GP3

Campos Racing announced a new addition to the GP3 Series driver line-up for 2018 as Diego Menchaca will race under the banner of the Alzira-based team.

Menchaca (20 October 1994, Mexico City) will make his debut in the Formula 1 support package to further strengthen his established career.

Menchaca’s racing career began in his native country before moving to Europe. After two seasons in England contesting the Formula Renault and the BRDC Formula 4 series, he graduated to the Euroformula F3 Open with Campos Racing. Menchaca came home with five podiums during this period in Formula 3. Finally, the new Campos Racing signing took part in the World Series Formula V8 3.5 also securing podium results in the championship.

Diego Menchaca: “I’m very happy to be back with Campos Racing, in such a competitive environment as GP3 is. My relationship with the team has been built over the past four years, so basically they’re my family.”

“We evaluated many different scenarios for the 2018 season which included Japan and also the USA, but in the end together with Escuderia Telmex and my backers we decided that what Adrián offered was the best program available for me this year. I know the team went through a couple of difficult seasons, but after being at the workshop over the past week it’s very clear to me that the potential for good results is there, I can’t wait for testing to begin.”

“I’d like to thank my backers; Unifin, Escuderia Telmex, Interproteccion, Betroom & TMA for their continuous support. And of course to Adrian Campos and his organisation for the opportunity they’re giving me.”

Adrián Campos: “We are proud to announce that Diego is making his comeback to our racing family at Campos Racing. For sure, he is making a step forward in his racing career and both parties have high expectations for the season ahead. Diego perfectly knows how Campos Racing works and we now have a strong trio of drivers to fight for ambitious goals in the 2018 GP3 Series. For our part, Diego will have our professionalism and commitment to meet his targets and achieve brilliant results together.”

Diego Menchaca will carry out their first testing of the year with Leonardo Pulcini and Simo Laaksonen at Paul Ricard on February 21-22.

Team Trident announced that 19-year-old Italian racer Alessio Lorandi will be part of their four-car line-up for the 2018 GP3 Series.

Born in Salò, near Brescia, Lorandi will be representing the Italian squad for the upcoming season after lining up with Trident in the collective test held last November at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi.
 
The Italian teenager will be entering his second full season in the series after securing one win and seventh place overall in points in 2017.

He also ended up as the leading Italian in the series. Lorandi, who will represent the ACI Team Italia project together with Team Trident, has a remarkable experience in single seaters which also includes two seasons in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. In 2016, he cruised to win the prestigious Pau Grand Prix, one of the most renowned races in F3 competition.
 
Throughout the years, Lorandi showcased amazing potential and established himself as one of the most promising Italian talents since his karting days.

Giacomo Ricci – Team Manager: “We are extremely satisfied to announce the deal with Alessio Lorandi. He will surely be able to continue the great tradition in terms of results scored by Italian drivers under our banner. "

"Alessio impressed our technical staff in testing and I'm sure that we have everything we need to aim for some excellent results together. Alessio will make our driver roster even more competitive."

Alessio Lorandi: "Being at my second GP3 Series season, there is only one possible goal, fighting for the title. I think that Team Trident has the staff and work ethics needed to accomplish the feature. "

"In addition, my quick and experienced team-mates will motivate me to push even harder. Last but not least, for the first time in my career I will race with an Italian team and I'm determined to reward everybody at Team Trident for their trust and support with some outstanding results".

Tatiana Calderón will return to the GP3 Series in 2018, joining forces with the established race-winning Jenzer Motorsport team.

The Colombian rising star will be looking to capitalise on the valuable experience she gained last year as she continues progressing towards her ultimate goal of racing in Formula 1.

Jenzer Motorsport has been part of the GP3 Series since its inception in 2010, and last year the Lyss, Switzerland-based outfit finished third in the teams’ standings with two of its drivers, Arjun Maini and Alessio Lorandi, winning races.

It was also one of two teams Tatiana tested with during last year’s post-season Abu Dhabi test following the exit of her previous team, DAMS, from the Formula 1 support series.

Tatiana will continue be part of the successful Escudería Telmex driver programme, the biggest of its type in Latin America, and she will also continue to enjoy the support of the Colombian government through Coldeportes.

She is set for an equally busy year off-track as well, following the announcement that she has joined the FIA Women in Motorsport commission as driver representative as well as the FIA Drivers’ Commission.

