Quaife-Hobbs clinches maiden GP3 pole

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs

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 MÃ¼ller 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 MÃ¼cke 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.