After topping the first day of the Jerez test last week, Nick Yelloly put his Status Grand Prix car in first place on the opening day of the final GP3 Series pre-season test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. The Britons lap of 1:35.104s set in the morning session was enough to put him ahead of Koiranen GP’s Jimmy Eriksson, who once again impressed.
Most of the fastest times were set in the morning with long race-style runs the fashion in the afternoon. ART Grand Prix’s Marvin Kirchhofer was third fastest, just ahead of Alex Lynn, who once again ended the day amongst the front-runners. The Red Bull backed Carlin driver has been the star performer during every day of pre-season testing so far.
The second Status Grand Prix car of New Zealander Richie Stanaway completed the top five, just ahead of Patrick Kujala in the leading Marussia Manor Racing machine. The Finn set a lap time identical to the thousandth of a second to that of Alex Fontana in the second ART Grand Prix machine. Robert Visoiu was eighth fastest for Arden International, while Koiranen GP’s Santiago Urrutia and ART Grand Prix’s Dino Zamparelli completed the top ten.
Jenzer Motorsport gave Swiss youngster Matheo Tuscher a try out in the car that has already seen Melville Mckee and Christopher Hoher drive it, and impressed, setting the fourth fastest time of the afternoon session and the twelfth fastest time overall during the day.
Stanaway caused a red flag during the morning session when he took avoiding action around a slower car and ended in the gravel trap. Hilmer Motorsport’s Nelson Mason caused the second stoppage in the afternoon after a spin, with Trident Racing’s Denis Nagulin ending his session at the end of the day also in the gravel.
The final day of pre-season testing begins tomorrow morning, with the same driver line-up as today. Who will end the test on top, we look forward to finding out.
Barcelona Day 1 Pre-season Test Times
POS | DRIVER | NAT | TEAM | TIME |
1 | Nick Yelloly | GBR | Status Grand Prix | 1:35.104 |
2 | Jimmy Eriksson | SWE | Koiranen GP | 1:35.582 |
3 | Marvin Kirchhofer | GER | ART Grand Prix | 1:35.590 |
4 | Alex Lynn | GBR | Carlin | 1:35.663 |
5 | Richie Stanaway | NZL | Status Grand Prix | 1:35.718 |
6 | Patrick Kujala | FIN | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:35.788 |
7 | Alex Fontana | SWI | ART Grand Prix | 1:35.788 |
8 | Robert Visoiu | ROM | Arden International | 1:36.024 |
9 | Santiago Urrutia | URU | Koiranen GP | 1:36.031 |
10 | Dino Zamparelli | GBR | ART Grand Prix | 1:36.082 |
11 | Patric Niederhauser | SWI | Arden International | 1:36.279 |
12 | Mathéo Tuscher | SWI | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:36.280 |
13 | Emil Bernstorff | GBR | Carlin | 1:36.358 |
14 | Nelson Mason | CAN | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:36.375 |
15 | Dean Stoneman | GBR | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:36.387 |
16 | Adderly Fong | CHN | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:36.409 |
17 | Luis Sa Silva | MAC | Carlin | 1:36.489 |
18 | Jann Mardenborough | GBR | Arden International | 1:36.513 |
19 | Pal Varhaug | NOR | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:36.513 |
20 | Roman De Beer | RSA | Trident | 1:37.015 |
21 | Alfonso Celis Jr | MEX | Status Grand Prix | 1:37.035 |
22 | Ryan Cullen | GBR | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:37.087 |
23 | Ivan Taranov | RUS | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:37.262 |
24 | Victor Carbone | BRZ | Trident | 1:37.294 |
25 | Denis Nagulin | RUS | Trident | 1:38.167 |
26 | Carmen Jorda | ESP | Koiranen GP | 1:41.076 |