INDIA in F1

Tag: Arjun Maini

  • Kari grabs the honours in free practice, Maini 9th fastest: GP3 Series

    Niko Kari has laid down a marker for his rivals for the final round of the 2017 season by claiming the top spot on his final lap of the Yas Marina Circuit in this morning’s free practice session, biding his time before claiming the honours when his rivals had no chance to usurp him for a lap time that was less than a tenth faster than Dorian Boccolacci and Nirei Fukuzumi. Meanwhile, Indian driver Arjun Maini of Jenzer Motorsports, was 9th fastest.
    The Finn’s best time of 1:55.796 after the chequered flag had dropped was the quickest of a string of fast laps that came in the final minutes of a session which saw times tumbling throughout but was otherwise quiet, with no major off-track drama given the short gap before this afternoon’s qualifying session.
    The track opened to warm and sunny conditions, with a number of drivers spending time on the top of the timesheets: Fukuzumi was the first person under the 2 minute mark with Kari, Dan Ticktum and Leonardo Pulcini swapping P1 between them until Boccolacci grabbed the top spot just before the 20 minute mark and held on until late into the session as everyone worked on their race simulations.
    With 5 minutes remaining everyone turned up the wick once more: Anthoine Hubert picked up the pace ahead of a string of drivers swapping the top spot between them, with Giuliano Alesi, Kevin Joerg, George Russell, Kari and Fukuzumi rotating through before Boccolacci reclaimed P1 with 2 minutes remaining. Ticktum went purple in sector 1, soon overtaken by Boccolacci, and it looked like the Frenchman had done enough as he slowed in the 2nd sector only to hear that Kari had claimed P1, leaving him no time to improve as he rolled to the flag.
    Behind the top 3 Ticktum, Russell, Hubert, Raoul Hyman, Pulcini and Arjun Maini were among the 14 drivers within a second of the top spot, promising fireworks in this afternoon’s qualifying session in just a few hours’ time.
    Provisional Qualifying Classification
    Driver
    Team
    Laptime
    Laps
    1.
    Niko KARI
    Arden International
    1:55.796
    19
    2.
    Dorian BOCCOLACCI
    Trident
    1:55.865
    18
    3.
    Nirei FUKUZUMI
    ART Grand Prix
    1:55.886
    18
    4.
    Daniel TICKTUM
    DAMS
    1:56.006
    16
    5.
    George RUSSELL
    ART Grand Prix
    1:56.071
    18
    6.
    Anthoine HUBERT
    ART Grand Prix
    1:56.159
    18
    7.
    Raoul HYMAN
    Campos Racing
    1:56.225
    16
    8.
    Leonardo PULCINI
    Arden International
    1:56.323
    19
    9.
    Arjun MAINI
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:56.558
    18
    10.
    Steijn SCHOTHORST
    Arden International
    1:56.607
    19
    11.
    Marcos SIEBERT
    Campos Racing
    1:56.608
    17
    12.
    Kevin JOERG
    Trident
    1:56.612
    17
    13.
    Giuliano ALESI
    Trident
    1:56.640
    17
    14.
    Jack AITKEN
    ART Grand Prix
    1:56.641
    18
    15.
    Ryan TVETER
    Trident
    1:57.068
    16
    16.
    Bruno BAPTISTA
    DAMS
    1:57.255
    18
    17.
    Juan Manuel CORREA
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:57.885
    18
    18.
    Alessio LORANDI
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:58.723
    18
    19.
    Julien FALCHERO
    Campos Racing
    1:58.820
    14
    20.
    Tatiana CALDERON
    DAMS
    1:59.345
    9
  • George Russell is 2017 GP3 Series champion; Maini finishes outside points in both races

    George Russell is 2017 GP3 Series champion; Maini finishes outside points in both races

    George Russell wins GP3 Series title with a P5 in the Sunday’s race. Image from GP3 Series

    Jerez: George Russell managed to finish fifth in Race 2 and grabbed enough points to take a 50-point lead in the championship which virtually sealed his championship on Sunday morning at the Circuito de Jerez. Thus he became the 2017 GP3 Series Champion with one round remaining in the season.

