ART Grand Prix’s Conor Daly sets the pace on day one in Spain
American Conor Daly recorded the quickest time of the day with a 1:34.578 which was 3.5 seconds faster than the best lap set in the GP3/10 car in 2012 as GP3 Series had another successful day with the second generation car with the full grid of 27 drivers continuing to learn in the new GP3 machine. Marussia Manor Racing’s Nick Cassidy topped the timesheets in the morning.
The Circuit de Catalunya hosted the second official pre-season test in damp conditions after rain had fallen overnight. After 20 minutes the drivers ventured onto the track on slicks and then the heavens opened with light rain. This was tricky for the drivers as it was too wet for slick Pirelli tyres but there was not enough water on track for use of wets, therefore Aaro Vainio (Koiranen GP), Daniil Kvyat (MW Arden), Samin Gomez (Jenzer Motorsport) and Carlos Sainz Jnr (MW Arden) were the only drivers to post a laptime. Kevin Korjus made it a Koiranen GP one-two after popping in the second fastest time, as the sunshine broke through and the track began to dry. There were two brief interruptions as David Fumanelli (Trident) stopped on circuit with technical gremlins.
Local favourite Sainz Jnr went top in the closing stages before Korjus reclaimed his position at the head of the standings. Soon after Cassidy set the best time of the morning in a 1:34.924.Korjus, Sainz Jnr, Alex Fontana (Jenzer Motorsport), Ellinas, Vainio, Lewis Williamson (Bamboo Engineering), Patric Niederhauser (Jenzer Motorsport), Adderly Fong (Status Grand Prix) and Facu Regalia (ART Grand Prix) completed the top ten at the chequered flag.
Following the two hour break, heavy clouds hung over the circuit threatening to downpour but the sun fought through. There were several stoppages in the afternoon session including Vainio spinning into the gravel and technical gremlins for Josh Webster (Status Grand Prix) Patrick Kujala (Koiranen GP), Giovanni Venturini (Trident) and Patric Niederhauser (Jenzer Motorsport).
ART Grand Prix teammates Regalia and Jack Harvey set the pace at the midway point of the session until Daniil Kvyat (MW Arden) shot to P1 with Nick Yelloly (Carlin) a mere 0.069s shy of the Russian. The final 30 minutes was like a qualifying session and was hotly contested as the drivers fed onto the track with new tyres.
Ellinas put in a flier with a 1:34.710 as the clock ticked down until American Conor Daly (ART Grand Prix) went a tenth quicker to finish the day fastest as Cassidy snuck into P3 as the chequered flag came out. Daly, Ellinas, Cassidy, Fontana, Yelloly, Regalia, Fumanelli, Kvyat, Sainz Jnr and Korjus rounded out the top ten.
Conor Daly (ART Grand Prix) commented: “We had a lot to figure out with the new GP3/13 car at the first test in Estoril and I believe now we have found a great set-up and a nice balance to achieve that one important hot lap. I am extremely happy and it was a nice surprise to be P1. I feel really positive about the second generation car, it’s much more fun to drive and certainly makes you question yourself before you add more power. I love having more speed!”
Tomorrow’s test session will run from 09.00 – 12.00 with a one hour break. The afternoon session will run from 13.00 – 16.00 CET.
Day 1: Morning
Driver Team Laptime Laps
1. Nick Cassidy Marussia Manor Racing 1:34.924
21
2. Kevin Korjus Koiranen GP 1:35.196
19
3. Carlos Sainz Jnr MW Arden 1:35.261
22
4. Alex Fontana Jenzer Motorsport 1:35.350
26
5. Tio Ellinas Marussia Manor Racing 1:35.436
19
6. Aaro Vainio Koiranen GP 1:35.661
28
7. Lewis Williamson Bamboo Engineering 1:35.711
25
8. Patric Niederhauser Jenzer Motorsport 1:35.722
19
9. Adderly Fong Status Grand Prix 1:35.820
25
10. Facu Regalia ART Grand Prix 1:35.845
14
11. Nick Yelloly Carlin 1:35.878
16
12. Patrick Kujala Koiranen GP 1:35.910
18
13. Conor Daly ART Grand Prix 1:35.934
14
14. David Fumanelli Trident 1:36.045
18
15. Jack Harvey ART Grand Prix 1:36.156
12
16. Daniil Kvyat MW Arden 1:36.163
14
17. Dino Zamparelli Marussia Manor Racing 1:36.354
23
18. Josh Webster Status Grand Prix 1:36.520
23
19. Emanuele Zonzini Trident 1:36.622
14
20. Giovanni Venturini Trident 1:36.783
18
21. Robert Visoiu MW Arden 1:36.827
20
22. Jimmy Eriksson Status Grand Prix 1:37.049
17
23. Luis Sa Silva Carlin 1:37.175
19
24. Eric Lichtenstein Carlin 1:37.747
20
25. Samin Gomez Jenzer Motorsport 1:37.877
23
26. Ryan Cullen Bamboo Engineering 1:38.058
17
27. Carmen Jorda Bamboo Engineering 1:39.522
16
Day 1: Afternoon
Driver Team Laptime Laps
1. Conor Daly ART Grand Prix 1:34.578
28
2. Tio Ellinas Marussia Manor Racing 1:34.710
27
3. Nick Cassidy Marussia Manor Racing 1:34.715
23
4.
 Alex Fontana Jenzer Motorsport 1:34.826
30
5. Nick Yelloly Carlin 1:34.900
39
6. Facu Regalia ART Grand Prix 1:34.943
27
7. David Fumanelli Trident 1:35.059
32
8. Daniil Kvyat MW Arden 1:35.171
32
9. Carlos Sainz Jnr MW Arden 1:35.218
36
10. Kevin Korjus Koiranen GP 1:35.313
43
11. Jimmy Eriksson Status Grand Prix 1:35.337
34
12. Jack Harvey ART Grand Prix 1:35.402
28
13. Emanuele Zonzini Trident 1:35.448
23
14. Patric Niederhauser Jenzer Motorsport 1:35.593
19
15. Lewis Williamson Bamboo Engineering 1:35.604
30
16. Giovanni Venturini Trident 1:35.651
33
17. Dino Zamparelli Marussia Manor Racing 1:35.716
32
18. Adderly Fong Status Grand Prix 1:35.759
40
19. Robert Visoiu MW Arden 1:35.934
33
20. Aaro Vainio Koiranen GP 1:35.967
39
21. Luis Sa Silva Carlin 1:36.277
34
22. Josh Webster Status Grand Prix 1:36.424
10
23. Samin Gomez Jenzer Motorsport 1:36.485
36
24. Eric Lichtenstein Carlin 1:36.572
44
25. Ryan Cullen Bamboo Engineering 1:37.909
24
26. Patrick Kujala Koiranen GP 1:37.955
12
27. Carmen Jorda Bamboo Engineering 1:38.683
43

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR