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Niederhauser quickest on final day of post-season testing

2013 GP3 Series Test 5 Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Day 3, Thursday 7th November 2013. Patric Niederhauser (SUI, MW Arden) World Copyright: Sam Bloxham/LAT Photographic. ref: Digital Image _LOX5806

Swiss ace Patric Niederhauser clocked the best time on the third and final day of post-season testing at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. ART Grand Prix’s Oliver Rowland topped the morning session. Niederhauser’s personal best, a 1:55.372 was a tenth quicker than the fastest time from the morning test.

There were three new faces to the last day of the test: Levin Amweg and Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum – both for Jenzer Motorsport and Saeed Al Mehairi (Trident).

Jack Hawksworth (Status Grand Prix) was the early pace setter until Rowland who had made the switch to ART Grand Prix surged to the front. Fellow ART Grand Prix tester Alex Fontana shot into P2, whilst Rowland was the first to lap in the 1m55’s.

There was a short stoppage when Al Maktoum spun but the session quickly resumed. Rowland bettered his personal best by two tenths to increase his advantage at the top, whilst Patric Niederhauser who had moved to the MW Arden squad for the last day snuck into P2. As the clock ticked down, nobody was able to beat the best laptime of 1:55.467 posted by Rowland.

After the two and half hour session, the chequered flag was waved with the top ten as Rowland, Niederhauser, Fontana, Hawksworth, Emil Bernstorff and Jan Mardenborough (both MW Arden), Dino Zamparelli and Melville McKee with (Marussia Manor Racing), Jimmy Eriksson (ART Grand Prix) and Nick Cassidy (Status Grand Prix).

Following GP2’s turn on track since the Series’ are sharing the test sessions, the afternoon test got underway and once again it was Rowland who headed the timesheets early doors. The top three spots were held by ART Grand Prix as Fontana and Eriksson slotted into second and third. At the midway point Cassidy was on the move into P2, until Niederhauser bettered his time by three hundredths of a second.

With 30 minutes remaining Dean Stoneman (Koiranen GP) disposed of Rowland’s P1 with Eriksson rising up to second, but Rowland found some extra pace to reclaim his position at the head of the timesheet by a mere 0.008s. However, Niederhauser had other plans and knocked the Brit off the top spot with 15 mins left on the clock.

The second red flag occurred at the close of play with Al Maktoum spinning at Turn 2. This gave the 27 drivers one chance for a hot lap and it was Niederhauser who held on to claim top spot at the chequered flag. Rowland was second, two tenths off, ahead of Stoneman, Eriksson, McKee, Mardenborough, Bernstorff, Fontana, Cassidy and Hawksworth.

Today concludes the end of post-season testing, GP3 Series will be back early next year ready for its fifth season – time flies!

Day 3 Test – Morning Session


DriverTeamLaptimeLaps
1.Oliver RowlandART Grand Prix1:55.46730
2.Patric NiederhauserMW Arden1:55.82723
3.Alex FontanaART Grand Prix1:56.04328
4.Jack HawksworthStatus Grand Prix1:56.09620
5.Emil BernstorffMWArden1:56.11825
6.Jan MardenboroughMW Arden1:56.14825
7.Dino ZamparelliMarussia Manor Racing1:56.23828
8.Melville McKeeMarussia Manor Racing1:56.28729
9.Jimmy ErikssonART Grand Prix1:56.43621
10.Nick CassidyStatus Grand Prix1:56.56317
11.Dean StonemanKoiranen GP1:56.63810
12.Marvin KirchhoferRUSSIAN TIME1:56.66222
13.David FumanelliJenzer Motorsport1:56.71823
14.Nicholas LatifiCarlin1:56.73026
15.Juan BrangerTrident1:56.92537
16.Luis Sa SilvaCarlin1:56.98924
17.Markus PommerRUSSIAN TIME1:57.02624
18.Robert CreganTrident1:57.29426
19.Lewin AmwegJenzer Motorsport1:57.44733
20.Ryan CullenMarussia Manor Racing1:57.80420
21.Gustavo MenezesStatus Grand Prix1:58.02332
22.Carmen JordaKoiranen GP1:58.56218
23.Ivan TaranovRUSSIAN TIME1:58.63026
24.David PittardCarlin1:58.82627
25.Saeed Al MehairiTrident1:59.09824
26.Sheikh Hasher Al MaktoumJenzer Motorsport2:02.50524

Day 3 Test – Afternoon Session


DriverTeamLaptimeLaps
1.Patric NiederhauserMW Arden1:55.37226
2.Oliver RowlandART Grand Prix1:55.55726
3.Dean StonemanKoiranen GP1:55.56514
4.Jimmy ErikssonART Grand Prix1:55.59824
5.Melville McKeeMarussia Manor Racing1:55.64021
6.Jan MardenboroughMW Arden1:55.72132
7.Emil BernstorffMW Arden1:55.78928
8.Alex FontanaART Grand Prix1:55.84830
9.Nick CassidyStatus Grand Prix1:55.85132
10.Jack HawksworthStatus Grand Prix1:55.99128
11.Markus PommerRUSSIAN TIME1:56.06333
12.David FumanelliJenzer Motorsport1:56.12224
13.Nicholas LatifiCarlin1:56.35431
14.Dino ZamparelliMarussia Manor Racing1:56.37926
15.Marvin KirchhoferRUSSIAN TIME1:56.52511
16.Luis Sa SilvaCarlin1:56.70321
17.Ryan CullenMarussia Manor Racing1:57.02432
18.Ivan TaranovRUSSIAN TIME1:57.13630
19.Robert CreganTrident1:57.25520
20.Levin AmwegJenzer Motorsport1:57.60118
21.Gustavo MenezesStatus Grand Prix1:57.73429
22.David PittardCarlin1:58.38125
23.Juan BrangerTrident1:59.08823
24.Saeed Al MehairiTrident1:59.31012
25.Carmen JordaKoiranen GP2:00.57125
26.Sheikh Hasher Al MaktoumJenzer Motorsport_0

GP3 Series