Ocon goes fastest in free practice

Frenchman Esteban Ocon clocked the best time in today’s forty-five minute Free Practice. The ART Grand Prix rookie’s laptime of 1:38.213 was a mere 0.053s ahead of Series leader and Trident star Luca Ghiotto. Arden International’s Emil Bernstorff was third.

Despite the weather predictions, a dry, warm and sunny day greeted the GP3 paddock ahead of Round 6 of the 2015 Series. There were two changes to the driver line-up: Brandon Maisano from France driving the #25 machine at Campos Racing and 16 year old Amaury Bonduel behind the number 28 machine at Trident.

Bernstorff was first to head the pack and lap into the 1m40’s with his teammate Kevin Ceccon close behind. ART Grand Prix’s Marvin Kirchhöfer was next to lead the way before he and his teammate Ocon exchanged P1.

At the midway point, Kirchhöfer was fastest from Ocon, Matheo Tuscher (Jenzer Motorsport), Bernstorff and Ceccon. Pal Varhaug flew to the top of the timings until Ghiotto was first to dip into the 1m39’s. The drivers were finding their limits, with several running off at Turn 2.

Kirchhöfer was on the attack and rose to P2, four tenths off Ghiotto, before Ocon again topped the timesheet by over half a second. Ghiotto responded to his nearest title rival by bettering his time by two tenths but the Frenchman was not done yet. The ART Grand Prix ace retaliated by posting a laptime 0.053’s quicker than Ghiotto to end the session on top.

At the chequered flag behind Ocon and Ghiotto: Bernstorff, Matthew Parry (Koiranen GP), Mitchell Gilbert (Carlin), Kirchhöfer, Tuscher, Artur Janosz, Ceccon and Ralph Boschung.

Qualifying takes place at 09.45 am local time tomorrow morning. The four points on pole could prove pivotal in the fight for the title with the drivers’ eyes on the prize…