Rookie Korjus took first blood in Valencia by recording the best lap in Free Practice which was two tenths faster than Carlin’s Nick Yelloly and Jenzer Motorsport’s Patric Niederhauser. Korjus’ laptime was 4.3s quicker than the fastest time set at the circuit in 2012 with the previous generation car.
Glorious weather set the scene for Free Practice for Round 2 of the GP3 season in Valencia, Spain. Circuit Ricardo Tormo hosts this weekend’s standalone event which sees a different timetable with the event run over two days with both Race 1 and Race 2 taking place on Sunday.
The full grid of 27 drivers made their way onto the track for their installation laps under the intense heat with some teams focusing on aerodynamic tests. ART Grand Prix’s Conor Daly set the initial pace, the first driver to lap in the 1m22s. MW Arden’s Daniil Kvyat and Marussia Manor Racing’s Tio Ellinas both went quicker, the Russian driver a mere five thousandths faster than the Cypriot to head the standings.
At the midway point, Estonian Korjus posted a 1:22.058 to go top with Yelloly and Niederhauser a few tenths off. The drivers began to find their limits in preparation for the upcoming qualifying session with small off-track moments for Daly, Ellinas, Korjus and Alex Fontana (Jenzer Motorsport).
Carlin’s Eric Lichtenstein stopped on circuit as the chequered flag came out. Korjus ended the session fastest, ahead of Yelloly, Niederhauser, Carlos Sainz (MW Arden), Lewis Williamson (Bamboo Engineering), Aaro Vainio (Koiranen GP), Ellinas, Kvyat, Facu Regalia (ART Grand Prix) and Daly.
Qualifying takes places later today at 14.30 CET.
Free Practice
Driver
Team
Laptime
Laps
1.
Kevin Korjus
Koiranen GP
1:22.058
16
2.
Nick Yelloly
Carlin
1:22.305
19
3.
Patric Niederhauser
Jenzer Motorsport
1:22.388
18
4.
Carlos Sainz
MW Arden
1:22.449
20
5.
Lewis Williamson
Bamboo Engineering
1:22.496
21
6.
Aaro Vainio
Koiranen GP
1:22.552
19
7.
Tio Ellinas
Marussia Manor Racing
1:22.705
21
8.
Daniil Kvyat
MW Arden
1:22.774
19
9.
Facu Regalia
ART Grand Prix
1:22.883
21
10.
Conor Daly
ART Grand Prix
1:22.962
20
11.
David Fumanelli
Trident
1:23.039
18
12.
Adderly Fong
Status Grand Prix
1:23.050
22
13.
Alex Fontana
Jenzer Motorsport
1:23.052
20
14.
Jack Harvey
ART Grand Prix
1:23.180
22
15.
Melville McKee
Bamboo Engineering
1:23.181
22
16.
Robert Visoiu
MW Arden
1:23.187
20
17.
Eric Lichtenstein
Carlin
1:23.206
20
18.
Luis Sa Silva
Carlin
1:23.366
21
19.
Emanuele Zonzini
Trident
1:23.399
19
20.
Giovanni Venturini
Trident
1:23.405
20
21.
Dino Zamparelli
Marussia Manor Racing
1:23.471
19
22.
Patrick Kujala
Koiranen GP
1:24.084
18
23.
Samin Gomez
Jenzer Motorsport
1:24.098
19
24.
Josh Webster
Status Grand Prix
1:24.392
21
25.
Jimmy Eriksson
Status Grand Prix
1:24.421
23
26.
Carmen Jorda
Bamboo Engineering
1:24.493
22
27.
Ryan Cullen
Marussia Manor Racing
1:25.264
21