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Ocon fastest in wet Practice at Sochi

ART Grand Prix’s Esteban Ocon tops opening session in Russia
Frenchman Esteban Ocon posted the quickest time in a wet free practice session at the Sochi Autodrom: the ART Grand Prix and Mercedes backed driver’s laptime of 2:09.319 was two tenths faster than Jenzer Motorsport’s Ralph Boschung. Marvin Kirchhöfer was third.
Free Practice for Round 7 of the 2015 GP3 Series season was run in damp conditions following rain earlier in the day. However, the heavens opened just as the forty-five minute session got underway providing even more of a challenge, with a large number of drivers making their first appearance around the Sochi track.
As the session commenced in cool temperatures, Kirchhöfer was an early spinner at Turn 7. Seb Morris (Status Grand Prix) led the way before the German driver soon found some pace to top the times. Ocon was in second behind his teammate, ahead of Arden International’s Kevin Ceccon and Boschung.
Numerous drivers ran off in the tricky conditions as the rain began to fall heavier. Swiss rookie Boschung shot to P1, one tenth ahead of the German, before spinning at Turn 18. Ocon improved on Boschung’s time by two tenths before a red flag halted proceedings. Alex Fontana drifted wide at Turn 4, and spun off, making contact with the barrier. His session was over, as the clock continued to tick down whilst his car was recovered.
There was six minutes remaining when the session went “green” with the drivers’ queuing out of the pitlane to head back onto the track. As the weather worsened, the times failed to improve with stoppages and spins for Artur Janosz, Zaid Ashkanani and Alfonso Celis. Jr.
At the chequered flag, Ocon remained head of the timesheet, ahead of Boschung, Kirchhöfer, Ceccon, Series leader Luca Ghiotto, Alex Palou, Jimmy Eriksson, Emil Bernstorff, Sandy Stuvik and Seb Morris.
Qualifying takes place at 09.30 am local time tomorrow morning. The four points on pole could prove very decisive in the fight for the title…
Free Practice
Driver
Team
Laptime
Laps
1.
Esteban Ocon
ART Grand Prix
2:09.319
13
2.
Ralph Boschung
Jenzer Motorsport
2:09.526
14
3.
Marvin Kirchhöfer
ART Grand Prix
2:09.583
13
4.
Kevin Ceccon
Arden International
2:09.723
14
5.
Luca Ghiotto
Trident
2:09.787
14
6.
Alex Palou
Campos Racing
2:09.878
15
7.
Jimmy Eriksson
Koiranen GP
2:10.030
15
8.
Emil Bernstorff
Arden International
2:10.089
14
9.
Sandy Stuvik
Status Grand Prix
2:10.200
13
10.
Seb Morris
Status Grand Prix
2:10.404
10
11.
Alfonso Celis. Jr
ART Grand Prix
2:10.407
12
12.
Alex Fontana
Status Grand Prix
2:10.617
10
13.
Matthew Parry
Koiranen GP
2:10.786
12
14.
Matheo Tuscher
Jenzer Motorsport
2:10.793
13
15.
Zaid Ashkanani
Campos Racing
2:10.858
14
16.
Pal Varhaug
Jenzer Motorsport
2:10.990
15
17.
Artur Janosz
Trident
2:11.109
14
18.
Jann Mardenborough
Carlin
2:11.206
11
19.
Konstantin Tereshchenko
Campos Racing
2:11.480
15
20.
Michele Beretta
Trident
2:11.619
15
21.
Adderly Fong
Koiranen GP
2:12.764
14
22.
Antonio Fuoco
Carlin
2:12.871
14
23.
Mitchell Gilbert
Carlin
2:12.881
12
24.
Aleksander Bosak
Arden International
2:13.792
14