Issue 75 - 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
75
ISSUE 5
2014, JULY 9
ROUND 5
SILVERSTONE
WIN
2VIP
PASSES
THAT’S
ONE!
Evans enjoys first GP2 win.
Nasr keeps the pressure on Palmer.
SILVERSTONE
GP3 SERIES™
ROUND 3
SUPER SWEDE
Jimmy Eriksson closes the gap on Series leader Lynn with maiden win
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NEWS
ROUND 5
RACE 1 REPORTS
CLICK HERE
ROUND 5
RACE 2 REPORTS
CLICK HERE
BEST BITS
#FollowTheLeader
AFTER
ROUND
Jolyon Palmer was back on the podium
at Silverstone and remains the only driver
to have scored points in every single race
this season. Impressive!
05
2014 CLASSIFICATIONS
#Heartbreak
A maiden pole position on Friday and a
perfect start on Saturday for Raffaele
Marciello, but the Italian ace’s race ended
in tears on mechanical gremlins.
DRIVERS’ STANDINGS
1. Jolyon Palmer
1M 1M
2. Felipe Nasr
1M 2M
3. Johnny Cecotto Jr.
1M 1M
4. Mitch Evans
1M
5. Stefano Coletti
6. Julián Leal
7. Stoffel Vandoorne Rookie 1M
8. Arthur Pic Rookie
9. Stéphane Richelmi 1M
10. Raffaele Marciello Rookie
11. Rio Haryanto
12. Sergio Canamasas
13. Simon Trummer
14. Tom Dillmann
15. Takuya Izawa Rookie
16. Alexander Rossi
17. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs
18. Tio Ellinas Rookie
19. Rene Binder
20. Marco Sørensen Rookie
21. Daniel Abt
22. Conor Daly
23. Artem Markelov Rookie
24. Daniël de Jong
25. Nathanaël Berthon
26. Jon Lancaster
27. Kimiya Sato Rookie
28. André Negrão Rookie
29. Facu Regalia Rookie
30. Axcil Jefferies Rookie
143
105
94
67
67
66
58
41
40
29
26
22
18
14
11
10 10
7
3
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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=
+4
+1
-2
-2
-1
=
+1
-1
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=
=
=
=
=
=
=
>
+2
-2
-2
-2
-1
+1
-2
-2
-1
-1
CLICK HERE FOR
COMPLETE RESULTS
During last week’s Silverstone F1 Grand Prix
event, the Fan Zone was once again pretty
popular with Pirelli setting up a stand for the
public to come and try changing a tyre on a
Formula car. They found it is not as easy as it
looks… And they thought they did really well
until we sent some of our boys to show them
how it’s really done!
Arden International, Racing Engineering and
Trident sent three of their best mechanics on
Friday following the GP2 qualifying session.
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+1
-1
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+1
-1
Ahead of Round 5 at Silverstone, Arden
International decided to create an online
auction for one fan to get the chance to have
their name on the front wing endplate of
both of Arden’s GP2 cars. The money raised
was donated to Special Effect, a charity
organisation dedicated to providing leisure
facilities for disabled children – most of them
who do not have use of their hands and feet.
Special Effect have designed several software
games in association with Codemasters (from
a soapbox race to dirt 3 rally games) using
computer software, a webcam and a visual
beam to drive the cars with solely your eyes.
The target of the online auction was to raise
£400 for the charity. Briton Chris Evans was
the lucky winner after André Negrão drew his
name out from all of the generous donators.
TRS Total Rail Solutions also pitched in to
successfully reach the target amount of £400.
For more information check out
www.specialeffect.org.uk
Seventh in his first GP2 qualifying session,
newcomer Marco Sørensen scored
points in both races in Great Britain with
MP Motorsport.
#DontBlink
STEFANO
COLETTI
que la mienne”. It’s about the tsunami in Sri
Lanka. It’s a really good book. Well, I’ve only just
started reading it, but so far, it’s great!
TRAINING I train every day, usually in the
afternoon. I have a trainer in Monaco. I do what
he tells me to do, no questions asked. I just do
it. But I don’t really like anything about training to
be honest. The thing I hate the most is cardio. My
trainer usually makes me throw up after training
(laughs)! That’s probably why I don’t like it!