Tatiana Calderón: “I’m extremely happy to be racing with Jenzer in GP3 this year. They have a great history in the series; last year they had a really successful season and everything went really well when I tested with them last year."

"I like the way they work, and I think together we can make a great combination and be very competitive. I’ve also been working really hard during the winter to be as ready as possible, as both the team and I want to be challenging the front-runners. I want to thank Escuderia Telmex and Coldeportes for their support in making this possible, hopefully we can enjoy a really great year together.”

Andreas Jenzer: “I was hoping to sign Tatiana back in 2016 when she tested for us the first time, because we knew we would have a very competitive Team. Now I am very happy Tatiana joins us for the 2018 campaign. I am sure with her experience she will be able to contribute on the technical and driving side.

I would say is not that we understand the female-driver situation, which is a bit harder then for boys, but we already proved in the past with other female drivers that have raced at Jenzer Motorsport that we can do a very good work. I am sure we will have a very successful season if we work hard together.”

Team Trident announced that New York-based racer Ryan Tveter will race under the team's banner for the upcoming season, returning for the second straight year in the GP3 Series after his 2017 debut.

Last year, the young American delivered an increasingly impressive season, securing three podium finishes, three separate top-5’s, and eighth place in the driver standings helping to propel Trident to second in the team’s championship.
 
Over the 2017 season, Ryan delivered consistently strong results and established himself as a contender for victory and a benchmark in terms of the team's technical choices. Ryan and the team have been working hard over the off season to make a further step forward and have high targets for the upcoming season.
 
"We are delighted to have Ryan back on the team for our 2018 GP3 campaign. He is a very skillful and precise driver who has a very different background to most drivers in racing at this level." Commente team manager Giacomo Ricci.

"After joining Trident, Ryan found an environment to thrive in and continue to progress with stellar consistency delivering many great performances and results along the way. To finish on the podium in such a category as GP3 is a huge achievement in and of itself and Ryan came away with three, along with many other strong points finishes."

"Following him with the utmost care and providing the strongest car possible to chase his first GP3 win will be our absolute priority. Ryan had a breakthrough season in 2017 and I believe 2018 will be even stronger."
 
Tveter added: “I’m so happy to continue to race for Trident in GP3 and want to thank the team and my supporters for making this possible."

"Last year was a breakthrough season for me and a huge part of that was the support and focused environment in the team. Everyone works with common goal of fully supporting the driver to get the best results possible. That support really helps you to feel confident in yourself and the car underneath you."

"I narrowly missed out on my first win on a couple occasions, but nonetheless we achieved some fantastic results with great consistency. To stand on the F1 podium for the first time was something I’ll never forget and spraying the champagne after receiving your trophy doesn’t get old either. The team and I have high targets going into 2018 and I can’t way to get pre-season testing underway.
 

ART Grand Prix has confirmed that Anthoine Hubert will continue his motorsport career with a second consecutive season in its GP3 team.

The announcement of the 21-year-old Frenchman finalizes the quartet of drivers for the French based squad, which will be fighting for both titles in the 2018 season.

Anthoine Hubert had a strong first GP3 season by adapting well to his new work environment and ART Grand Prix’ goal is to use 2017 as a stepping stone for him to fight for the title this season.

"After a decisive integration within the team in 2017 but a feeling of unfinished business, I’m keen to capitalize on the experience gained the last year and aim my goal with ART Grand Prix in 2018." Said Hubert

"It is also what the team wants and I thank them for trusting me. I also want to thank my partners, because without them this agreement would not have been possible, Lamirault Automobile Group and KML Management. This year, my goal will be to win the championship. "

Dorian Boccolacci finally grabbed his elusive maiden win in this afternoon’s Race 2 at the Yas Marina Circuit, making a strong start before overtaking for the lead early in the race and then soaring off into the distance in the last race of the 2017 GP3 Series, ahead of teammate Ryan Tveter and Daniel Ticktum.

The race opened once again to gloriously sunny conditions, with poleman Tveter making a perfect start to lead Boccolacci, Steijn Schothorst, Alessio Lorandi, Ticktum, Arjun Maini, Niko Kari and George Russell into turn 1: the Frenchman was soon all over the race leader as the pack took shape, with Ticktum putting Lorandi on notice on the back straight and Kari squeezing by Maini for P6 just behind them.

