Issue 78 - GP2 Series

Fo l low i n g yo u n g d r i v e r s o n t h e i r way to t h e p i n n ac l e o f m oto r s p o r t
78
ISSUE 8
2014, AUGUST 27
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
ROUND 8
MIGHTY
MARCIELLO
Italian victorious in Spa feature Race.
Nasr closes the gap to Palmer in title fight.
GP3 SERIES™
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
ROUND 6
STONE-THE-MAN
Wins for Stoneman and Lynn see the Carlin ace increase Series lead
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ROUND 8
RACE 1 REPORTS
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ROUND 8
RACE 2 REPORTS
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#DoubleDelight
AFTER
ROUND
08
Johnny Cecotto was in fine form in
Belgium scoring two podiums in a row,
one in the wet and another one in the dry.
That’s twenty-seven points in the bag!
2014 CLASSIFICATIONS
Race you to the finish line
It is like the adage says: “It is not over until the
chequered flag has dropped”. After Round 8
at Spa-Francorchamps, Carlin’s Felipe Nasr
has reduced Jolyon Palmer’s Series lead to
32 points.
DRIVERS’ STANDINGS
1. Jolyon Palmer
1M 1M
2. Felipe Nasr
1M 3M
3. Stoffel Vandoorne Rookie 1M 1M
4. Johnny Cecotto Jr.
1M 1M
5. Mitch Evans
2M
6. Stefano Coletti 1M
7. Arthur Pic Rookie
1M
8. Julián Leal
9. Raffaele Marciello Rookie 1M
10. Stéphane Richelmi 1M
11. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs
12. Daniel Abt
13. Simon Trummer
14. Rio Haryanto
15. Takuya Izawa Rookie
16. Sergio Canamasas
17. Tom Dillmann
18. Nathanaël Berthon
19. Marco Sørensen Rookie
20. Alexander Rossi
21. Tio Ellinas Rookie
22. Jon Lancaster
23. Artem Markelov Rookie
24. Rene Binder
25. André Negrão Rookie
26. Conor Daly
27. Daniël de Jong
28. Kimiya Sato Rookie
29. Facu Regalia Rookie
30. Axcil Jefferies Rookie
210
178
135
127
110
98
70
66
57
41
29
27
26
26
26
22
18
16
14
12 7
6
6
3
3
2
1
0
0
0
=
=
=
=
+1
-1
=
=
+1
-1
=
+5
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
=
=
=
=
=
+2
-1
+2
-2
-1
=
=
=
Both drivers’ season statistics are stellar,
starting with the Briton’s: Palmer is the only
driver this year to have scored in every
single race so far. He has also achieved
2 wins, 9 podium finishes, 7 front row starts
including 3 pole positions. He’s only qualified
once below P2 (sixth in Budapest), scored
2 fastest laps and has led 61 laps this season.
His closest rival, Nasr, has also ticked all
the boxes in terms of achievements having
pocketed 4 wins, 8 podiums, 1 pole position
and 1 fastest lap. The Brazilian has led an
impressive amount of 128 laps – the most this
season ahead of Stoffel Vandoorne who also
impresses with a total of 102 laps led so far in
his rookie year.
There is a maximum of 48 points to grab per
round and there are six races left in the 2014
season. Once you do the maths, it is safe to
say that the title race is far from being over and
it should keep everyone on their toes until Yas
Marina in November.
CLICK HERE FOR
COMPLETE RESULTS
Artem Markelov, André Negrao and
Daniel De Jong pocketed their first points
of the season with the Brazilian from
Arden scoring in both races at Spa.
You might be surprised to hear that a race
weekend is not just about racing. Because
we’re all scattered across the five continents,
a race track is the only place on Earth where
we all come together at the same spot and
at the same time. Therefore, we all pack our
already tight and busy schedules with lots and
lots of meetings.
