Jimmy Eriksson took his first GP3 Series victory in race one at Silverstone as the Swede held off the strong challenge of Red Bull-backed Alex Lynn to take the spoils. German Marvin Kirchhofer completed the podium.
Pole man Eriksson made an excellent start, and led comfortably into the first corner. Lynn had to hold off the challenge of the fast starting Jann Mardenborough when the lights went out, and saw Eriksson pulling away for the first couple of laps. Over the closing stages of the 15-lap race, Lynn closed the gap to the leader, and the Carlin finished on the tail of the Koiranen GP driver.
Kirchhofer had a relatively easy race for ART Grand Prix for his third place, and was able to keep the second Carlin of Emil Bernstorff at arms length to take the podium. Bernstorff was fourth ahead of Nick Yelloly of Status Grand Prix.
Hilmer Motorsport scored their first ever GP3 Series points when Riccardo Agostini crossed the line in sixth, staying ahead of championship contender Richie Stanaway of Status Grand Prix who ended the race seventh. Dino Zamparelli took eighth and pole position for tomorrow’s second race after climbing up after taking a grid penalty for overtaking under yellow flags in qualifying.
After Mardenborough’s good start, the Arden International driver fell down to ninth by the end of the race as he struggled to keep the faster drivers behind him. He did however score his first GP3 Series points of the season. Marussia Manor Racing’s Dean Stoneman made it six Briton’s in the top ten by climbing into the tenth position after starting in the midfield pack in 16th.
The only retirement of the race was Uruguayan Santiago Urrutia on the opening lap. The Koiranen GP driver made contact with Carlin driver Luis Sa Silva, and whilst the Macau driver could continue, Urrutia ended up stuck in the gravel trap.
There was one non-starter at Silverstone; unfortunately for Mitch Gilbert and Trident Racing, the Australian, who was set to make his GP3 debut, has been ruled out of the weekend’s races after his qualifying crash.
Silverstone Race 1 Result
POS | DRIVER | NAT | TEAM | TIME/Laps |
1 | Jimmy Eriksson | SWE | Koiranen GP | 27m32.301s |
2 | Alex Lynn | GBR | Carlin | +0.958s |
3 | Marvin Kirchhofer | GER | ART Grand Prix | +7.150s |
4 | Emil Bernstorff | GBR | Carlin | +9.882s |
5 | Nick Yelloly | GBR | Status Grand Prix | +10.937s |
6 | Riccardo Agostini | ITA | Hilmer Motorsport | +12.774s |
7 | Richie Stanaway | NZL | Status Grand Prix | +14.413s |
8 | Dino Zamparelli | GBR | ART Grand Prix | +16.895s |
9 | Jann Mardenborough | GBR | Arden International | +18.661s |
10 | Dean Stoneman | GBR | Marussia Manor Racing | +20.132s |
11 | Pal Varhaug | NOR | Jenzer Motorsport | +24.887s |
12 | Patrick Kujala | FIN | Marussia Manor Racing | +25.530s |
13 | Patric Niederhauser | SWI | Arden International | +28.616s |
14 | Matheo Tuscher | SWI | Jenzer Motorsport | +29.400s |
15 | Alex Fontana | SWI | ART Grand Prix | +29.701s |
16 | Alfonso Celis Jr | MEX | Status Grand Prix | +33.436s |
17 | Roman de Beer | RSA | Trident Racing | +35.407s |
18 | Luis Sa Silva | MAC | Carlin | +39.583s |
19 | Ryan Cullen | GBR | Marussia Manor Racing | +46.549s |
20 | Robert Visoiu | ROM | Arden International | +47.035s |
21 | Adderly Fong | CHN | Jenzer Motorsport | +47.550s |
22 | Sebastian Balthasar | GER | Hilmer Motorsport | +48.303s |
23 | Victor Carbone | BRZ | Trident Racing | +1m10.180s |
24 | Carmen Jorda | ESP | Koiranen GP | +1m35.243s |
25 | Nelson Mason | CAN | Hilmer Motorsport | +2 Laps |
RET | Santiago Urrutia | URU | Koiranen GP | 0 Laps |
DNS | Mitch Gilbert | AUS | Trident Racing | 0 Laps |