Dino Zamparelli continued his recent strong pace by setting the fastest time of the GP3 Series free practice session at Spa-Francorchamps, leading an ART Grand Prix 1-2-3 ahead of Marvin Kirchhofer and Alex Fontana.
The session was rain-affected, and saw a massive crash for Trident Racing’s debutant Konstantin Tereschenko, with the Russian losing control of his car approaching the Bus Stop chicane. He was launched by the kerbing into a frighteningly high roll before coming to rest, luckily the right way up, against the barrier with flames pouring out of the back.
The accident caused the session to be stopped, but the Russian was able to walk away unscathed but his mechanics will need to put in a good shift to get him back on track for qualifying first thing Saturday morning.
The session was restarted but the rain had come down harder, and it was red flagged for good a few minutes early when Ryan Cullen crashed his Marussia Manor Racing machine at Eau Rouge and made light contact with the barrier.
All of the fastest times were set early in the session, with Zamparelli taking top spot away from the Carlin of Red Bull-backed Alex Lynn, and after that was never headed. Lynn was demoted by Kirchhofer and Fontana to end the session fourth, ahead of team-mate Emil Bernstorff in fifth.
Matheo Tuscher was the best placed of the Jenzer Motorsport trio in sixth, ahead of Nick Yelloly of Status Grand Prix in seventh. Jimmy Eriksson was eighth for Koiranen GP ahead of Richie Stanaway in the second Status machine in ninth, while Patrick Kujala completed the top ten for Marussia Manor Racing.
Spa-Francorchamps Practice Times
POS | DRIVER | NAT | TEAM | TIME |
1 | Dino Zamparelli | GBR | ART Grand Prix | 2:07.021 |
2 | Marvin Kirchhofer | GER | ART Grand Prix | 2:07.372 |
3 | Alex Fontana | SWI | ART Grand Prix | 2:07.392 |
4 | Alex Lynn | GBR | Carlin | 2:07.437 |
5 | Emil Bernstorff | GBR | Carlin | 2:07.696 |
6 | Matheo Tuscher | SWI | Jenzer Motorsport | 2:08.035 |
7 | Nick Yelloly | GBR | Status Grand Prix | 2:08.232 |
8 | Jimmy Eriksson | SWE | Koiranen GP | 2:08.271 |
9 | Richie Stanaway | NZL | Status Grand Prix | 2:08.341 |
10 | Patrick Kujala | FIN | Marussia Manor Racing | 2:08.374 |
11 | Pal Varhaug | NOR | Jenzer Motorsport | 2:08.495 |
12 | Riccardo Agostini | ITA | Hilmer Motorsport | 2:08.648 |
13 | Luca Ghiotto | ITA | Trident Racing | 2:08.674 |
14 | Luis Sa Silva | MAC | Carlin | 2:08.791 |
15 | Santiago Urrutia | URU | Koiranen GP | 2:08.826 |
16 | Nelson Mason | CAN | Hilmer Motorsport | 2:08.861 |
17 | Jann Mardenborough | GBR | Arden International | 2:08.918 |
18 | Patric Niederhauser | SWI | Arden International | 2:09.627 |
19 | Ryan Cullen | GBR | Marussia Manor Racing | 2:09.843 |
20 | Kevin Ceccon | ITA | Jenzer Motorsport | 2:10.228 |
21 | John Bryant-Meisner | SWE | Trident Racing | 2:11.488 |
22 | Konstantin Tereschenko | RUS | Trident Racing | 2:12.027 |
23 | Alfonso Celis Jr | MEX | Status Grand Prix | 2:12.213 |
24 | Robert Visoiu | ROM | Arden International | 2:12.241 |
25 | Sebastian Balthasar | GER | Hilmer Motorsport | 2:12.754 |
26 | Carmen Jorda | ESP | Koiranen GP | 2:14.456 |
27 | Dean Stoneman | GBR | Marussia Manor Racing | 2:18.487 |