For instance, on every Saturday morning
all team principals sit down with the Series’
organisers to discuss future plans, freights
for overseas events and other technical or
sporting decisions. Partners, suppliers
and sponsors also come to meet with us and
see on site what our activity exactly entails.
The paddock becomes the place where some
important decisions are made.
Drivers are pretty busy as well: they may
only live for the rush of racing, but in the end,
it only represents 25% of their weekend’s
workload. From Thursday to Sunday, before
and in between sessions, and on top of their
training routine, their programme is packed
with briefings, interviews, photo sessions and
what they love best after racing: meeting with
the fans!
From P24 to P7 at the chequered flag
(gaining 10 places on the opening lap),
Stefano Coletti sliced his way through the
field to score some precious points on
Sunday.
#OnAnotherPlanet
Rookies Stoffel Vandoorne and Raffaele
Marciello were untouchable during the
feature race, crossing the finish line
35 seconds ahead of Cecotto in third.
Dialling in… FELIPE NASR
Meet you there
TEAMS’ STANDINGS
1. DAMS
1M 2M 251 =
2. Carlin
1M 3M 244 =
3. ART Grand Prix
1M 1M 161 =
4. Racing Engineering
1M 1M 155 =
5. Trident
1M 1M 149 =
6. RT RUSSIAN TIME
2M 116 =
7. Campos Racing
1M 72 =
8. Rapax 55 =
9. EQ8 Caterham Racing 40 =
10. Hilmer Motorsport 33 =
11. MP Motorsport 22 =
12. Arden International 20 +1
13. Venezuela GP Lazarus 18 -1
#FirstTimers
#FiredUp
In the beginning When I turned seven
years old, my father took me to a go-kart track
in my home town Brasilia which is located next
to the big circuit. My uncle Amir was there with
him and they both told me to try it. I had been
watching them both in Formula 3 – they have a
racing team - but they had never had someone
in the family to race their cars before. From the
first moment I drove the go-kart, it seemed very
natural. It was exhilarating from the first lap. I told
my dad and my uncle that I had really enjoyed it,
but I thought that was it. They never pushed me
to drive again. A year later, I told my dad that I
wanted to have a go again and that’s when it all
began really. I had my first race soon after that
in a local championship. There were two races:
I finished second in the first one and I won the
second. My mom didn’t know I was doing this.
She didn’t want me to become a racing driver.
So when I came home, I showed her the trophies
and she didn’t know if she should congratulate
me or if she should yell at me!
HEROES My dad is my hero. I’ve always
admired him so much for doing what he did and
for letting me do what I want and what I love.
He taught me a lot about life and growing up in
the motorsport world. It’s such an advantage
to already have a family in motor racing before
getting into it.
RACE DAY ROUTINE I try different things:
when I’m in the UK I work with Pro Performance.
They take care of the physical side and the mental
side too. We do a lot of weights, cardio training,
etc. I like swimming as well. Back in Brazil, I’ve
had the same trainer since I was fifteen. We
know how to work together. He keeps me in
shape. I’m also a big fan of karting so whenever
I can, I drive my go-kart. That’s good training. I
like fishing as well, but that’s a total different side
of Felipe! It teaches me to be patient (laughs).
TRAINING I like to have a good shower in the
morning followed by a good breakfast. Things
have to be done in my own time. I don’t like to
rush. I arrive at the track and make sure that
everything that we can control are in fact under
control, because in racing there are things the
driver can do, and other things that cannot be
foreseen. So, I want to make sure that what
should be under control is. At midday, we grab
some lunch. Then I spend some time with Fergus
from Pro Performance: we do some warm up
and exercises before getting in the car. I call my
girlfriend too. I tell Colin (Carlin’s team manager)
to come give me a hug (laughs). Then I grab my
helmet and my gloves. I want to do things on my
own. Once I’m on the grid, I know I don’t need
to worry about anything. Knowing that I’m doing
what I want keeps me calm.
HOBBIES
I like to go see my friends in
London. It’s a great city. I like to read sometimes,
but it has to be interesting. If I’m bored after
ten pages, I stop. I just finished Andre Agassi’s
biography. I enjoyed it a lot. I like action movies
as well. But I have limited free time since I have a
lot to with Williams F1 too: PR events, meetings,
simulator work…
Raffaele
Marciello
Don’t call him Lello, but Mister
Marciello. The mighty Italian has
finally claimed a well-deserved
maiden GP2 win denying local
hero Stoffel Vandoorne in the final
laps and making Ferrari proud.
He’ll be looking for a repeat on
home soil in two week at Monza.
Felipe Nasr
Title hopeful Nasr survived a
disappointing qualifying result to
finish in the points on Saturday
and, on the following day, he
clinched a fourth win this season
in fine style. He’s reduced the gap
to Jolyon Palmer in the drivers’
standings to 32 points.
André NegrÃo
The loveable Brazilian has had his
best GP2 race weekend to date
in Belgium: although he qualified
in a disastrous 24th place, he
mastered the treacherous track
conditions on Saturday to finish
9th. On Sunday, he scored one
more point. Parabens!
Nathanaël
Berthon
The Frenchman thought he
had done the hardest job after
qualifying in a strong seventh
place – Lazarus’ best ever
qualifying result. Unfortunately, the
rest of his weekend proved to be
more challenging and Nathanaël
left Spa pointless.
Stéphane
Richelmi
Everybody knows that Stéphane
is quick and so is his DAMS car.
But lately, something does not
click and a bad tyre strategy on
Saturday led the Monegasque
driver to a disappointing weekend.
There is no doubt however that he
will bounce back quickly and he’ll
be back on top in Monza.
STATS TO CHAT
A DAY IN THE LIFE
STATS FROM SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
35.375
Gap between Stoffel Vandoorne and
Johnny Cecotto at the chequered flag
on Saturday.
10
Number of
podiums for both
DAMS and Carlin
in 2014.
GP2
3
Number of rookies who have
won a race this season –
all feature races: Stoffel
Vandoorne, Arthur Pic and
Raffaele Marciello.
9
ARTEM
MARKELOV
Road Trippin’
Red Hot Chili Peppers
SATURDAY
(08) AUGUST
Number of
different race
winners so far.
Awake with the torrential rain battering on the
zzzzz back to sleep in my comfy bed (like sleeping
in a marshmallow!)
06:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Alarm goes off, time to start the day!
07:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Still getting ready…..you know what girls are like!
08:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
ZONE
NAME THAT RACE
How many
drivers won at
least one race
in the 2008
season?
#GP2TRIVIA
#NTRGP2
MIND BOGGLE
TOP
(Hair…)
MIDDLE
(Eyes,
Nose…)
BOTTOM
(Mouth…)
23
hotel roof.
06:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Enter the zone to accept the challenge! Answer our trivia questions, work out
which drivers’ face we’ve mixed up and name that race from the photo. Got it?
Tweet away!
GP2 trivia
De
borah Lya
Arden Internatill, Team coordinator onal
Rosberg recovers for
second in dramatic race
Title contenders Nico Rosberg
and Lewis Hamilton looked
to have another one-two sewn up
after annexing the front row in a rain
affected qualifying session at Spa
Francorchamps, with the German just
pipping his teammate for the top spot.
Hamilton took the lead at the start, but
a collision between the pair on lap two
saw him limping back to the pits with a
flat tyre, and the German was forced
to change his front wing soon after.
Hamilton ultimately retired from the race,
while Rosberg fought back through the
field to finish in P2, 3 seconds behind
race winner Ricciardo.
Driver 1?
Driver 2?
Driver 3?