In the beginning I had two friends who
were doing go-karts. One day they had a race
close to where I live and they asked me if I
wanted to come. I was seven. When I saw it for
the first time live, I went crazy and I wanted to try
it. A few days later, my dad took me to a go-kart
place in Italy and I drove for the first time there. I
never wanted to stop since then.
HEROES Drivers usually say Senna. I admire
Alex Zanardi for what he did after his accident.
For him to recover like he did, going back to
racing cars, doing Paralympics, winning medals
and having the strength to go forward and do
different things, it is simply amazing and a true
life lesson.
RACE DAY ROUTINE I usually lie on the bed
in the Racing Engineering truck. It’s the first team
I have that have a proper bed in the track. Before,
I usually lied on the floor. I listen to some music.
I like all kinds of music really. And sometimes,
I read. I know it’s unusual for a racing driver
(laughs)! Currently, I’m reading “Une autre vie
MITCH EVANS
Monkey off his back! The 2012
GP3 Series Champion has
finally claimed his first GP2 win:
the New Zealander displayed a
strong and mature drive to deny
Series leader Jolyon Palmer
victory.
Rookie Artem Markelov had a blazing start
from P26 on Saturday. The Russian gained
ten positions in the opening lap.
Dialling in… STEFANO COLETTI
They changed the front right tyre in three
different attempts to try and set the best pitstop
time. The large crowd were very passionate
and encouraged them on loudly. And maybe it
was because we were in England, but it was
the Brits’ from Arden who were quickest in
4.43s, three hundredths faster than Trident. As
for the Racing Engineering lads, they finished
third – we believe they were still on a high
from Raffaele Marciello’s pole set just a few
minutes earlier.
Everyone can play
TEAMS’ STANDINGS
1. DAMS
1M 2M 183
2. Carlin
1M 2M 171
3. Trident
1M 1M 116
4. Racing Engineering 96
5. ART Grand Prix
1M
69
6. RT RUSSIAN TIME
1M 67
7. Campos Racing 41
8. EQ8 Caterham Racing 36 9. Rapax 28
10. Arden International 17
11. MP Motorsport 10
12. Hilmer Motorsport 1
13. Venezuela GP Lazarus 0
Take it from the pros
#StellarStart
HOBBIES Off track, I like water-sports. We
have a boat and we take it out with my friend
to go swimming at sea. We usually have nice
weather in the south of France. Other than that,
I sometimes help my dad at the office. During
the winter, I used to support my sister during
her skiing competitions, but I do not want to go
anymore: the last three times I went, she had
three injuries - the last one was in Sochi for the
Olympic Games. I think I’m bad luck for her. I’ll
just stop going!
Sure, the start of his 2014
campaign was nowhere on par
with what was expected from the
Monegasque driver. But since
Austria, Stefano is back in the
game and hungry for more.
FELIPE NASR
A true fighter. The Brazilian
qualified a disappointing sixth
on Friday. He made a strong
start on Saturday and looked set
for another podium finish, but a
pistop problem ruined his efforts.
On Sunday, Felipe made sure
the win was his, the third this
season.
ARTHUR PIC
Another disappointing race
weekend for the Frenchman
who failed to score points at
Silverstone – the first time this
season. A strong qualifying in
Germany should fix that in two
weeks.
EQ8 Caterham
Racing
The Malaysian squad had high
hopes before the fifth round of
the season, but left their second
home pointless and with a lot of
regrets. Expect the hard-workers
to bounce back quickly.
STATS TO CHAT
A DAY IN THE LIFE
STATS FROM SILVERSTONE
3
9
FELIPE
NASR
now has the most
wins this season.
Rookie Raffaele Marciello
led nine laps Saturday’s
race from pole positions
before his mandatory pit
stop and early retirement.
GP2
0.027s
Difference between Marciello’s
pole laptime and Jolyon Palmer’s.
60
Palmer’s Saturday
second place makes
it 60 podiums for
DAMS in GP2
Series™ in total.
KIMIYA
SATO
Kurenai
X Japan
NAME THAT RACE
#NTRGP2
MIND BOGGLE
Recognise these
helmet designs?
Name the drivers.
AN TIME
05
Wake up and go for a little jog.
07:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Get ready to go to the track.
08:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Which driver
has covered
the most laps
in the 2006
season?
#GP2TRIVIA
SATURDAY
(07) JULY
ZONE
Enter the zone to accept the challenge! Answer our trivia questions, work out which
3 drivers’ helmet designs we’ve mixed up and name that race from the photo. Got it?
Tweet away!
GP2 trivia
Mitch Evans,
Driver #1, RT R
USSI
Driver 1?
Driver 2?
Driver 3?
#GP2MINDBOGGLE
OUR GRADUATES IN F1
Hamilton fights back
with Silverstone win
Lewis
Hamilton
got
his
championship fight back on
track with a rousing win in front of his
home fans this weekend in Silverstone,
closing the points gap to teammate Nico
Rosberg to just 4 as the German failed
to finish the race following a mechanical
gremlin. Rosberg was leading the race
from pole when his car stopped, just
to compound his pain, but the Briton
made up for a mistake in qualifying with
a strong run to be in the right place to
pick up the victory, with no other driver
coming close to challenging him.
Behind the Mercedes pair Nico
Hülkenberg had a strong weekend
to outperform expectations again:
the German qualified in P4 with a
spectacular drive when conditions were
at their best, but in the hot race he was
forced to fight off a number of drivers in
quicker cars, making P8 a great result at
the end of the race. Teammate Sergio
Pérez’s day was done when a clash
with Vergne at the start dropped him to
the back, but a solid fightback saw the
Mexican finish in P11.
Romain Grosjean was hoping to find
something worthwhile from his team’s
home race, but it was a case of so close,
so far: the Frenchman qualified in P11
and fought hard all day, but was unable
to stop faster cars coming through and
finished in P12, a few seconds off the
points. Teammate Pastor Maldonado
had a torrid weekend after a mistake
by the team saw the Venezuelan line
up in P20, and a collision with Esteban
Gutiérrez saw him retire from the race.
The Mexican himself probably had a
worse weekend, after losing his car on
a damp kerb at Brooklands in Q2 saw
Gutiérrez line up in P19, and then also
fail to finish due to the crash, picking
up a grid penalty in the process.
Meet Mark Webber for breakfast at a
local Café with my family.
09:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Leave for Silverstone.
10:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Arrive at the circuit, go and see my
team quickly.
11:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Game Zone simulator apparence,
everyone got there arses kicked!!
11:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Head back to the GP2 paddock.
12:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
11:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
The
Marussia
teammates
had
a
fantastic
weekend
following
tremendous laps in qualifying at the
right time in the weather conditions
saw Jules Bianchi line up in P12 with
Max Chilton one place back until a
gearbox replacement pushed him to
P17: the Briton was in the wrong place
when Räikkönen crashed, hitting a
loose wheel but still finishing in P16,
while the Frenchman fought hard to
hang on for a P14 finish.
Over in the green pit new owners
didn’t have a positive effect on results
as Marcus Ericsson and Kamui
Kobayashi lined up at the back of the
grid in P21 and P22 respectively: in the
race the Swede ran wide and retired
with subsequent suspension damage,
while his teammate picked up damage
in the Raikkonen crash but continued
to finish 15th.
Go over strategy and more data with
Gavin my Engineer.
12:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Have a quick feed to make sure I have
enough fuel in my body for the race.
13:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Watching F1 qualifying/getting ready for
our race.
13:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Race start, starting 3rd.
14:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Good battle with Jolyon.
15:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Win my first GP2 race!
15:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Celebrate with my family and team.
16:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Debrief.
17:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Press Conference.
17:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Back to celebrating with my family and
team.
18:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Leave track to get dinner.
19:00 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Arrive home and watch replay of the
race.
20:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
Bed time!
22:30 ............................................................................................................................................................................................
follow us
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#yoursay
Pit stop pressure
Mitch Evans @mitchevans_
Can finally call myself a @GP2_Official
race winner! The feeling is amazing, I
can’t describe it! Thank you everyone for
the epic support!!
