GP3

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

GP3 Series organisers confirm that MP Motorsport have found an agreement to takeover DAMS’ entry.

This will be effective at the end of the 2017 season with the new Dutch team running for the first time in the Series during the post-season tests which will take place at Yas Marina Circuit from 30^th of November to 2^nd of December.

MP Motorsport who currently also take part in the FIA Formula 2 Championship will compete in the 2018 GP3 Series season taking over DAMS’ entry.

GP3 Series CEO Bruno Michel said: “I am very pleased to welcome MP Motorsport to the GP3 Series. I am confident they will be able to adapt quickly to the category. They are a great addition to the grid.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jean-Paul Driot and his team for their dedication for the past two seasons in GP3.”

MP Motorsport team manager Sander Dorsman said: "Moving into GP3 Series for 2018 is a very exciting development for MP Motorsport and perfectly complements our existing programmes. We are delighted we’ll be on the grid next year.”

“We're obviously taking over the entry left by DAMS and we would like to thank them for their great help and wish everyone there the very best for the future.”

DAMS team owner Jean-Paul Driot commented: “The expansion of FIA Formula E means that we need to concentrate more on this programme in the future."

"With manufacturer involvement growing, Formula E requires additional resources and the need for DAMS to strengthen its workforce."

"We have therefore decided to stop our GP3 Series operations at the end of the 2017 season. We are very happy to hand over the entry to MP Motorsport and wish them a lot of success in the category."

"I would like to thank Bruno Michel and the entire GP3 organisation for the close and positive collaboration we had together during these two seasons.”

Niko Kari has been handed a 10 second time penalty following this morning’s Race 2 at the Circuito de Jerez, when the race stewards judged the Finn to have rejoined the circuit unsafely and caused a collision with Dan Ticktum: as a result Anthoine Hubert has been promoted to P3 and the final podium position.

On lap 13 Ticktum pushed to get past Kari, with Hubert right behind the Red Bull junior pair: the trio ran side by side into turn 4 with the Briton and the Finn coming together and Ticktum being pushed into the gravel and retirement, prompting a safety car period to remove the stricken car.

With the race running live on the final lap, the time gaps at the flag were minor: as such Kari is now classified in P19, with Hubert claiming the podium ahead of 2017 GP3 Series champion George Russell in P4 followed by ART Grand Prix teammates Nirei Fukuzumi and Jack Aitken, with Giuliano Alesi in 7^thand Tatiana Calderon promoted to P8 for the final point of the race.

Alessio Lorandi has claimed his first GP3 Series win with a strong race from pole to flag in this morning’s Race 2 at the Circuito de Jerez, leading home Dorian Boccolacci and Niko Kari, while behind them George Russell brought home enough points to become the 2017 GP3 Series Champion with one round remaining in the season.

The sunny and warm conditions enjoyed by the teams all weekend continued as the drivers went out to form the grid, and when the lights went out Lorandi got away well and easily contained Boccolacci and Kari into turn 1: the trio ran together all the way round the circuit before the Italian started to build a small but significant gap to his rivals as Anthoine Hubert and Dan Ticktum started to close, with the Frenchman running wide on lap 2 to clear a path into P4 for the Briton.

If the leaders were focused on their shot at victory, all other eyes were on the fight for the title: Russell started behind Jack Aitken but forced his way past at Dry Sac, with the Renault junior driver running slightly wide at the exit and allowing Nirei Fukuzumi to run through too.

When Russell grabbed the fastest lap the potential points difference was 47, 1 short of a title confirmation, but with Giuliano Alesi just 0.5s behind Aitken anything could still happen.

Up front Lorandi was easily controlling the pace, running his own lines and looking comfortable even if he was unable to break the 1s DRS barrier back to Boccolacci, who had a similar problem with Kari.

Aitken was pushing hard to grab the fastest lap but was unable to close down the time set by Russell, and with the laps rolling down it looked as though the fight was going to continue to Abu Dhabi.

But on lap 13 Ticktum, who had been fast all weekend and was looking for more than another P4, pushed hard and got inside Kari, towing Hubert with him as they ran 3 wide into turn 4, where there was only space for 2: Ticktum was into the gravel and retirement, Kari just held off an attack from Hubert, the safety car was out to allow the marshals to retrieve the stranded DAMS, and the points bump meant that the gap from Russell to Aitken was now 50, enough to claim the title.