#GP2MINDBOGGLE
Breakfast - the hotel breakfast is top 2 of the
OUR GRADUATES IN F1
Over at Force India qualifying didn’t go
to plan when Nico Hülkenberg failed to
get out of Q1 and Sergio Pérez lined up
in P13, 5 spots ahead of his teammate,
after the pair struggled with the changing
conditions. Both men moved forward
in the race, with the Mexican finishing
in P8 and the German pushing into the
points in P10, suggesting there was
more to be made if qualy had gone a
little better.
Still, they had better luck that the Lotus
pair: Romain Grosjean fought valiantly
to get into Q2 for P15, two spots ahead
of teammate Pastor Maldonado, but
the Frenchman suffered front wing
damage at the first corner before
his car failed, while the Venezuelan
also retired during the race with car
problems. Over at Sauber Esteban
Gutiérrez also had car troubles, with
minimal laps in practice and the car
shutting down in qualifying leaving him
beached in P20, but at least he was
able to move forward during the race
to finish in P15.
Down at Marussia Jules Bianchi had
a tremendous run in qualifying to
get into Q2 for P16, getting on top
of the mixed conditions better than
teammate Max Chilton, who had to
make do with P19, albeit ahead of
Caterham’s Marcus Ericsson, who
struggled to get anywhere and lined up
last on the grid. Unfortunately for the
Frenchman his race was ruined by a
first corner collision which caused a
puncture, but he struggled on to finish
18th, while ahead of him Chilton beat
out his Swedish rival in the closing laps
for P16.
hotels we stay in during the season.
08:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Drive the GP2 engineers to the circuit.
09:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
GP2 Pit stop practice for the team - I just take
the photos :)
09:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Watch GP3 Qualifying, check emails and make
coffee for everyone.
10:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Download GP3 times and format for engineers.
10:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Download photos from GP2/ GP3 Series and upload
to social media & website.
11:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Meet our sponsors Universal Tools who are here
with us this weekend, Garage Tour, catchup.
11:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Meet more guests at the main gate to bring them
into the paddock.
12:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Pick up more lunch passes and distribute to
guests.
12:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Meet some more guests at the main gate.
13:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Just missed the downpour as the heavens open up!
We now have a river running through GP3 awning!
13:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Quick lunch.
14:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Getting ready to go to the pit lane for GP2 Race 1.
14:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Move from Support pits to F1 pit lane on quad.
15:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Usher guests onto the grid and then back to the
paddock.
15:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Watch GP2 Race from inside the RedBull garage -
they are most hospitable! Red flag -so much rain!
16:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Resume watching race. Rene out :( Andre up
to p8!
16:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Andre loses to Abt on last corner :( but picks up
his first points of the season.
17:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Back to the garage, download and format the times
for engineers.
17:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Watch GP3 Race - oh no 4 laps down and two
drivers out :(
18:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Meet up with our sponsors again for a chat and
some photos with our drivers.
18:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Download photos from GP2/ GP3 Series and upload
to social media & website. Take driver quotes.
19:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Take photos of GP3 cars damage for insurance
claims.
19:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Dinner & change to trousers - too cold for a skirt
here! Few comments as first time in a few years
since I’ve worn trousers :)
20:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Check emails and start writing press release for
todays events.
20:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Start stickering GP3 new bodywork following today’s
purchases.
21:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
The GP2 team leave the track. I’m staying with the
GP3 guys.
22:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Still at the track as the GP3 guys have a few
hours work still to go…..looking forward to the
marshmallow bed and some warmth!
00:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
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LIKE US
Stoffel Vandoorne @svandoorne
POLE Position at my home track! This is
mega. Big push for the race tomorrow!
#BelgianGP #HomeRace #GP2 #ART
Raffaele Marciello @R_Marciello
Victory and fastest lap!! So happy thank
you guys. Vittoria e giro veloce! Strafelice
Grazie a tutti!
SEPTEMBER,
05-06-07
@insideFDA
MONZA
Queste sono vere emozioni
@R_Marciello ...#testone
@DJRedders
@GP2_official
ITALY
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
@carmenjorda
5.793 km
Start/Finish
Offset
0.309 km
If this is our future, #F1 will be fine.
