Four rounds down, four more to go! The action is about to hot up (literally) as we pass the midway point of the 2013 GP3 season and move onto Round 5 in Budapest. Three weeks ago, Nürburgring hosted Round 4 and it was the inform Facu Regalia (ART Grand Prix) who dominated Race 1 after claiming his first pole, before achieving his maiden GP3 win, pocketing fastest lap as a bonus. However, the Argentine wasn’t so fortunate for Race 2 when a problem on the pre-grid meant he had to start from the pitlane and later retired.
Series leader Tio Ellinas (Marussia Manor Racing) continued his rich reign of form with a rostrum finish in Race 1 and further points in Race 2, extending his championship lead. The Cypriot has eight consecutive points’ finishes to his name, the only driver in the category to do so.
Melville McKee was victorious in Race 2 holding off immense pressure from Status Grand Prix’s Alexander Sims in the dying stages to record his debut win and the first for the Bamboo Engineering squad. McKee was the eighth different winner from eight races showing how competitive the 2013 campaign is.
Ellinas on 91 points holds a 19 point advantage in the Series over Regalia, with Kevin Korjus, Jack Harvey and Conor Daly on 59, 57 and 52 respectively. ART Grand Prix increased their lead in the standings are on 181 with Koiranen GP and MW Arden on 103 and 99 apiece.
The tight and twisty Hungaroring is a demanding circuit for drivers but the biggest challenge facing the 27 competitors this weekend will be the heat, with very high temperatures forecast.
Adderly Fong returns to Status Grand Prix, replacing Sims who stepped into the #18 car for one round, whilst his teammate Josh Webster has a five place grid penalty for Saturday’s race following an incident in Nürburgring.
Pirelli have nominated the Medium tyre for this event.