Daniel Abt @Daniel_Abt
Big congrats to @mitchevans_ for the win
today. Great to see you up there. Hope I
can join you soon like in our GP3 days
@realsimonsays
@GP2_Official
@nickyelloly
It’s not just the drivers who are under
pressure at a GP2 race. The pit stop
crews also play a crucial role in the
outcome of a race: who can sometimes
make the difference between winning
and losing. Mitch Evans, who won his first
GP2 race at Silverstone last weekend,
says that his pit stop formed a key part
of his victory, together with a rapid in-lap
that enabled to wheel-changing crew to
make a vital difference.
Great inspired drive by @JolyonPalmer to
P2, too. Solid lead in the @GP2_Official
points. Now for the Championship!
@damsracing #Silverstone
@BasLeinders
@svandoorne back on podium
@SilverstoneUK in @GP2_Official race..
Good Luck later...
Fabio Leimer @fabioleimer
@REOfficial Nooooo!!! :( such a beautiful
first half
@felipenasr
@victorcarbone
@leny_458
This morning we’ve seen a lovely
@GP3_Official race full of fair racing and
great moves. Massive congratulations to
#Stanaway for this win!
Marlon Stockinger @imstockinger
Good job to @StatusGrandPrix getting
1st and 2nd in today’s GP3 race on
home soil!
Dean Stoneman @TheDeanStoneman
@trident_team
JULY,
18-19-20
HOCKENHEIM
GERMANY
Hockenheimring
4.574 km
Speed
Trap
6
2
3
Sector 1
5
4
7
8
9
1
10
11
Sector 2
13
14
15
12
16
Sector 3
17
RACE 1 38 LAPS > 173.812 KM
RACE 2 27 LAPS > 123.498 KM
RACE 1 18 LAPS > 82.332 KM
RACE 2 18 LAPS > 82.332 KM
GP2 Series> Prime Medium
> Option Soft
CHOICE GP3 Series> Soft
TYRES @carmenjorda
Silverstone GP2 Feature Race Pit Stop Recap
P10 from 16th on the grid....one
championship. Don’t think anyone can
accuse me of having a boring race.
Looking forward to tomorrow
Jimmy Eriksson @jimmyjeriksson
VICTORY! Amazing feeling to finally be
on top of that podium and also as the first
Swedish driver to win in GP3
http://instagram.com/p/qFHdP3wqPR/
CLICK HERE to access
GP2 Paddock
Strict rules govern pit stops in the GP2
feature race. The stop can only take
place after six laps and there is a limit on
the number of people allowed to work on
the car. Even so, tyres are changed in a
matter of seconds. A successful pit crew
requires organisation, co-ordination, and
nerves of steel (especially from the front
jack man, who has to maintain his position
while the car hurtles towards him). He is
also the man in charge of releasing the
car back into the pit lane once the stop is
over. That too is a big responsibility, as an
unsafe release could cause an accident
or a penalty. The driver cannot see what
is coming, so he puts his total faith in the
pit crew.
No wonder organisations that range
from surgical teams to management
consultants have used motor racing
pit crews as case studies in efficient
teamwork.
It’s hard to imagine what it must be like to
be part of the pit crew in GP2, but at the
British Grand Prix fans got to find out in
Pirelli UK’s activation area, close to the
main entrance of the circuit.
Among the activities was a pit stop
challenge, where some of the leading
GP2 teams set a benchmark time during
practice pit stop wheel changes, and fans
were invited to try and beat them.
As expected, the professionals led
the way. It was also the opportunity for
the GP2 teams to enjoy some more
competition among each other, although
the circumstances weren’t exactly
realistic, as it wasn’t a real car, and there
wasn’t the added pressure of a live pit
stop.
Arden led the way in the Pirelli activation
area followed by Trident and Racing
Engineering, with all the ‘stops’ taking
between four and five seconds. It was
another fascinating opportunity for fans to
get closer to GP2 – and also see if they
could have what it takes to be among
motorsport’s elite.
@teamrussiantime
@marvinkirchhoefer
Option (Hard) > Prime (Medium)
Prime (Medium) > Option (Hard)
Richelmi Option (used) 6 laps • Prime (new) 23 laps
Abt Option (used) 6 laps • Prime (new) 23 laps
Quaife-Hobbs Option (used) 6 laps • Prime (new) 23 laps
Pic Option (used) 6 laps • Prime (used) 23 laps
Rossi Option (used) 6 laps • Prime (used) 23 laps
Izawa Option (used) 6 laps • Prime (used) 23 laps
Leal Option (used) 7 laps • Prime (new) 22 laps
Sørensen Option (used) 7 laps • Prime (new) 22 laps
Sato Option (used) 7 laps • Prime (used) 22 laps
Cecotto Option (used) 8 laps • Prime (new) 21 laps
Markelov Option (used) 8 laps • Prime (new) 12 laps
Marciello Option (used) 10 laps • Prime (new) 4 laps
Canamasas Option (used) 10 laps • Prime (new) 19 laps
Daly Prime (used) 16 laps • Option (used) 13 laps
Coletti Prime (new) 18 laps • Option (used) 11 laps
Negrão Prime (new) 18 laps • Option (used) 11 laps
Trummer Prime (new) 15 laps • Option (used) 11 laps
Palmer Prime (new) 19 laps • Option (used) 10 laps
Vandoorne Prime (used) 19 laps • Option (used) 10 laps
Berthon Prime (used) 19 laps • Option (used) 10 laps
Binder Prime (new) 19 laps • Option (used) 3 laps •
Option (used) 5 laps
Haryanto Prime (used) 19 laps • Option (used) 10 laps
M Evans Prime (new) 20 laps • Option (used) 9 laps
Nasr Prime (used) 20 laps • option (used) 9 laps
Lancaster Prime (new) 20 laps • Option (used) 9 laps
De Jong Prime (new) 22 laps • Option (used) 7 laps
PAST WINNERS
GP2 SERIES™ (2012)
Race 1 Cecotto Jr. (Barwa Addax Team)
Race 2 Calado (Lotus GP)
GP3 SERIES™ (2012)
Race 1 Niederhauser (Jenzer Motorsport)
Race 2 Evans (MW Arden)
When Saturday July, 05 _ 15:20
WhereSilverstone Circuit, Silverstone,
Northamptonshire, England
Who Mitch Evans . RT RUSSIAN TIME
Jolyon Palmer . DAMS
Whom Sam Bloxham / Ebrey
With Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM +1.4x
200 ISO • 420mm
1/800 @ F8 .0
CLICK HERE FOR MORE
GP2 SERIES™ PHOTOS
When Saturday July, 05 _ 16:55
WhereSilverstone Circuit, Silverstone,
Northamptonshire, England
Who Jimmy Eriksson . Koiranen GP
Whom Adam Warner
With Canon EOS-1D X
EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
320 ISO • 58mm
1/250 @ F9 .0
CLICK HERE FOR MORE
GP3 SERIES™ PHOTOS
ROUND 3
What’s
UP! TIPPING THE SCALES
2014
CLASSIFICATIONS
AFTER
ROUND 3/9
DRIVERS’ STANDINGS
1. Alex Lynn Rookie
2M
2. Jimmy Eriksson
1M
3. Richie Stanaway 1M
4. Emil Bernstorff Rookie 1M
5. Marvin Kirchhöfer Rookie
6. Nick Yelloly
7. Mathéo Tuscher Rookie
8. Dino Zamparelli
9. Dean Stoneman 1M
10. Patrick Kujala
11. Riccardo Agostini Rookie
12. Roman de Beer Rookie
13. Patric Niederhauser
14. Luís Sá Silva
15. Jann Mardenborough Rookie
16. Pål Varhaug
17. Alfonso Celis Jr Rookie
18. Adderly Fong
19. Robert Vișiou
20. Alex Fontana
21. Santiago Urrutia Rookie
22. Nelson Mason Rookie
23. Ryan Cullen Rookie
24. Beitske Visser Rookie
25. Victor Carbone Rookie
26. Carmen Jordá
27. Nikolay Martsenko Rookie
28. Ivan Taranov Rookie
29. Denis Nagulin Rookie
30. Sebastian Balthasar Rookie
86
78
68
58
49
38 25
25
22
16
14
8
8
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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-1
=
-2
-1
+7
-1
-1
-1
+1
-2
+8
+2
-4
-3
-2
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-1
-1
+1
-1
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>
TEAMS’ STANDINGS
1. Carlin
2M 1M 148 =
2. Status Grand Prix 1M 106 =
3. Koiranen GP
1M 78 =
4. ART Grand Prix 74 =
5. Marussia Manor Racing 1M 38 =
6. Jenzer Motorsport
25 =
7. Hilmer Motorsport 14 +2
8. Arden International 10 =
9. Trident
8 -2
CLICK HERE FOR
COMPLETE RESULTS
Ever wonder why you see the drivers’ queuing
up to be weighed following the race and
other sessions? There are many factors that
determine the minimum running weight of a
GP3 car in the regulations as GP3 Technical
Director Didier Perrin
kindly explained. “We
determine the weight
when the car is in rolling
conditions, with no fuel
and with a driver on
board. Following preseason tests, all the cars
are collected with empty
weight without ballast.