It only took 2 laps for Boccolacci to make the pressure stick: he was easily through Tveter for the lead on the back straight before heading off into the distance, while further back Russell and Maini were already involved in a lengthy battle for supremacy, swapping positions for lap after lap. Ticktum was less interested in a protracted fight though, and blasted inside and through Lorandi on the back straight on lap 7 and was soon looking for more.

Next time through he tried to repeat the move on Schothorst, who looked to close the door: Ticktum squeezed past but with all 4 wheels over the line, picking up a 5s time penalty in the process. Worse was to come for Lorandi, who also tried the move a lap later but lost his front wing on the Dutchman’s rear tyre, prompting an unscheduled pitstop for the Italian.

Russell finally broke the chain with Maini on lap 11 and headed off after Kari, who himself was closing in on Schothorst: it took just 2 laps for the trio to engage, with the Dutchman and the Finn colliding to give the new champion a clear run through at the marina complex.

Ticktum, meanwhile, continued his serene run up the timesheets as he easily dispatched Tveter for P2 on the road, and pushed hard to overturn his time penalty.

At the flag Boccolacci has sailed to a simple win by 5.5s over teammate Tveter, who stayed close enough to Ticktum to gain P2 back after the Briton’s time was added, with Russell rounding out a tremendous season in P4 ahead of teammate Anthoine Hubert and a recovering Kari, with Bruno Baptista holding on from Maini on the line by 0.1s for P7.

So the 2017 GP3 Series season closes with George Russell as champion ahead of teammates Jack Aitken and Nirei Fukuzumi, and their team ART Grand Prix once again finishing as Teams’ champions, ahead of Trident and Jenzer Motorsports.

Anthoine Hubert has been handed a 5 second time penalty by the race stewards following a review of this afternoon’s Race 1 at the Yas Marina Circuit, which showed that the Frenchman failed to observe the 80km/h speed limit under the VSC.

Car data determined that Hubert went back onto the throttle before using the speed limiter, in violation of the Sporting Regulations.

The Frenchman, who finished P8 in the provisional standings, will now be classified P11, handing P8 and tomorrow’s pole to Ryan Tveter, with Kevin Joerg and Bruno Baptista filling the remaining points positions.

source: gp3series.com

Niko Kari drove a perfect race in this afternoon’s Race 1 at the Yas Marina Circuit, pushing up to the lead at the start and absorbing all the pressure his rivals could through at him, along with a couple of VSC periods, for his maiden win in the GP3 Series ahead of 2017 champion George Russell and Arjun Maini.

The victory was made at the start: when the lights went out Arden teammates Leonardo Pulcini and Kari made great getaways from P2 and P3 respectively, leaving poleman Russell the choice of which driver to cover.

He chose the Italian and pushed across to the inside line, leaving the outside wide open for Kari to swoop through and into the lead at turn 2, ahead of Russell, Pulcini and Maini, while behind them Nirei Fukuzumi and Raoul Hyman were slow to get away from the grid, delaying most of their rivals.

The Japanese driver clattered into Giuliano Alesi at turn 8, forcing both drivers to pit, while ahead of them Pulcini blew past Russell to set up an Arden 1-2 on track, with the top 4 edging away and behind them Dan Ticktum leading Dorian Boccolacci, Anthoine Hubert (who was hoping to insert himself into the fight for the vice-champion position), Alessio Lorandi, Steijn Schothorst and Ryan Tveter.

Kari was looking to build a DRS buffer back to his teammate when Marcos Siebert stopped at turn 8, prompting a brief VSC period on lap 5: the Finn easily controlled the restart with Russell almost catching Pulcini napping and being forced to run over the kerbs to avoid the Italian, handing Kari the vital 1s gap he needed to avoid the DRS and allowing him to control the race, and his tyres.

Ticktum and Lorandi were both mugged at the restart but soon regained their positions, with the Briton sailing away into the distance and the Italian soon looking for more: as Hubert suddenly slowed with some sort of gremlin dropping him back through the field, Lorandi got the jump on Boccolacci on the back straight for P6 just before Alesi rolled to a stop at turn 20, bringing out the VSC boards once again.

Russell caught out Pulcini once again at the restart, but this time made it stick for P2 on the final turn, while Lorandi and Boccolacci resumed battle again, swapping position all around the circuit before the Italian finally made it stick on lap 14, with Schothorst inserting himself into the battle and forcing the Frenchman to keep an eye on his mirrors.

There was soon more bad news for Pulcini: his left rear started to deflate, dropping him back down the grid before an inevitable retirement on lap 17, handing Maini a place on the podium. Ahead of him Russell was unable to do anything about the speed of Kari, who punched the air with delight as he was greeted by the flag across the line.

Ticktum rolled home a lonely 4^th, ahead of Lorandi and Schothorst, who both broke away from the squabble behind them: Boccolacci just held off a fast charging Hubert, who drove a magnificent recovery effort for P8 and tomorrow’s pole, just ahead of Tveter and Kevin Joerg.

source: gp3series.com

Juan Manuel Correa has been handed a 3 grid place penalty by the race stewards following this afternoon’s qualifying session at the Yas Marina Circuit after being judged to have impeded Kevin Joerg during the session.

The American, who finished the session in a provisional 19^th position, will be unable to serve the penalty in full: as such he will start tomorrow’s Race 1 from the pitlane.

source: gp3series.com

George Russell pulled out a champion’s drive in this afternoon’s qualifying session at the Yas Marina Circuit: the Briton defied the difficulty of jumping from GP3 to F1 with Force India and back today with a stunning last lap to claim his fourth pole position of the season (and rounding out 2017 by ensuring that ART Grand Prix grabbed every pole of the year) by three tenths from Arden International teammates Leonardo Pulcini and Niko Kari.

The new champion’s best time of 1:54.751 came after the chequered flag had dropped: Russell was the last man in a series of quickest laps to ensure that his rivals realised he will not be taking this weekend easily just because the pressure of the championship is over.

The track opened to hot and sunny conditions, with all of the drivers running straight out to take advantage of the F1 rubber from their recent free practice. Russell, who had helped to lay down some of it, was taking the early part of the session easy as his rivals squabbled over the top spot: Dorian Boccolacci, Arjun Maini and Dan Ticktum all spent time on the top spot before returning to the pits, with Russell staying out one lap later and running green in sector 1 and purple in sector 2 before ominously aborting the lap as he returned to the pits, confident he had more to come.

With 5 minutes remaining the drivers were swapping best times in the various sectors as they warmed their tyres for the push to the flag: Pulcini and then Russell claimed P1 with a few minutes remaining, then pulled back for a slow lap before pushing again on the last tour. Maini ran wide out of the marina section and lost his chance while up front Kari topped the timesheets before being usurped by teammate Pulcini and then Russell as the chequered flag dropped, and the session was over.

Behind the top 3 Ticktum just missed out again for P4, but finished ahead of Maini, Nirei Fukuzumi, Boccolacci (who lost time in sector 2 and missed his chance to shine), Raoul Hyman, Anthoine Hubert and Alessio Lorandi were among the 12 drivers within a second of the top spot, all of whom will be looking to unleash their speed in tomorrow’s Race 1.

source: gp3series.com

Niko Kari has laid down a marker for his rivals for the final round of the 2017 season by claiming the top spot on his final lap of the Yas Marina Circuit in this morning’s free practice session, biding his time before claiming the honours when his rivals had no chance to usurp him for a laptime that was less than a tenth faster than Dorian Boccolacci and Nirei Fukuzumi.

The Finn’s best time of 1:55.796 after the chequered flag had dropped was the quickest of a string of fast laps that came in the final minutes of a session which saw times tumbling throughout but was otherwise quiet, with no major off-track drama given the short gap before this afternoon’s qualifying session.

The track opened to warm and sunny conditions, with a number of drivers spending time on the top of the timesheets: Fukuzumi was the first person under the 2 minute mark with Kari, GoLeonardo Pulcini swapping P1 between them until Boccolacci grabbed the top spot just before the 20 minute mark and held on until late into the session as everyone worked on their race simulations.

With 5 minutes remaining everyone turned up the wick once more: Anthoine Hubert picked up the pace ahead of a string of drivers swapping the top spot between them, with Giuliano Alesi, Kevin Joerg, George Russell, Kari and Fukuzumi rotating through before Boccolacci reclaimed P1 with 2 minutes remaining.

Ticktum went purple in sector 1, soon overtaken by Boccolacci, and it looked like the Frenchman had done enough as he slowed in the 2^nd sector only to hear that Kari had claimed P1, leaving him no time to improve as he rolled to the flag.

Behind the top 3 Ticktum, Russell, Hubert, Raoul Hyman, Pulcini and Arjun Maini were among the 14 drivers within a second of the top spot, promising fireworks in this afternoon’s qualifying session in just a few hours’ time.

source: gp3series.com