@GP2_Official #GP2
11
@BeckettsGP2
Seems like @ArtemMarkelov is on fire
today. Amazing battle with Canamasas
so far, P11 and P12 at the moment.
#SeeSPArksFly
Sector 2
7
Sector 3
9
10
8
2
6
Jolyon Palmer @JolyonPalmer
Back on the podium today with P3 but not
really the weekend we were after. Already
looking forward to Monza in a couple of
weeks.
Who is Mario Isola?
@caterhamgp2
@jannthaman
Big congrats to @FelipeNasr on winning
today’s GP2 race in Spa in a dominant
display @BBnosEsportes #BancoDoBrasil
Mario is Pirelli’s racing manager, and
among his many tasks is managing
Pirelli’s GP2 programme, which has been
in place since the Italian firm entered
Formula One in 2011.
Mario is essentially motorsport director
Paul Hembery’s right-hand man, looking
after the day-to-day running of Pirelli’s
Formula One operations at the circuit
and back at base in Milan, liaising with
the teams and organisers. He also helps
to run all of Pirelli’s 250 other motorsport
programmes.
@Lotus_F1Team
Congratulations @AlexJ_Fontana! Podium
finish and fastest lap in the @GP3_Official
race this morning! #BelgianGP
@Marussia_F1Team
@artem_markelov
@matheotu12
@Jason_A_Swales
So he’s arguably one of the busiest
people within all of Pirelli, because as
well as races he is present at nearly of all
of the tests for F1, GP2 and many other
series.
However, GP2 is one of the championships
that he enjoys watching most.
I have to say the @GP2_Official and
@GP3_Official races today have been
great entertainment!
Luca Ghiotto @luca_ghiotto
Pole in my first ever @GP3_Official race!
Really cool car to drive in this amazing
circuit! #BelgianGP #GP3
CLICK HERE to access
GP2 Paddock
1
Sector 1
Speed
Trap
5
@WilliamsRacing
A win for Marussia! GP3 branch.
@GP3_Official to be precise. Absolutely
THRILLED for @TheDeanStoneman on a
great drive. Congratulations Team
4
@hilmermotorsport
@angola.rt
“Within Pirelli, we’ve always had this
philosophy of promoting young drivers,”
he points out. “So all the work we do
on every step of the ladder is very
important. Of all the championships,
GP2 is fascinating to watch: the drivers
are already at a very high level but still
extremely hungry to prove themselves.
So this makes for really entertaining
racing, where the drivers are keen to find
anything that gives them an advantage,
as all the cars are identical. As a result,
they are very interested in tyre strategy,
and getting the maximum out of their
tyres as possible. That’s what makes
GP2 such fun to work with”
Mario additionally takes responsibility for
co-ordinating the Pirelli engineering work
on-site (as well as nine GP2 fitters) – and
if there is a problem to be solved, he is
the man that people go to.
3
RACE 1 30 LAPS > 173.481 KM
RACE 2 21 LAPS > 121.344 KM
RACE 1 17 LAPS > 98.172 KM
RACE 2 17 LAPS > 98.172 KM
GP2 Series> Prime Hard
> Option Medium
CHOICE GP3 Series> Medium
TYRES Mario, born in Milan, joined Pirelli from
university, starting off his career as a tyre
tester for road cars, helping to develop
new patterns and compounds. This gave
him a particular sensitivity to the way in
which tyres work, which has served him
well over the years.
Mario then went on to be an engineer
in rallying and endurance racing,
eventually moving on to manage these
entire programmes on behalf of Pirelli.
He doesn’t have much spare time, but
he volunteers as an ambulance driver
in Milan and he is also an amateur rally
driver.