This is done each
year as traditionally a
car depends to weigh
more with age. Once
weighed, an average is
defined.
“Secondly we identify the maximum ballast
that can be fitted into the car (this means solid
ballast fixed to the monocoque under the
driver’s knees). The maximum ballast is 18kg.
“Thirdly all drivers’ are weighed in race
overalls with their helmet and HANS device.”
Hot LAP
ROUND 3
RACE 1 REPORTS CLICK HERE
“As explained on the graph we calculate the
figure at 80% of the average weight of the
drivers. We then check that the lightest driver
can be accommodated with maximum ballast
– if not we have to amend it.
RACE 2 REPORTS CLICK HERE
WEEK
NOTHING BUT THE BITS
#BigBooty
Carlin once again bagged the most
points of the weekend with 46 and
extended their lead at the top of the
table.
#JoinTheClub
Newcomers Hilmer Motorsport put
their first points on the board and now
lie seventh in the Teams’ Standings.
#HeDidItAgain
#JannTheMan
Mardenborough produced his best
qualifying with P5 and scored his
maiden points of his rookie season in
front of his home fans.
Emil Bernstorff’s making a habit of
excellent starts – this time the Carlin
ace went from P5 into P2 on lap one
of the Sunday race.
WHERE ARE
THEY NOW?
“Once we have all this information – we can
define the minimum running weight for the
GP3 car and for the 2014 season, it is 661kg.”
TRAINING
I have only started proper
training this year. I have been to Austria
and Switzerland to see specialists regarding
training. I did lots of work on the neck, circuit
training, high intensity, and high heart rate
work. I also work on low high rate to burn off
weight and add cardio.
HEROES As a kid I started watching racing
in around 2005 and Michael Schumacher
was the one to beat. Over my career
STATUS GRAND PRIX
A top job by Status Grand Prix
achieving a sterling one-two in
Race 2, plus Celis Jr claimed his
best finish with P10. The green
and black squad now sit in second
in the Teams’ Standings.
Jimmy Eriksson
A super Saturday for the Swede:
the Koiranen GP scored his first
pole in GP3, followed by a maiden
victory in Race 1. Eriksson
remains second in the Drivers’
Standings but had closed the gap
to Series leader Lynn.
RICCARDO AGOSTINI
The Italian rookie continues to
impress for Hilmer Motorsport
and pocketed his first points –
14 in total over two races along
with some brilliant overtaking
manoeuvre’s – bravo!
ADDERLY
FONG
In the beginning I have always liked
cars from a really young age. I never thought
of becoming a racing driver actually, I thought
about becoming an aero-dynamist or a car
exterior designer. I always played racing
video games but when I was 14 I went to a
Porsche club track day and we saw some
cars including a Formula Renault. There
was a huge crowd as formula racing was
quite new in Asia then. My Dad asked me if
I wanted to try it so we waited a year, as it
was my 14th birthday when I saw this race.
On my 15th birthday it was my first chance
to drive and when I was 16 I began racing
in cars. I missed the whole go-karting phase.
There is no karting in China so we came from
a different route.
GOOD
MARUSSIA MANOR
RACING
I’ve had two heroes, one was Pål Varhaug
as I always thought wow this guy is really
quick and the world is so small it turns out
he’s my teammate this year. The second
one is a female driver called Rahel Frey and
when I first competed outside of Asia in 2008
in Germany, I remember racing against her
and she won the race outright, so I had big
respect for her.
