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Niederhauser sets the pace in Barcelona

  • FormulaRapida.net

    • 2012 GP3 Series, Round 3. Valencia, Spain. 23rd June 2012. Saturday Qualifying. Patric Niederhauser (SUI, Jenzer Motorsport) Action. World Copyright: Daniel Kalisz/LAT Photographic Ref: Digital Image IMG_1190

    Swiss driver Patric Niederhauser took first blood in the opening session at Barcelona with a laptime of 1:35.044 which broke the previous track record by over three seconds. Trident’s David Fumanelli and Jenzer Motorsport’s Alex Fontana finished second and third.

    The opening round of the 2013 GP3 Series got underway today at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona with the eagerly anticipated second generation car. Menacing dark clouds hovered over half of the circuit with sunshine looming in the pitlane as free practice begun, signifying the start of the fourth season of the Series.
    The sound of the twenty-seven GP3/13 cars roaring down the straight was a glorious sound. Trident’s Emanuele Zonzini was first to feed onto the track. Jack Harvey (ART Grand Prix), Tio Ellinas (Marussia Manor Racing) were the early pacesetters with Conor Daly (ART Grand Prix) and Fumanelli close in pursuit, lapping in times of 1m36s.
    Rookie drivers Josh Webster (Status Grand Prix) and Patrick Kujala (Koiranen GP) both finished their session in the gravel early on, whilst MW Arden’s Daniil Kvyat flew to the top of the timesheets, clocking a best time six tenths faster than Harvey at the midway point.
    With less than ten minutes on the clock Swiss Fontana grabbed P1 and further improved on his best lap on his next attempt. However, his Jenzer Motorsport teammate had other ideas and Niederhauser rose to the top of the timings and held the position until the chequered flag. Fumanelli spoiled the Jenzer Motorsport party in the dying moments to split the duo to end P2, just a mere 0.093s off Niederhauser’s best effort.
    At the close of the forty-five minute practice session, Niederhauser headed the timings, with Fumanelli, Fontana, Robert Visoiu (MW Arden), Adderly Fong (Status Grand Prix), Kvyat and the Carlin duo of Nick Yelloly and Luis Sa Silva. Harvey and Zonzini completed the top ten.

    Results:

    Driver

    Team

    Laptime

    Laps

    1.

    		 Patric Niederhauser

    Jenzer Motorsport

    1:35.044

    		 17

    2.

    		 David Fumanelli

    Trident

    1:35.137

    		 17

    3.

    		 Alex Fontana

    Jenzer Motorsport

    1:35.464

    		 17

    4.

    		 Robert Visoiu

    MW Arden

    1:35.581

    		 15

    5.

    		 Adderly Fong

    Status Grand Prix

    1:35.800

    		 18

    6.

    		 Daniil Kvyat

    MW Arden

    1:35.810

    		 15

    7.

    		 Nick Yelloly

    Carlin

    1:35.821

    		 20

    8.

    		 Luis Sa Silva

    Carlin

    1:36.170

    		 19

    9.

    		 Jack Harvey

    ART Grand Prix

    1:36.417

    		 17

    10.

    		 Emanuele Zonzini

    Trident

    1:36.471

    		 17

    11.

    		 Eric Lichtenstein

    Carlin

    1:36.480

    		 19

    12.

    		 Conor Daly

    ART Grand Prix

    1:36.553

    		 17

    13.

    		 Carlos Sainz Jr

    MW Arden

    1:36.567

    		 11

    14.

    		 Tio Ellinas

    Marussia Manor Racing

    1:36.680

    		 18

    15.

    		 Jimmy Eriksson

    Status Grand Prix

    1:36.951

    		 16

    16.

    		 Giovanni Venturini

    Trident

    1:36.973

    		 19

    17.

    		 Dino Zamparelli

    Marussia Manor Racing

    1:37.224

    		 19

    18.

    		 Facu Regalia

    ART Grand Prix

    1:37.304

    		 16

    19.

    		 Samin Gomez

    Jenzer Motorsport

    1:37.512

    		 18

    20.

    		 Lewis Williamson

    Bamboo Engineering

    1:37.513

    		 16

    21.

    		 Melville McKee

    Bamboo Engineering

    1:37.763

    		 21

    22.

    		 Kevin Korjus

    Koiranen GP

    1:37.903

    		 17

    23.

    		 Carmen Jorda

    Bamboo Engineering

    1:38.321

    		 19

    24.

    		 Ryan Cullen

    Marussia Manor Racing

    1:38.582

    		 17

    25.

    		 Josh Webster

    Status Grand Prix

    1:38.648

    		 4

    26.

    		 Patrick Kujala

    Koiranen GP

    1:38.801

    		 4

    27.

    		 Aaro Vainio

    Koiranen GP

    1:39.091

    		 20