Tom Dillmann set the quickest time in the second GP3 free practice session at Valencia. The Frenchman is returning to the series this weekend with the Addax team after missing the previous round in Barcelona.
Mitch Evans, who scored his maiden GP3 win in Barcelona, set the pace for much of the session in his MW Arden car. The New Zealander held onto top spot until the closing minutes, when his time was bettered by James Calado.
The Briton didn't stay on top for long though, as he was soon pushed down to second by his ART teammate Valtteri Bottas.
Dillmann went quickest before the checkered flag though, six hundredths quicker than Calado, who got back ahead of Bottas. Dillmann's teammate Dean Smith moved into fourth place behind the two ART men and ahead of Evans.
Aaro Vainio was sixth for Tech 1 ahead of Ivan Lukashevich who was a surprise fastest of the Status trio. Daniel Morad was eighth for Carlin, with Lewis Williamson ninth and Nico Muller tenth.
Morning pacesetter Alexander Sims could only manage 13th quickest, with championship leader Nigel Melker 20th. The top 21 drivers were all covered by a second, promising a close battle in qualifying on Saturday morning.
Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
1 | Tom Dillmann | Addax Team | 1:58.969 | 14 | |
2 | James Calado | Lotus ART | 1:59.029 | 0.060 | 13 |
3 | Valtteri Bottas | Lotus ART | 1:59.050 | 0.081 | 12 |
4 | Dean Smith | Addax Team | 1:59.151 | 0.182 | 14 |
5 | Mitch Evans | MW Arden | 1:59.202 | 0.233 | 13 |
6 | Aaro Vainio | Tech 1 Racing | 1:59.242 | 0.273 | 14 |
7 | Ivan Lukashevich | Status Grand Prix | 1:59.287 | 0.318 | 13 |
8 | Daniel Morad | Carlin | 1:59.345 | 0.376 | 13 |
9 | Lewis Williamson | MW Arden | 1:59.407 | 0.438 | 14 |
10 | Nico Muller | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:59.441 | 0.472 | 14 |
11 | Adrian Quaife-Hobbs | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:59.503 | 0.534 | 13 |
12 | Michael Christensen | RSC Mucke Motorsport | 1:59.550 | 0.581 | 12 |
13 | Alexander Sims | Status Grand Prix | 1:59.614 | 0.645 | 13 |
14 | Simon Trummer | MW Arden | 1:59.615 | 0.646 | 13 |
15 | Gabby Chaves | Addax Team | 1:59.640 | 0.671 | 13 |
16 | Matias Laine | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:59.699 | 0.730 | 14 |
17 | Pedro Nunes | Lotus ART | 1:59.751 | 0.782 | 13 |
18 | Antonio Felix Da Costa | Status Grand Prix | 1:59.757 | 0.788 | 13 |
19 | Leonardo Cordeiro | Carlin | 1:59.868 | 0.899 | 14 |
20 | Nigel Melker | RSC Mucke Motorsport | 1:59.914 | 0.945 | 14 |
21 | Tamas Pal Kiss | Tech 1 Racing | 1:59.954 | 0.985 | 14 |
22 | Conor Daly | Carlin | 1:59.973 | 1.004 | 14 |
23 | Marlon Stockinger | Atech CRS GP | 1:59.974 | 1.005 | 13 |
24 | Rio Haryanto | Marussia Manor Racing | 2:00.060 | 1.091 | 14 |
25 | Zoel Amberg | Atech CRS GP | 2:00.177 | 1.208 | 14 |
26 | Vittorio Ghirelli | Jenzer Motorsport | 2:00.339 | 1.370 | 14 |
27 | Luciano Bacheta | RSC Mucke Motorsport | 2:00.381 | 1.412 | 13 |
28 | Maxim Zimin | Jenzer Motorsport | 2:00.383 | 1.414 | 13 |
29 | Nick Yelloly | Atech CRS GP | 2:00.618 | 1.649 | 14 |
30 | Thomas Hylkema | Tech 1 Racing | 2:00.827 | 1.858 | 13 |