In his second GP3 Series weekend Ryan Tveter recorded a fifth and a fourth place finish.
Saturday’s race saw the American start in seventh place, managing to take sixth right away before the VSC was called upon due to contact between Steijn Schothorst and Leonardo Pulcini.
Tveter claimed fifth on the third lap of the race when he and Nirei Fukuzumi both got pass Guiliano Alesi.
“The first race was probably the most difficult race of my life so far. I was nursing a flat spot that I picked up after a huge lock-up into Turn 4 when there was oil on the track on lap five. I was really happy to bring it home in fifth after being under massive pressure with seriously crazy vibration coming from the right-front tyre.”
Alesi hounded Tveter for the rest of the way, but the latter was unable to hold off the Frenchman. Dorian Boccolacci some joined their fight and overtook the pair of them to run in fifth place but Tveter got back in front, Alesi regained sixth when Boccolacci ran off track.
This result meant Tveter started the Sprint Race from fourth place but was immediately promoted to third when second place man on the grid Alessio Lorandi bogged down and dropped to seventh.
Championship leader Fukuzumi was behind him in and began a race-long battle for third place. Ultimately Tveter could not compete with the might of the ART Grand Prix machine and was resigned to fourth place on lap 17.
“Despite holding third for the majority of today’s race, we didn’t give anything away. I wanted the podium as much for my team as myself but at least Fukuzumi, the championship leader, had to work for it. His last DRS gave him the edge on the penultimate lap. I did my best to defend but ultimately he squeezed by.
“The car’s balance was solid, but we struggled a bit on the high-speed corners compared to the ART cars. Still, the car performed well, was there for me, and I was able to bring it home in fourth.”
A quick turn around now as the next round of the season gets underway on Thursday at the Silverstone for the British Grand Prix.
“Thanks to the guys at Trident for their exceptional work and a special thanks to KFC and Pertamina for their support. I can’t wait to get back out at Silverstone on Thursday!”