The most recent GP3 Series race winner Richie Stanaway was fastest in practice at a sweltering Hockenheim circuit ahead of this weekend’s races in Germany. The Status Grand Prix driver, who won race two at Silverstone two weeks ago, set a best time of 1:29.473s to beat Marvin Kirchhofer of ART Grand Prix by 0.205s.
British drivers Nick Yelloly and Dino Zamparelli were third and fourth in a good session for both Status Grand Prix and ART Grand Prix. Finn Patrick Kujala was fifth for Marussia Manor Racing ahead of another Briton Emil Bernstorff in the leading Carlin machine despite a trip through the gravel trap early in the session.
Swiss driver Patric Niederhauser was the only Arden International driver to show any sort of pace by placing seventh, just ahead of current championship leader Alex Lynn, who made mistakes on two quick laps that ultimately saw the Carlin driver end the 45-minute session eighth.
South African Roman de Beer was ninth for Trident Racing, ahead of Riccardo Agostini of Hilmer Motorsport in tenth, but the Italian was forced to pull over to the side of the track late in the session.
Lynn’s main Championship rival Jimmy Eriksson had a shocking session as all three Koiranen GP entries finished outside the top twenty. The Swede, who already has a five-place grid penalty for causing a collision at Silverstone, was the best of the three in twenty-second, with Santiago Urrutia twenty-sixth and Carmen Jorda flirting with the 107% rule in twenty-seventh.
Adderly Fong walked away unhurt after a session ending trip into the turn one barriers. The Chinese driver ran wide and as a result had a 360-degree spin that saw him damage his Jenzer Motorsport car against the barrier.
Hockenheim Free Practice Result
POS | DRIVER | NAT | TEAM | TIME |
1 | Richie Stanaway | NZL | Status Grand Prix | 1:29.473 |
2 | Marvin Kirchhofer | GER | ART Grand Prix | 1:29.678 |
3 | Nick Yelloly | GBR | Status Grand Prix | 1:29.729 |
4 | Dino Zamparelli | GBR | ART Grand Prix | 1:29.740 |
5 | Patrick Kujala | FIN | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:29.792 |
6 | Emil Bernstorff | GBR | Carlin | 1:29.814 |
7 | Patric Niederhauser | SWI | Arden International | 1:30.085 |
8 | Alex Lynn | GBR | Carlin | 1:30.093 |
9 | Roman de Beer | RSA | Trident Racing | 1:30.241 |
10 | Riccardo Agostini | ITA | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:30.295 |
11 | Dean Stoneman | GBR | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:30.352 |
12 | Alex Fontana | SWI | ART Grand Prix | 1:30.459 |
13 | Mitchell Gilbert | AUS | Trident Racing | 1:30.475 |
14 | Luis Sa Silva | MAC | Carlin | 1:30.543 |
15 | Sebastian Balthasar | GER | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:30.609 |
16 | Robert Visoiu | ROM | Arden International | 1:30.621 |
17 | Pal Varhaug | NOR | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:30.627 |
18 | Matheo Tuscher | SWI | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:30.706 |
19 | Nelson Mason | CAN | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:30.727 |
20 | Jann Mardenborough | GBR | Arden International | 1:30.768 |
21 | Alfonso Celis Jr | MEX | Status Grand Prix | 1:30.770 |
22 | Jimmy Eriksson | SWE | Koiranen GP | 1:30.979 |
23 | Ryan Cullen | GBR | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:31.166 |
24 | Adderly Fong | CHN | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:31.792 |
25 | Victor Carbone | BRZ | Trident Racing | 1:31.813 |
26 | Santiago Urrutia | URU | Koiranen GP | 1:32.401 |
27 | Carmen Jorda | ESP | Koiranen GP | 1:35.289 |