Ironically though, his favourite mode of
transport is on two wheels: he often rides
his motorbike to many of the European
grands prix
PAST WINNERS
GP2 SERIES™ (2013)
Race 1 Leimer (Racing Engineering)
Race 2 Quaife-Hobbs (Hilmer Motorsport)
GP3 SERIES™ (2013)
Race 1 Kvyat (MW Arden)
Race 2 Harvey (ART Grand Prix)
When Sunday August, 24 _ 11:25
WhereCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps,
Spa, Belgium
Who Felipe Nasr . Carlin
Whom Sam Bloxham
With Canon EOS-1D X
EF600mm f/4L IS USM
400 ISO • 600mm
1/640 @ F5.0
CLICK HERE FOR MORE
GP2 SERIES™ PHOTOS
When Sunday August, 24 _ 10:06
WhereCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps,
Spa, Belgium
Who Alex Lynn . Carlin
Whom Sam Bloxham
With Canon EOS-1D X
EF600mm f/4L IS USM
800 ISO • 600mm
1/800 @ F5.0
CLICK HERE FOR MORE
GP3 SERIES™ PHOTOS
ROUND 6
What’s
UP! Power Rangers
2014
CLASSIFICATIONS
AFTER
ROUND 6/9
DRIVERS’ STANDINGS
1. Alex Lynn Rookie
2M 1M 153
2. Richie Stanaway
1M 1M 121
3. Nick Yelloly 95 4. Emil Bernstorff Rookie 1M 91
5. Jimmy Eriksson
1M 85
6. Dino Zamparelli 81
7. Marvin Kirchhöfer Rookie 1M 80
8. Dean Stoneman
1M 1M 70
9. Jann Mardenborough Rookie 1M 61
10. Patric Niederhauser 1M 37
11. Mathéo Tuscher Rookie
25
12. Robert Vișiou 22
13. Alex Fontana 20
14. Riccardo Agostini Rookie 18
15. Patrick Kujala 16
16. Pål Varhaug 11
17. Roman de Beer Rookie 8
18. Luís Sá Silva 4
19. Luca Ghiotto Rookie 4
20. Nelson Mason Rookie 0 21. Alfonso Celis Jr Rookie 0
22. Kevin Ceccon 0 23. Adderly Fong 0
24. Santiago Urrutia Rookie 0
25. Ryan Cullen Rookie 0
26. Mitchell Gilbert Rookie 0
27. Beitske Visser Rookie 0
28. Carmen Jordá 0 29. Victor Carbone Rookie 0
30. Sebastian Balthasar Rookie 0
31. Nikolay Martsenko Rookie 0
32. Ivan Taranov Rookie 0
33. John Bryant-Meisner Rookie 0
34. Denis Nagulin Rookie 0
35. Christopher Höher Rookie 0
NC Konstantin Tereshchenko Rookie
.
=
=
+3
=
-2
+1
-2
=
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=
=
=
+6
-1
-1
+1
-2
-2
>
+2
-3
>
-3
-3
-2
-2
-2
-1
-3
-2
-2
-2
>
-3
-3
TEAMS’ STANDINGS
1. Carlin
2M 2M
2. Status Grand Prix
1M 1M
3. ART Grand Prix
1M
4. Arden International 2M
5. Marussia Manor Racing 1M 1M
6. Koiranen GP
1M
7. Jenzer Motorsport
8. Hilmer Motorsport
9. Trident
248
216
181
120
86
85
36
18
12 CLICK HERE FOR
COMPLETE RESULTS
=
=
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+1
-1
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=
GP3 Technical Director Didier Perrin
explains the tremendously important
process of dyno testing.
“The purpose of dyno testing is to make sure all
of the engines deliver the same performance.
Prior to the start
of the season,
every
single
GP3
engine
is dyno tested
before
being
issued to the
teams. Only the
ones which are
within a narrow
range of power
are delivered to
the teams. All
engines much
remain in the
specific “narrow
range” for the
full duration of
the
season.