The race restarted for the final lap, with Lorandi comfortably controlling Boccolacci and Kari for his maiden win, with Hubert leading home his ART teammates Russell, Fukuzumi and Aitken, the latter two having a look at Russell at Dry Sac but unable to make anything stick, with Alesi rounding out the points in P8 as Jenzer celebrated their second win of the season and ART basked in the glory of success after claiming the 2017 GP3 Series Drivers’ and Teams’ titles ahead of the final round of the season, in Abu Dhabi on 24-26 November.

Provisional Race 2 Classification

source: gp3series.com

Nirei Fukuzumi reminded everyone of his abilities with a strong, unopposed victory in this morning’s Race 1 at the Circuito de Jerez, making a tremendous start and soaring off into the distance untroubled by the intra-team battle behind him for his first win since Barcelona, leading home an ART 1-2-3 ahead of teammates George Russell and Jack Aitken.

If most eyes were on the title fight between his teammates, the Honda development driver was determined to make the most of his opportunity and grab the win on offer: under gloriously sunny skies Fukuzumi tore away when the lights went out for a lead which never looked in question, while Aitken made a strong start from P2 but was slightly conservative into turn 1, opening the door to Russell.

The Series leader didn’t need any further invitation: the Mercedes F1 junior driver slid inside his teammate into turn 1, with the pair running side by side through 2 before Russell edged ahead at turn 3, with Aitken left thinking about DRS strategies and the mounting challenge behind him from newcomer Dan Ticktum, who made a good start and was running on the same pace as his countryman.

Fukuzumi shook off his rivals early, building a gap to avoid any DRS attacks while Russell, Aitken and Ticktum were running at a similar to each other but were unable to capitalise given the tight, technical nature of the circuit.

As the race ran down it became clear that the combination of the new, smoother surface and the hard compound tyres meant that degradation was not going to affect the race, as there was little in the way of overtaking up and down the order.

Fukuzumi slowed slightly at the end before greeting the flag with delight 1.6s ahead of Russell, who extended his lead in the title fight over teammate Aitken, with Ticktum a strong P4 behind the title contenders.

Anthoine Hubert held station behind the Briton all race long, ahead of Niko Kari, who dispatched Dorian Boccolacci at the start for 6^th place, while Giuliano Alesi barged his way past Alessio Lorandi on the last lap for P8 and the reverse pole, with Julien Falchero grabbing the final point of the day after blasting past Steijn Schothorst midway through the race.

Provisional Race 1 Classification

Alessio Lorandi has been given a 3 place grid penalty for impeding a rival in this afternoon’s qualifying session at the Circuito de Jerez.

The Italian was called to the race stewards after the session, and has been judged to have impeded countryman Leonardo Pulcini: Lorandi, who was provisionally in P6, will now start in 9^th position, promoting Dorian Boccolacci, Niko Kari and Tatiana Calderon.

Nirei Fukuzumi has stolen pole with a last gasp lap in this afternoon’s qualifying session at the Circuito de Jerez, grabbing the top spot and stopping the clock at 1:30.678 after the flag dropped to claim his second pole position of the season ahead of teammates and title rivals Jack Aitken and George Russell.

The session opened under gloriously sunny conditions, with everyone running straight out on track to get the fight underway.

Dorian Boccolacci set the pace straight out of the box before running wide and tagging the barriers at turn 10 before returning to the pitlane to check for damage, with a string of drivers sharing the top spot: Raoul Hyman, Marcos Siebert, Giuliano Alesi, Arjun Maini, Tatiana Calderon, Alessio Lorandi and Dan Ticktum all spent time in P1 before the ART machine got underway.

Aitken annexed the top of the timesheets just before halfway through the session, with Russell, Anthoine Hubert and Fukuzumi slotting in behind the Briton, and as everyone returned to the pits the question was would anyone be able to improve on their second set of tyres.

Everyone returned to the track with 5 minutes remaining, and Russell set the target, grabbing P1 as everyone tried to pry it from his grip.

As the flag dropped it looked as though the Series leader had done enough for pole, but first Aitken and then Fukuzumi put in a pair of astonishing laps on an emptying circuit to push their teammate back to the second row.

Behind him Ticktum had done enough to break up an all-ART top 4, pushing Hubert back to P5 ahead of Lorandi, Boccolacci, Kari, Calderon and Steijn Schothorst in another tight session which saw the top 12 separated by just one second.

The fight for tomorrow’s Race 1, already so important for the shape of the championship, looks set to be a scorcher.

Provisional Qualifying Classification