Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc claimed his maiden GP3 Series pole position, after lapping the track in a time of 1m19.041s – over half a second quicker than his teammate Alexander Albon. Dutchman Nyck de Vries took third on the grid, to join his ART Grand Prix teammates.
De Vries quickly claimed P1 early into the session but was soon beaten by Leclerc who lapped into the 1m19s to go fastest. Their teammate Albon soon found extra pace to lap one tenth shy of the Monegasque driver.
As the session reached its midway point, the drivers took to the pitlane to switch to fresh Pirelli rubber.
When they returned to track, Nirei Fukuzumi soon jumped up to P2 just 0.003s off of Leclerc’s fastest time – meaning ART held the first four positions on the grid. The battle for pole raged on as Leclerc and Albon fought intensely swapping P1 a number of times in the final minutes.
However, it was Leclerc who ultimately who claimed the top spot. Albon, pushed on but his best effort but him half second shy of his teammate and Series leader. As the clock ticked down, Koiranen GP‘s Ralph Boschung took over in fourth place demoting Fukuzumi to fifth.
At the chequered flag, Leclerc claimed his maiden pole position, ahead of teammates Albon and de Vries. Boschung, Fukuzumi, Matthew Parry, Oscar Tunjo, Jake Dennis, Jake Hughes and Santino Ferrucci completed the top ten.
2016 GP3 Series Austria Race 1 Results
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