    Meanwhile, Arjun Maini of Jenzer Motorsport finished 13th, 6.576 behind the winner. Earlier in Race 1 on Saturday, Maini could only finish 17th. With no points from these two races, the Indian driver remains on 53 points with one round to go.
    Alessio Lorandi claimed his first GP3 Series win with a strong race from pole to flag , leading home Dorian Boccolacci and Niko Kari. In sunny and warm conditions, Lorandi got away well when the lights went out and easily contained Boccolacci and Kari into turn 1 before the trio ran together all the way round the circuit. Then the Italian started to build a small but significant gap to his rivals as Anthoine Hubert and Dan Ticktum started to close in, with the Frenchman running wide on lap 2 to clear a path into P4 for the Briton.
    If the leaders were focused on their shot at victory, all other eyes were on the fight for the title: Russell started behind Jack Aitken but forced his way past at Dry Sac, with the Renault junior driver running slightly wide at the exit and allowing Nirei Fukuzumi to run through too. When Russell grabbed the fastest lap the potential points difference was 47, 1 short of a title confirmation, but with Giuliano Alesi just 0.5s behind Aitken anything could still happen.
    Up front Lorandi was easily controlling the pace, running his own lines and looking comfortable even if he was unable to break the 1s DRS barrier back to Boccolacci, who had a similar problem with Kari. Aitken was pushing hard to grab the fastest lap but was unable to close down the time set by Russell, and with the laps rolling down it looked as though the fight was going to continue to Abu Dhabi.
    But on lap 13 Ticktum, who had been fast all weekend and was looking for more than another P4, pushed hard and got inside Kari, towing Hubert with him as they ran 3 wide into turn 4, where there was only space for 2: Ticktum was into the gravel and retirement, Kari just held off an attack from Hubert, the safety car was out to allow the marshals to retrieve the stranded DAMS, and the points bump meant that the gap from Russell to Aitken was now 50, enough to claim the title.
    The race restarted for the final lap, with Lorandi comfortably controlling Boccolacci and Kari for his maiden win, with Hubert leading home his ART teammates Russell, Fukuzumi and Aitken, the latter two having a look at Russell at Dry Sac but unable to make anything stick, with Alesi rounding out the points in P8 as Jenzer celebrated their second win of the season and ART basked in the glory of success after claiming the 2017 GP3 Series Drivers’ and Teams’ titles ahead of the final round of the season, in Abu Dhabi on 24-26 November.
    Provisional Race 2 Classification
    Driver
    Team
    Gap
    1
    Alessio LORANDI
    Jenzer Motorsport
    2
    Dorian BOCCOLACCI
    Trident
    +0.743
    3
    Niko KARI
    Arden International
    +1.511
    4
    Anthoine HUBERT
    ART Grand Prix
    +1.696
    5
    George RUSSELL
    ART Grand Prix
    +2.722
    6
    Nirei FUKUZUMI
    ART Grand Prix
    +3.065
    7
    Jack AITKEN
    ART Grand Prix
    +3.617
    8
    Giuliano ALESI
    Trident
    +4.077
    9
    Tatiana CALDERON
    DAMS
    +4.376
    10
    Julien FALCHERO
    Campos Racing
    +5.198
    11
    Steijn SCHOTHORST
    Arden International
    +5.563
    12
    Leonardo PULCINI
    Arden International
    +5.948
    13
    Arjun MAINI
    Jenzer Motorsport
    +6.576
    14
    Bruno BAPTISTA
    DAMS
    +6.960
    15
    Ryan TVETER
    Trident
    +7.229
    16
    Raoul HYMAN
    Campos Racing
    +7.723
    17
    Juan Manuel CORREA
    Jenzer Motorsport
    +8.096
    18
    Marcos SIEBERT
    Campos Racing
    +8.637
    19
    Kevin JOERG
    Trident
    +8.746
    20
    Daniel TICKTUM
    DAMS
    +4 Laps
    Japanese driver wins Race 1
    Earlier, Nirei Fukuzumi reminded everyone of his abilities with a strong, unopposed victory on Saturday morning’s Race 1 at the Circuito de Jerez, making a tremendous start and soaring off into the distance untroubled by the intra-team battle behind him for his first win since Barcelona, leading home an ART 1-2-3 ahead of teammates George Russell and Jack Aitken.
    If most eyes were on the title fight between his teammates, the Honda development driver was determined to make the most of his opportunity and grab the win on offer: under gloriously sunny skies Fukuzumi tore away when the lights went out for a lead which never looked in question, while Aitken made a strong start from P2 but was slightly conservative into turn 1, opening the door to Russell.
    The Series leader didn’t need any further invitation: the Mercedes F1 junior driver slid inside his teammate into turn 1, with the pair running side by side through 2 before Russell edged ahead at turn 3, with Aitken left thinking about DRS strategies and the mounting challenge behind him from newcomer Dan Ticktum, who made a good start and was running on the same pace as his countryman.

