Nigel Melker made history today as he headed the times in the first official qualifying session as the brand new GP3 series kicked off in Barcelona.
With a low track temperature of just 14 degrees due to the early morning start for the session, the 29 young drivers took to the Circuit de Catalunya in a qualifying period which was constantly changing at the top throughout the session.
Nigel Melker would come through on top of the session with a 1:52.602 despite last minute efforts from the other 29 drivers. Pal Varhaug would impress as he took the second front row spot for Jenzer Motorsport in the dying moments of the session after knocking Wikens down to third. Team mate Daniel Morad would line up alongside with a time of 1:53.311 followed by James Jakes for Manor and Dean Smith completing the top six.
Pole favourite Estenban Gutierrez would finish in a lowely seventh place with another favourite Alexander Rossi ending his session early in the barriers, completing just three laps in total. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs also aquainted himself with the Spanish barriers after pushing too hard.
Mirko Bortolotti was due to take place in the qualifying session to make up the 30 drivers but was forced to sit out the session after injuring his thumb during yesterday’s practice session.
POS | # | DRIVER | TEAM | BEST | LAPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10 | N. MELKER | RSC Muecke Motorsport | 1:52.602 | 14 |
2 | 23 | P. VARHAUG | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:52.931 | 13 |
3 | 4 | R. WICKENS | Status Grand Prix | 1:52.974 | 15 |
4 | 6 | D. MORAD | Status Grand Prix | 1:53.311 | 15 |
5 | 7 | J. JAKES | Manor Racing | 1:53.440 | 14 |
6 | 15 | D. SMITH | Carlin | 1:53.600 | 15 |
7 | 2 | E. GUTIERREZ | Art Grand Prix | 1:53.603 | 14 |
8 | 28 | J. VERGNE | Tech 1 Racing | 1:53.765 | 13 |
9 | 11 | R. VAN DER ZANDE | RSC Muecke Motorsport | 1:53.914 | 15 |
10 | 24 | S. TRUMMER | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:53.983 | 14 |
11 | 17 | F. GUIMARAES | Addax Team | 1:54.159 | 15 |
12 | 14 | J. NEWGARDEN | Carlin | 1:54.329 | 15 |
13 | 8 | R. HARYANTO | Manor Racing | 1:54.331 | 13 |
14 | 16 | L. FORESTI | Carlin | 1:54.477 | 13 |
15 | 27 | D. JUNCADELLA | Tech 1 Racing | 1:54.495 | 15 |
16 | 20 | M. CHRISTENSEN | MW Arden | 1:54.658 | 13 |
17 | 21 | M. MONRAS | MW Arden | 1:54.666 | 12 |
18 | 3 | P. NUNES | Art Grand Prix | 1:54.686 | 14 |
19 | 18 | P. SANCHEZ LOPEZ | Addax Team | 1:54.691 | 13 |
20 | 25 | N. MULLER | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:54.726 | 13 |
21 | 22 | L. CORDEIRO | MW Arden | 1:54.758 | 13 |
22 | 30 | O. OAKES | Atech CRS GP | 1:54.817 | 13 |
23 | 26 | D. SECHELARIU | Tech 1 Racing | 1:55.069 | 15 |
24 | 29 | P. REITERER | Atech CRS GP | 1:55.394 | 13 |
25 | 12 | T. HEGEWALD | RSC Muecke Motorsport | 1:55.643 | 14 |
26 | 5 | I. LUKASHEVICH | Status Grand Prix | 1:55.927 | 15 |
27 | 9 | A. QUAIFE-HOBBS | Manor Racing | 1:57.082 | 9 |
28 | 1 | A. ROSSI | Art Grand Prix | 2:00.622 | 3 |
29 | 31 | V. GHIRELLI | Atech CRS GP | 2:01.311 | 8 |
Photo credit: Alastair Staley/GP3 Media Service