The Carlin team left the Hungaroring having seen GP3 Series Championship leader Alex Lynn and team-mate Emil Bernstorff score a good haul of points. Third driver Luis Sa Silva was embroiled in two race-long battles in the midfield but was ultimately left ruing a penalty in practice that left him amid the midfield runners.
Lynn qualified on the front row alongside Richie Stanaway of Status Grand Prix, but was slow off the line and dropped to fourth behind the fast starting Arden International machine of Robert Visoiu and the second Status of Nick Yelloly. He was unable to make any positions up, being too far behind Visoiu when the young Romanian made a mistake while challenging for the lead that allowed Yelloly into second.
“You’re always disappointed if you lose a position instead of gaining them off the line so that wasn’t ideal however the car felt good throughout the race today and we’ll work hard tomorrow, get a better start and pick up some more big points,” said Lynn on Saturday. “It’s always hard when you’re following a car because it’s tight and twisty here so you can’t stay close but we are still out ahead in the championship which is the main thing.”
Lynn started fifth and gained a place from his team-mate on the opening lap of race two, and was content to take a good haul of points away from the Hungaroring.
“I’m happy with fourth, it’s all about getting those consistent points in this championship which is vital in the battle to be at the top,” said Lynn. “We’re over half way in the championship now and we had another good weekend of picking up points.
“We’re doing a good job of fighting and will continue to do so throughout the championship.”
Bernstorff qualified sixth and remained in that position for most of race one, before managing to overtake Patric Niederhauser of Arden International for fifth a few laps from the end, and the Briton was happy with the manoeuvre and with his result.
“After the start there wasn’t much anyone could do here,” said Bernstorff. “I made a position on early on but someone got by me too so we stayed in sixth for most of the race and I began saving my tyres for the end.
“Then I started catching Neiderhauser ahead lap by lap but saw there was some sort of incident ahead – that just made my job a little easier and I could make the pass on him sooner than anticipated so I ended up in fifth which I’m happy with.”
From fourth on the reverse grid for race two, Bernstorff got away relatively cleanly, but had a bad first lap and ended up down in eighth, a position he would hold until a few laps from end when he managed to overtake the Marussia Manor Racing machine of fellow Briton Dean Stoneman for seventh. He was positive about scoring points in both races but felt he could have achieved more in a car that showed good speed.
“I had a decent start but the first lap wasn’t the greatest and I fell to eighth then stayed there for most of the race,” added Bernstorff. “It’s hard to overtake here so I used the final laps to really push Dean Stoneman to use his tyres more. It worked and I was able to apply the pressure and make a move on him on the last lap to take seventh as my own. More points this weekend which is pretty positive.
“We had great speed this weekend so I’m a little disappointed with my results, nevertheless moving into third position in the championship is a great boost. I’m very happy with the support from Carlin and we will work hard to prepare for Spa.”
Third driver Sa Silva qualified eleventh but was penalised five places for a misdemeanour in practice, and was embroiled in battles in both races but could not approach anywhere near the points, taking seventeenth on Saturday and eighteenth on Sunday.