  • Russell wins; Maini bumped by teammate, fares badly: GP3 Series

    Monza, 3 Sept 2017: George Russell put the long wait for the start of Race 1 behind him by claiming a strong win in this morning’s race at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, keeping his head while chaos reigned behind him to head home an ART 1-2-3 ahead of teammate’s Jack Aitken and Anthoine Hubert to claim the team’s 7th title in 8 seasons.
    Meanwhile, India’s Arjun Maini of Jenzer Motorsport could only finish 16th and  last as he was bumped from behind by his teammate which ended his aspirations for a better placing.
    The Briton’s job was made easier when poleman Nirei Fukuzumi failed to make the start after getting stuck at the pit exit with an electrical gremlin: when the lights went out Russell eased away from the line with Hubert and Aitken squabbling behind him. At the Variante della Roggia Leonardo Pulcini and Alessio Lorandi came together, with the former riding the latter’s rear wheel all the way to the barriers: the safety car was straight out on track as the medical team extracted Pulcini from the car, who emerged shaken before heading to the medical centre for the usual checks.
    Repairs to the barriers meant it took until lap 9 for the race to run live, with Russell making an early getaway to lead his teammates down to turn 1, while behind them Steijn Schothorst and Niko Kari squabbled over best of the rest status, touching at Roggia but continuing the fight. Hubert had the pace over Russell after the safety car and squeezed by him at Rettifilo on lap 11, but it wasn’t to last as the Briton responded in kind 2 laps later, just before Juan Manuel Correa missed his braking and flew into the rear of teammate Arjun Maini, bringing out the VSC boards for the clean up.
    There was a huge gap back from the ARTs to Kari in P4, who now had Raoul Hyman and a gaggle of drivers circulating ominously behind: the South African dropped like a stone at the restart while up at the front Aitken made a great restart at Parabolica to run side by side with his teammates before grabbing the lead at turn 1. But Russell was not going to accept it without a fight, running all over his teammate’s rear wing all lap long before getting a better run at Curva Grande and reclaiming the lead at Roggia on lap 16.
    With the laps running down the race switched to a timed one, but the impact from Correa was starting to show on Maini’s rear wing: on lap 19 it disintegrated, forcing the Indian into the pits and retirement from P7, and when Kari tripped over the kerbs at Lesmo 2 and found the wall there was little choice but to bring out the safety car once again for the final lap of the race.
    Russell claimed the win to extend his lead in the drivers’ championship over 2nd placed driver Aitken, 162 points to 119, with Hubert P3 in the race and 4th in the title fight behind Fukuzumi, 99 points to 97. Siebert threaded his way through the chaos for an impressive 4th on track ahead of Ryan Tveter, Giuliano Alesi (5th in the championship on 95 points), with Tatiana Calderon finishing in P7 ahead of Julien Falchero, Kevin Joerg and Bruno Baptista.
    In the teams’ title fight ART is untouchable with two rounds remaining on 463 points, from Trident on 222 and Jenzer on 116: following the rain delays yesterday the GP3 Race 2 was cancelled, with the teams now looking ahead to Round 7 of the championship in Jerez on 6-8 October, the penultimate round of the 2017 season.
    Provisional Race 1 Classification
    Driver
    Team
     
    1.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    2.
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    3.
    Anthoine Hubert
    ART Grand Prix
    4.
    Marcos Siebert
    Campos Racing
    5.
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
    6.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
    7.
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS
    8.
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    9.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
    10.
    Bruno Baptista
    DAMS
    11.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
    12.
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    13.
    Daniel Ticktum
    DAMS
    14.
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
    15.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
    16.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
    Not Classified
    Juan Manuel Correa
    Jenzer Motorsport
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
    Fastest Lap
    Anthoine Hubert
    1:40.232 on lap 11

  • Arjun Maini on P8; Qualifying session cancelled due to rain; GP3 Series

    Nirei Fukuzumi has been handed pole position for this afternoon’s Race 1 at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza after this morning’s qualifying session was cancelled due to track conditions: the grid will be formed using yesterday’s free practice times, with the Japanese driver to line up ahead of ART Grand Prix teammates George Russell, Anthoine Hubert and Jack Aitken.
    Heavy rain greeted the teams as they took their place in the pitlane: an early message advised that the session was delayed due to the conditions, and following a review by the track officials the call was made to cancel the session due to the excessive standing water and continuing rain.
    As there is no time available between now and the race, qualifying could not be rescheduled: accordingly the grid will be formed from the classifications of free practice.
    Behind the ART teammates Dorian Boccolacci, Steijn Schothorst, Leonardo Pulcini, Arjun Maini, Alessio Lorandi and new driver Dan Ticktum round out the top ten. Race 1 is set to take place today at 17.50 local time.
    Fukuzumi noted: “Normally I want to get pole position in qualifying, but the conditions are quite bad for driving now. For the race it is a good opportunity for us to start from P1, and it is good for the Japanese fans with Nobuharu-san also in P1 from yesterday: I am used to racing in the rain from Japan, and I will look for a good result.”
    Free Practice/Qualifying Classification
    Driver
    Team
    Laptime
    Laps
    1.
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
    1:38.594
    17
    2.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    1:38.693
    18
    3.
    Anthoine Hubert
    ART Grand Prix
    1:38.776
    19
    4.
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    1:38.786
    19
    5.
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
    1:38.933
    21
    6.
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    1:38.963
    20
    7.
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
    1:38.971
    19
    8.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:39.033
    21
    9.
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:39.148
    17
    10.
    Daniel Ticktum
    DAMS
    1:39.232
    20
    11.
    Marcos Siebert
    Campos Racing
    1:39.298
    20
    12.
    Juan-Manuel Correa
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:39.470
    20
    13.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
    1:39.518
    22
    14.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
    1:39.565
    18
    15.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
    1:39.776
    20
    16.
    Bruno Baptista
    DAMS
    1:39.860
    17
    17.
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
    1:39.923
    22
    18.
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    1:39.968
    19
    19.
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS
    1:40.411
    18
    20.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
    1:41.112
    20

  • Arjun Maini 8th fastest in Free Practice: GP3 Series

    Monza 1 Sept 2017: Indian racer Arjun Maini of Jenzer Motorsport was 8th fastest in the  even as Nirei Fukuzumi grabbed the top spot late in the afternoon’s GP3 Series free practice session at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, setting his best lap on the last tour to stop the clocks at 1:38.594 and lead home an ART Grand Prix ahead of George Russell, Anthoine Hubert and Jack Aitken.
    The session opened with the circuit bathed in sunshine despite large, ominous looking clouds overhead, with all the field taking straight to the track to get some laps under their belts. Dorian Boccolacci, Leonardo Pulcini and Fukuzumi set the early pace before Hubert grabbed P1 with a 40.009 as most of the field looked for some race run information.
    Giuliano Alesi took over the top spot at the 30 minute mark, with teammate Ryan Tveter playing rear gunner in P2 ahead of the ARTs, until it was all change in the final 5 minutes of the session with Hubert, Boccolacci, Fukuzumi, Aitken, Russell and then finally Fukuzumi taking the top spot again as the flag dropped for the end of the session.
    There were 14 drivers within a second of P1, with Boccolacci, Steijn Schothorst, Pulcini, Arjun Maini, Alessio Lorandi and new driver Dan Ticktum rounding out the top ten. Qualifying promises to be equally tight: the session starts tomorrow morning at 9.45 local time.
    Provisional Free Practice Classification
    Driver
    Team
    Laptime
    Laps
    1.
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
    1:38.594
    17
    2.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    1:38.693
    18
    3.
    Anthoine Hubert
    ART Grand Prix
    1:38.776
    19
    4.
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    1:38.786
    19
    5.
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
    1:38.933
    21
    6.
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    1:38.963
    20
    7.
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
    1:38.971
    19
    8.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:39.033
    21
    9.
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:39.148
    17
    10.
    Daniel Ticktum
    DAMS
    1:39.232
    20
    11.
    Marcos Siebert
    Campos Racing
    1:39.298
    20
    12.
    Juan-Manuel Correa
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:39.470
    20
    13.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
    1:39.518
    22
    14.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
    1:39.565
    18
    15.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
    1:39.776
    20
    16.
    Bruno Baptista
    DAMS
    1:39.860
    17
    17.
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
    1:39.923
    22
    18.
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    1:39.968
    19
    19.
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS
    1:40.411
    18
    20.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
    1:41.112
    20
    eom/GP3 Series press release
  • Russell takes third win; Maini slips to 4th: GP3

    Russell takes third win; Maini slips to 4th: GP3

    Spa Francorchamps, Belgium.
    Saturday 26 August 2017
    George Russell (GBR, ART Grand Prix).
    Photo: Mauger/GP3 Series Media Service
    ref: Digital Image _56I2788

    George Russell has cruised to his third win of the season with a demonstration run of pace and guile in this afternoon’s Race 1 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, dealing with an attack from teammate Nirei Fukuzumi early on before cruising to victory by over 7 seconds from the race-long fight between Jack Aitken and Fukuzumi for another all ART Grand Prix podium.

    The Mercedes F1 junior driver made a slow getaway compared to his rivals but had just enough to hold them back at La Source, with Fukuzumi lining up behind Russell on the run down to Eau Rouge and Aitken running around the outside of Arjun Maini at La Source for P3: the Honda development driver had the run on his rival and eased past at Les Combes for the lead, and the fight was on.
    Maini and Dorian Boccolacci came together at Les Combes, with the Indian just able to hold back his rivals but the Frenchman losing to teammate Ryan Tveter as the order shook out behind them. Two more teammates squabbling over positions saw a fight between Tatiana Calderon and Bruno Baptista end early on lap 3, when the Colombian ran wide at Les Combes before jumping the kerb on the way back and clattering into the Brazilian, who was into the wall and retirement ahead of a brief VSC period to remove the stricken DAMS vehicle.
    Russell was biding his time (and his DRS), but 2 laps after the restart he pounced, using the advantage to blast past Fukuzumi and into the lead into Les Combes, towing Aitken behind him to engage the Japanese driver: while his teammates fought each other for P2 Russell sailed away into an unassailable lead, setting the fastest lap as he built a gap that would deny his teammates the DRS advantage he used to good effect.
    Further back Giuliano Alesi was on a charge, making great use of his speed on the Kemmel straight to find a way up the order, outdragging Niko Kari, Alessio Lorandi and Julien Falchero and he did so. Aitken used much the same move as Russell to steal P2 from Fukuzumi, running outside and through his teammate at Les Combes to give him track advantage, although he was unable to shake Fukuzumi all race long as the pair fought all the way to the flag.
    And when it dropped the paddock applauded a superb drive from Russell, who put his Budapest disappointments behind him as he got his title fight back in order, while Aitken overturned a late attack from Fukuzumi for P2 at the line. Maini closed on the pair late in the race but was just unable to find a way by, while Boccolacci reclaimed P5 at the restart and held it all race long ahead of Tveter and Alesi, with Falchero racing alone to the flag and tomorrow’s reverse pole, ahead of a late fight between Kari and Kevin Jörg which resolved in the Finn’s favour.
    Provisional Race 1 Classification
    Driver
    Team
     
     
    1.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    2.
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    3.
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
    4.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
    5.
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
    6.
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
    7.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
    8.
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    9.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
    10.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
    11.
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
    12.
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    13.
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    14.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
    15.
    Juan Manuel Correa
    Jenzer Motorsport
    16.
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS
    Not Classified
    Marcos Siebert
     Campos Racing
    Matthieu Vaxivière
     DAMS
    Anthoine Hubert
     ART Grand Prix
    Bruno Baptista
     DAMS
    Fastest Lap
    George Russell
    2:08.433 on lap 5

    eom/GP3 release

  • Arjun Maini finishes 9th: GP3

    Hungaroring, 29 July 2017: Giuliano Alesi has backed up his Silverstone Race 2 victory with a lights to flag win in this morning’s GP3 Series Race 2 at the Hungaroring, taking the lead at turn 1 and controlling the pace all the way to the flag to lead Trident’s first 1-2-3-4 ahead of Ryan Tveter, Kevin Jörg and Dorian Bocolacci. The only Indian driver Arjun Maini finished 9th.

    The race got underway with gloriously sunny conditions, and when the lights went out polesitter Tveter made a good getaway and pushed across the track to cover teammate Jörg: unfortunately the American ran too deep at turn 1 to cover the Swiss driver, handing the inside line to Alesi who shot through and into the lead ahead of the pair and Boccolacci as they headed down to turn 2.
    Further back Nirei Fukuzumi spun at turn 3 and Leonardo Pulcini ran deep at turn 4, forcing both men to return to the pits, but up ahead Alessio Lorandi was determined to ruin the Trident party and overtook Boccolacci at the final turn before tearing off after the leading trio. But the pace at the front was to prove too much for him: the Italian ran wide over the huge kerbs at turn 11 on lap 7 before stopping with a puncture a few corners later.
    Nevertheless the pressure remained on Boccolacci from behind as a train of drivers formed in his mirrors, only briefly delayed by a VSC to remove Bruno Baptista’s halted car from turn 6 two laps later, with George Russell capitalising on a strong race to date and a sharp restart to mug Raoul Hyman for P9. The train started to lose carriages when yesterday’s winner Jack Aitken pushed through at turn 4 before jumping the kerbs and coming back, only to also retire with a puncture on the next lap.
    Another VSC period slowed the race on lap 14, the result of yet another puncture, this time for Julien Falchero, with Russell taking the opportunity to pit for fresh rubber. But with the laps running down Alesi controlled his pace to lead Tveter to the flag but just 0.6 seconds, with Jörg 2 seconds back for his first podium and Boccolacci a similar margin behind to round out the all Trident top 4. Anthoine Hubert was unable to spoil the party and finished in P5, just ahead of Niko Kari, with Hyman making up for yesterday’s disappointments with a strong race to 7th, just ahead of Campos teammate Marcos Siebert.
    Despite the lack of points today Russell (92 points) maintained his lead in the drivers’ championship ahead of ART teammates Aitken (83), Hubert (78) and Fukuzumi (72), with Alesi’s win allowing him to sneak past Lorandi by 66 points to 63, while in the teams’ championship ART remains aloof from their rivals, leading Trident by 311 points to 152, with Jenzer in third on 99 points as they head into the summer break ahead of the next round at Spa-Francorchamps.
    Provisional Race 2 Classification
    Driver
    Team
     
     
    1.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
     
     
    2.
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
     
     
    3.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
     
     
    4.
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
     
     
    5.
    Anthoine Hubert
    ART Grand Prix
     
     
    6.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
     
     
    7.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
     
     
    8.
    Marcos Siebert
    Campos Racing
     
     
    9.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
     
     
    10.
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
     
     
    11.
    Matthieu Vaxivière
    DAMS
     
     
    12.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
     
     
    13.
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS
     
     
     
     
    Not Classified
     
     
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    Bruno Baptista
    DAMS
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
    Fastest Lap
    George Russell
     1:33.715 on lap 16