If a team decides to adapt the performance
of one of their engines, they can request a
ROUND 6
RACE 1 REPORTS CLICK HERE
dyno test which will be completed under the
supervision of a FIA delegate. The engines
are never removed from a race event - dyno
testing only takes place outside of race
events.
“If
a
team
requests a dyno
test and the
engine is found
to be within the
correct
range,
the team will be
charged for for
the
operation.
A l t e r n a t i v e l y,
if
an
engine
requires fixing or
a replacement is
necessary,
the
team will not be
charged. During
the long history
of working with
GP2 and GP3,
the vast majority of dyno tests conducted
were within range. “
RACE 2 REPORTS CLICK HERE
NOTHING BUT THE BITS
#InTheGroove
Hilmer Motorsport’s Nelson Mason
produced his best result of his rookie
season with P10 in Spa Race 2.
#SpaceMan
Konstantin Tereshchenko escaped
unharmed after flying skywards in a
spectacular crash thanks to the strong
Dallara chassis and roll hoops.
#MammaMia
Trident’s Luca Ghiotto impressed on
his debut weekend with a stunning
pole position, three tenths faster than
Bernstorff in P2.
#ThinkingCap
The first six drivers in race one all made
the smart and brave call to start on
slicks – strategy was key to success on
Saturday.
WHERE ARE
THEY NOW?
HEROES I had the common idol of Ayrton
Senna. Aside, my brother is my biggest hero,
he’s the most patient person in the world. He’s
had all of the talent to go to any racing series,
we never had the money and he paved the
way to me. I got the best of everything and he
got the worst, and he was probably a better
racing driver than me. He’s been my driver
coach since I was a wee pup.
RACE DAY ROUTINE I always put my right
shoe on before my left, my right glove on before
my left. I don’t have a main race sponsor at
the moment so I have Alpinestars and
OMP, so on Fridays I wear all OMP and
WEEK
Dean Stoneman
Back to that winning feeling! A
superb drive from P11 on the grid
plus making the correct tyre call to
start on slicks earned him 27 points
and his second GP3 victory of the
season in tricky conditions – bravo
Dean.
Alex Lynn
Pitting for slicks on the formation
lap of Race 1 saved his race
weekend: a P8 finish gave him
reverse pole in Race 2 which
he duly converted into victory,
his first since Austria. The Carlin
and Red Bull Junior Team ace
also extended his Series lead to
32 points.
Nick Yelloly
21 points scored including a
valuable podium on Saturday saw
the Status Grand Prix pro rocket
from sixth to third in the Drivers’
Standings, a good weekend’s work
for the Brit.
Hot LAP NELSOn
MASON
In the beginning My grandmother raced
go karts when she was young so I caught the
racing big early on. My father raced amateur
stuff for fun. My brother whose 3 years older
than me wanted to go karting and I said well
what about me, if he’s allowed, I want to try.
My parents got me a dirtbike as I was too
young to go-kart so I started in motocross
when I was four and half. I won the Canadian
National Motocross championship when I
was 7. I wasn’t allowed to move to the next
category until I was 10, so then I moved into
go karting and from then on it was four wheels
for me.
GOOD
JIMMY ERIKSSON
The unlucky Swede dropped
from third to fifth in the title
chase after being taken out by
Patric Niederhauser at Turn 1 of
Saturday’s race. Starting from
the back in Sunday’s race, the
Koiranen GP driver fought ably but
came away from Spa pointless.
Onwards and upwards!
on Saturday I think Alpinestars are quicker
so I wear them for qualifying. For the races
I wear OMP as I feel it’s a better longevity. I
know it’s insane!
TRAINING I usually do around two hours
of cardio each day, consisting of sprints and
running. I do two hours of weight training a
day, five days a week. I train quite hard. I
prefer sprints to running as it’s better for fast
acting muscles, it doesn’t delay them. Sprints
are good to keep my heart rate up so it’s
similar to that in the car.