RACE DAY ROUTINE Normally I try to pray
before sessions, especially before races. The
only ritual I have is that I always get into the
car from the left hand side – I guess I just
have more mobility in the right leg.
HOBBIES I don’t get much time to relax as
I’m racing in two other series’ but earlier in
the year I was being filmed for a TV series
in China, sort of like a Chinese Top Gear but
unfortunately it didn’t get released. I’m starting
a sports management company as well. I
thoroughly enjoy and appreciate cars with a
big gathering of friends normally whether it’s
day or night and just chill out.
Career bests for
Bottas & Evans
The wait is over! 2012 GP3 Series™
Champion Mitch Evans celebrated his
debut win in GP2 after a superb Feature
Race in Silverstone to beat the current GP2
Series leader. The Kiwi has now jumped
up to fourth in the Drivers’ Standings.
Stefano Coletti pocketed a rostrum in the
Sprint Race whilst Daniel Abt claimed his
first point of the 2014 season for Hilmer
Motorsport. Two spirited drives from
Conor Daly were not enough to pocket
points despite a great start in the Feature
with a lot of brave overtakes.
Valtteri Bottas drove the race of his life after
achieving his second consecutive F1 podium, but
this time it was made even more remarkable after
qualifying a lowly 14th after a wrong call in tricky
weather conditions. Second place marked Valtteri’s
career best result in F1 and the Finn will be aiming
to go one place better in Germany. Daniil Kvyat was
back on track, making it into Q3 and grabbing two
points for ninth place – the fourth time the reigning
GP3 Champion has scored points. Esteban
Gutiérrez’ woes continued with a crash that ended
his race, the Mexican will be keeping focused for
improvements in the second half of the season.
A difficult weekend for the British
squad – only 1 point scored due
to Kujala’s race being brought to
an end after contact on lap one
whilst Dean Stoneman fell foul
of technical gremlins following
a strong drive into the points in
Race 2 – they will be hoping for
better fortunes next time out.
MITCHELL GILBERT
A nightmare debut for the
Australian rookie: a crash early
on in qualifying ruled the Trident
driver out of both races this
weekend after sustaining a small
arm injury. Get well soon Mitchell
and we hope for a happy return in
Hockenheim.
BAD
WEEK
Stats FROM SILVERSTONE TOSTATS
CHAT
1
4
2
18
Trident achieved their first
fastest lap in Silverstone
with Roman De Beer in
Race 2.
Richie Stanaway and Nick
Yelloly are the only two
drivers to have scored
points in every race.
Jimmy Eriksson has
recorded the most
number of podiums
in 2014.
The number of
finishers in Race 2
Silverstone – the
lowest of the season.
GP3 GAME ZONE
GP3 trivia
NAME THAT RACE
Which GP3
Champion has led
the most number
of laps during their
GP3 career?
#GP3TRIVIA
ALEX
FONTANA
#NTRGP3
SHAKE YO HELMET
I Don’t Care
Apocalyptica
#17 SEBASTIAN
BALTHASAR
#18 NELSON
MASON
#19 RICCARDO
AGOSTINI
our helmets too rather than a
helmet design since it’s one of
I chose these colours
my favourite colours.
professional
to
keep
it
within
because I especially like green
the family. In the blue top the
RICCARDO I have ladybirds on
because I like the environment,
design with the lines has the
the top of my helmet as when I
whilst the neon orange is the
“M”
for my surname Mason and was in karting, my Mum found a
colour of our company sponsor.
Within the design it also looks a a “J” for my middle name John. ladybird and put it with me when
The colour red is to represent
I was racing and most of the
bit like a devil at the front which I
my nationality of Canada with
time I won races so it seemed as
like. I also have my sisters name
the maple leaf on the back. The if it brought me luck. My helmet
on the back of my helmet as a
is quite simple, the colours are
surprise for her as she’s always “X” on the back is for my cousin
who passed away a few years;
important to me as I like to be
been there supporting me.
NELSON Helmet design is a he always supported me and my recognised and every year you
brother so it’s homage to him.
change your car number unlike
very personal thing to me and
People tell me I can’t wear green motorbikes so the helmet is an
fun to work with my brother
designing them. My Uncle paints so I decided to have it within my
important identity.
SEBASTIAN