  • Alesi controls Race 2 for maiden win; Maini P5: GP3

    Silverstone, 16 July 2017: Giuliano Alesi has dominated this morning’s Race 2 at Silverstone for his maiden GP3 win, leading all the way from lights to flag and controlling the pace all the way despite a close late battle behind him to lead home Jack Aitken and Niko Kari.
    Poleman Dorian Boccolacci was unable to take the start, but his misfortune was to his teammate’s advantage: when the lights went out Alesi tore away from P2, leading his rivals unopposed into turn 1. Behind him Aitken made a scorching start, easily disposing Arjun Maini and a slower Kari who just held off Anthoine Hubert, giving George Russell a line through his teammate and into P5 as the field headed away.
    Kari soon made up for his disappointing start by dispatching Maini for P3 on lap 3 as Alesi and Aitken traded fastest laps, but they were slowed next time round as Steijn Schothorst and Julien Falchero came together and found the gravel, prompting a safety car period to dispose of the stricken vehicles.
    The race was live again on lap 7, with Alesi easily controlling the restart before starting to rebuild his lead, while further back Russell was on a charge: yesterday’s winner was looking to return to the podium today and soon dispatched Maini into the final complex after hounding him all around the circuit. Teammate Hubert tried to follow him through but was denied, handing Alessio Lorandi a run at the Frenchman: the pair touched and Hubert ran wide, but both returned to the fray almost immediately.
    Out in front Alesi was controlling the pace: Aitken threw everything he had at him but it was not enough, with the Frenchman crossing the line 0.7s ahead for his first series win. Behind them Kari had his mirrors filled by Russell’s car for the closing stages of the race: the Briton tried to use all of his local knowledge but ran out of time to knock the Finn off the podium. The Jenzer pair of Maini and Lorandi brought home more points to the team in P5 and 6, ahead of a late battle for the final points as Kevin Joerg held on against a charging Hubert.
    And despite the lack of podium Russell was delighted to leave his home race leading the drivers’ standings on 92 points ahead of his teammates Hubert on 57, Nirei Fukuzumi on 54, Aitken on 52, with Lorandi on 51 and Alesi on 43, while in the teams’ fight ART Grand Prix are well ahead of their rivals on 241 points ahead of Trident on 91 and Jenzer on 87 points as the grid looks towards Round 4 in Budapest in just 2 weeks’ time.
    Provisional Race 2 Classification
    Driver
    Team
    1.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
    2.
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    3.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
    4.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    5.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
    6.
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    7.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
    8.
    Anthoine Hubert
    ART Grand Prix
    9.
    Santino Ferrucci
    DAMS
    10.
    Marcos Siebert
    Campos Racing
    11.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
    12.
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
    13.
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
    14.
    Bruno Baptista
    DAMS
    15.
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS
    16.
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
     
    Not Classified
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
     
    Fastest Lap 
    George Russell
    1:48.862 on lap 10

    eom/GP3 series press release

  • Russell wins; Arjun finishes 7th: GP3 Series

    Russell wins; Arjun finishes 7th: GP3 Series

    Silverstone, 15 July 2017L

    2017 GP3 Series Round 3.
    Silverstone, Northamptonshire, UK.
    George Russell (GBR, ART Grand Prix). Anthoine Hubert (FRA, ART Grand Prix). and Alessio Lorandi (ITA, Jenzer Motorsport).
    Saturday 15 July 2017
    Photo: /GP3 Series Media Service.
    ref: Digital Image MALC7003

    George Russell brought a smile to the faces of the local fans with a strong win in gloomy conditions in this afternoon’s Race 1 at Silverstone, easing into the lead early on before leading for the remainder of the race ahead of teammate Anthoine Hubert and Alessio Lorandi.

