Adrian Quaife-Hobbs has claimed his first GP3 pole position in Silverstone today after setting the fastest lap in today’s qualifying session.
The Marussia Manor Racing driver’s best lap of 1:51.190 was nearly fourth tenths clear of second place man Lotus ART’s James Calado ensuring an all British front row for Race 1 at Silverstone Circuit this afternoon.
In stark contrast to yesterday’s torrential conditions, this morning the teams were greeted with dry and bright conditions, albeit with a slightly damp track, and all thirty drivers headed out on track with Pirelli P Zero slick tires. Carlin’s Tom Dillmann was the first car to complete a flying lap and go top until the rest of the field got up to speed.
Mid-session was dominated by the MW Arden duo of Lewis Williamson and Series leader Mitch Evans, along with eventual poleman Quaife-Hobbs. The trio constantly swapped fastest lap times, until Jenzer Motorsport’s Nico Müller found some extra time around the 5.891 km track to go top of the timesheet with a 1:52.285 lap.
But with five minutes left on the clock Williamson was back on top and looked string for his second pole of the season. It was then a frantic final minute which saw Williamson, Calado and finally Quaife-Hobbs heading the grid and taking his, and Marussia Manor Racing’s first ever GP3 pole. Valencia race 2 winner Calado sealed a British 1-2, with Evans taking third ahead of Alexander Sims in fourth for Status Grand Prix.
Next up for GP3 Series is Race 1 this afternoon at 16:20 local time.
Qualifying times:
POS
NO
DRIVER
TEAM
TIME
LAPS
GAP
1
10
A. QUAIFE-HOBBS
Marussia Manor Racing
1:51.190
13
0.000s
2
3
J. CALADO
Lotus ART
1:51.576
13
0.386
3
28
L. WILLIAMSON
MW Arden
1:51.600
13
0.410
4
26
M. EVANS
MW Arden
1:51.790
14
0.600
5
4
A. SIMS
Status Grand Prix
1:51.847
14
0.657
6
7
N. MULLER
Jenzer Motorsport
1:51.889
14
0.699
7
2
V. BOTTAS
Lotus ART
1:51.921
12
0.731
8
31
N. MELKER
RSC Mucke Motorsport
1:51.927
13
0.737
9
11
R. HARYANTO
Marussia Manor Racing
1:51.932
14
0.742
10
23
T. DILLMANN
Addax Team
1:51.992
14
0.802
11
5
A. FELIX DA COSTA
Status Grand Prix
1:52.252
14
1.062
12
30
M. CHRISTENSEN
RSC Mucke Motorsport
1:52.319
13
1.129
13
24
G. CHAVES
Addax Team
1:52.371
11
1.181
14
17
A. VAINIO
Tech 1 Racing
1:52.439
13
1.249
15
19
T. PAL KISS
Tech 1 Racing
1:52.445
13
1.255
16
12
M. LAINE
Marussia Manor Racing
1:52.450
14
1.260
17
27
S. TRUMMER
MW Arden
1:52.504
13
1.314
18
8
M. ZIMIN
Jenzer Motorsport
1:52.633
14
1.488
19
21
N. YELLOLY
Atech CRS GP
1:52.678
14
1.488
20
9
V. GHIRELLI
Jenzer Motorsport
1:52.741
14
1.551
21
6
I. LUKASHEVICH
Status Grand Prix
1:52.782
14
1.592
22
20
M. STOCKINGER
Atech CRS GP
1:52.826
13
1.636
23
15
D. MORAD
Carlin
1:52.855
12
1.665
24
29
L. BACHETA
RSC Mucke Motorsport
1:52.856
13
1.666
25
25
D. SMITH
Addax Team
1:52.936
13
1.746
26
1
P. NUNES
Lotus ART
1:52.943
13
1.753
27
18
T. HYLKEMA
Tech 1 Racing
1:54.018
12
2.828
28
22
Z. AMBERG
Atech CRS GP
1:54.049
12
2.859
29
16
L. CORDEIRO
Carlin
1:54.789
12
3.599
30
14
C. DALY
Carlin
1:54.835
11
3.645
Following yesterday’s second practice session the stewards handed Marussia Manor Racing’s Matias Laine a drop of ten grid spots for race 1 on Saturday for ignoring waved yellow flags.
There are also three penalties outstanding from Valencia two weeks ago. Marussia Manor Racing’s Rio Haryanto, RSC Mücke Motorsport’s Nigel Melker and Tech 1 Racing’s Thomas Hylkema were all given penalties after Race 2 at the Valencia Street Circuit.
All three drivers were given a drop of ten grid spots for their next race at Silverstone Circuit for causing a collision.
Copyright 1999-2013 | AutoRacing1 is an
independent internet online publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed
by IndyCar, NASCAR, FIA, Sprint, or any other series sponsor.
This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without
permission.