HOBBIES I read the GP3 website and of
course the Insider Magazine. My brother and
I are involved in a non-profit organisation:
Team CMS. It’s to help young Canadians
move up into motorsport. We help with finding
sponsorship and I do a lot of research into the
next upcoming talent and who would need
financial help. I have my girlfriend and my
little dog I spend time with too.
Fourth F1 podium for Bottas
2011 GP3 Champion Valtteri Bottas was all
smiles after securing his fourth F1 podium in
Spa-Francorchamps for Williams Martini racing
after a fine drive for third place. Reigning GP3
title winner Daniil Kvyat was back in the points
achieving ninth place: his fifth points’ finish in
his rookie season, in a week in which he’s been
confirmed for a second season with Scuderia
Toro Rosso. Esteban Gutiérrez brought his
Sauber F1 Team machine home in 15th.
Hilmer Motorsport’s Daniel Abt had by far his
best weekend of his GP2 career. The German
driver finished P8 in the Feature Race to give
him reverse pole on Sunday. The 2012 GP3
Vice-Champion finished the day in fourth place,
bagging himself a tally of 10 points in Belgium.
Mitch Evans produced a solid weekend,
pocketing 18 points with a fifth and a fourth
to underline his place in the top five of the
standings. GP3 graduate Stefano Coletti also
collected two points after a great comeback
drive from 24th on the grid. It was a washout of
a weekend for Conor Daly who crashed out in
the treacherous conditions and failed to score.
Patric Niederhauser
He’s described it as the worst
weekend of his life: an accident on
Saturday meant the likeable Swiss
started Race 2 from the pitlane
after a penalty. Unfortunately, the
Arden International driver crashed
out on Sunday, but he will be
aiming to come back strong in
Monza and show his true calibre.
BAD
WEEK
Stats FROM SPA
5
10
It’s the first time Series
leader Alex Lynn has not
started on the front row this
season, qualifying P5 at Spa.
Dean Stoneman’s
victory led Marussia
Manor Racing to a
career total of 10 wins.
1
25
STATS
TO CHAT
Trident scored their first ever
pole position in GP3 with
rookie Luca Ghiotto in Spa.
The total tally of
rostrums achieved
by Status Grand
Prix.
GP3 GAME ZONE
GP3 trivia
NAME THAT RACE
How many
different drivers
have achieved a
GP3 podium this
season?
#GP3TRIVIA
KEVIN
CECCON
#NTRGP3
SHAKE YO HELMET
Me Ne Voglio Andare
Cece MC & Spankers
feat. Michelle Lily
#1 ALEX FONTANA
#2 Marvin Kirchhöfer #3 DINO ZAMPARELLI
a bit is the colours for when I
My helmet is in
moved
up to single-seaters. I
memory of the Welsh driver
think
I
have
something nobody
Tom Pryce who was killed
else
has
with
the swirls on top
racing; my father had the same
and
the
metal
flicks.
For me the
helmet design as him. One half
helmet
means
something
very
of the helmet represents my
special
as
it’s
the
only
way
the
Greek nationality and one half
fans
can
identify
us
on
track.
I
my Swiss. The Welsh dragon
chose gold as gold stands for
is also in tribute to Tom and
matches my dragon tattoo on P1 which is where I want to be.
DINO
I’m really bad at
my chest.
designing stuff so I did a Twitter
MARVIN This is the design
competition for someone to
I’ve had since my karting days,
the only thing I’ve changed
design my helmet. Brandon
ALEX
Seaber won it and he chose
some great colours. I knew I
wanted the Z on the side for
Zamparelli and I have stars
within the “Z”. I have a cool
quote on the back which says’:
“It’s hard to beat somebody
who never gives up” which is
my mantra. I show my dual
nationality with the British
and Italian flags on the back
too. I feel the helmet is quite
stylish and matches the car
colours well.