    But the Briton didn’t have it all his own way: when the lights went out it was Hubert who led the field into turn 1, making a brilliant start to mug the poleman for P1 while behind him Jack Aitken made a brilliant start from P5 to grab third from teammate Nirei Fukuzumi, with ART holding the top 4 places before Niko Kari blasted past both of them as the Japanese driver slowed to a stop, with Lorandi, Dorian Boccolacci and Ryan Tveter lined up behind Aitken at the end of the lap.
    Russell was not to be denied, however, and it was lap 4 when he took a long tow and blew past Hubert for the lead of the race on Hangar straight. 3 laps later and it was Lorandi who was on the move, attacking Aitken for P4 at Bridge and looking forward for more as most of the grid looked to preserve their tyres for the end of the race.
    On lap 14 Tveter slowed to a halt, his strong drive broken with his car on the side of the circuit, prompting a VSC period to remove his vehicle. Lorandi was ready for the restart 2 laps later and blew past Kari when the race went live and was soon all over the back of Hubert, who now had to look in his mirrors instead of ahead to the race lead.
    As the last few laps rolled down it was Russell who was first to the flag, just a second ahead of the battle for P2, finally secured by Hubert over Lorandi for his first podium. Behind them Aitken held on for P4 in an eventful race ahead of a storming Boccolacci, who finished ahead of a fierce late squabble between Kari, Maini and Alesi, with Kevin Joerg and Julien Falchero rounding out the points in 9th and 10th.
    Provisional Race 1 Classification
    Driver
    Team
    1.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    2.
    Anthoine Hubert
    ART Grand Prix
    3.
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    4.
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    5.
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
    6.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
    7.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
    8.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
    9.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
    10.
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    11.
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
    12.
    Bruno Baptista
    DAMS
    13.
    Marcos Siebert
    Campos Racing
    14.
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    15.
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS
    16.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
     
    Not Classified
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
    Santino Ferrucci
    DAMS
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
     
    Fastest Lap 
    Giuliano Alesi
    1:49.838 on lap 18
     eom/GP3 series press release

  • Arjun Maini qualifies P8; Russell on pole: GP3 Series

    George Russell has delighted the local fans with a sterling drive in cool conditions in this afternoon’s qualifying session in Silverstone, leading the way for most of the session to claim his second pole position ahead of ART Grand Prix teammates Anthoine Hubert and Nirei Fukuzumi.
    The Briton stopped the clock with a laptime of 1:46.608 to claim pole by a tenth in a tight session, which took place under overcast but dry conditions. All of the drivers were immediately on track given the chance of rain, looking to at least secure a banker lap while they could.
    The early pace was fast and frantic: Santino Ferrucci, Bruno Baptista, Steijn Schothorst, Niko Kari, Alessio Lorandi and Hubert all spent time on top of the timesheets before Russell grabbed P1 with a 47.5s, and with tyres clearly beyond their best the entire field returned to the pits for fresh rubber and to plan how best to use it.
    When they finally returned to the track the pace was no less rapid: Dorian Boccolacci missed pole by five thousandths before the ART teammates hit the front: Jack Aitken, Fukuzumi and finally Russell ran faster again, with Hubert slotting into P2 with 2 minutes remaining. Fukuzumi looked to improve on his final lap but was slightly wide in sector 3, and the top 3 was set.
    Behind then Boccolacci, Lorandi, Aitken, Niko Kari, Arjun Maini, Ryan Tveter and Julien Falchero were all within a second of the top spot and will be looking to make up the gap tomorrow when they hit the track once again for race 1.
    Provisional Qualifying Classification
    Driver
    Team
    Laptime
    Laps
    1.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    1:46.608
    12
    2.
    Anthoine Hubert
    ART Grand Prix
    1:46.714
    12
    3.
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
    1:46.833
    12
    4.
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
    1:47.052
    14
    5.
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:47.082
    13
    6.
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    1:47.090
    12
    7.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
    1:47.259
    13
    8.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:47.412
    12
    9.
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
    1:47.412
    11
    10.
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    1:47.473
    11
    11.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
    1:47.571
    12
    12.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
    1:47.588
    11
    13.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
    1:47.658
    13
    14.
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
    1:47.677
    10
    15.
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    1:47.823
    13
    16.
    Santino Ferrucci
    DAMS
    1:47.898
    12
    17.
    Marcos Siebert
    Campos Racing
    1:47.977
    10
    18.
    Bruno Baptista
    DAMS
    1:48.544
    13
    19.
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS
    1:48.893
    14