1:30.266 27
24. Luis Sa Silva Carlin 1:30.477 26
25. Jimmy Eriksson Status Grand Prix 1:30.694 29
26. Lewis Williamson Bamboo Engineering 1:31.142 9
27. Roberto La Rocca Bamboo Engineering 1:31.313 13