GP3 – Top 10 for Alex Fontana in Race 1

Ocon blazes to maiden GP3 win in Barcelona

 ART Grand Prix’s Esteban Ocon victorious on debut in Spain

 Frenchman Esteban Ocon claimed a dominant maiden victory at the Circuit de Catalunya. The ART Grand Prix rookie made a dream start and stole P1 away from pole-man Luca Ghiotto from Trident. From then on, Ocon drove a mature race – and remained in control despite a safety car period. Ghiotto had to be content with second, with Emil Bernstorff (Arden International) in third.

Temperatures were hot as the GP3 class of 2015 headed onto the grid for the opening race of Round 1 for the 2015 season. This race marked a first in the Series’ history with race one now running for forty-minutes (extended by ten minutes compared to previous years’.)

Trident’s Ghiotto had been the dominant performer going into race one but debutant Ocon was keen to make a sterling impression from the front row. The Frenchman flew away at the start and had Ghiotto nailed within several metres. Ghiotto retained second with Bernstorff in third. It was a clean start with Alfonso Celis Jr making a great jump up to P4. Unfortunately for local driver Alex Palou, he lost several positions after a poor getaway.

Ocon built an early advantage of around four seconds back to Ghiotto, with Bernstorff a second or so adrift. With tyre degradation a major factor of today’s race, the drivers were keen to look after their Hard Pirelli tyres early on.

The safety car was deployed following an incident between Seb Morris and Ralph Boschung at turn 10. Both drivers retired and when the safety car came in there were seven laps remaining. Ocon made the perfect re-start and bridged the gap to Ghiotto to make sure his lead was not under threat. The Frenchman maintained a small advantage with Ghiotto and Bernstorff within three seconds of him.

As tyre degradation began to play havoc with numerous drivers, including Matheo Tuscher who fell backwards in the final laps, positions were changing every minute with one man carving his way through the field in impressive style. Carlin’s Jann Mardenborough who had started down in P15 was on a mission and picking off his rivals one by one; eventually finishing in fourth.

Celis. Jr also dropped back with his ART Grand Prix teammate Marvin Kirchhöfer moving up to fifth after a consistent race. Ocon celebrated with both fists in the air at the chequered flag after a commanding 22 laps. Ghiotto achieved his first podium in GP3 with Bernstorff ending the day third. Fourth was Mardenborough ahead of Kirchhöfer and Eriksson.

Kevin Ceccon made the best of a difficult weekend to finish seventh after starting down in P19 whilst Antonio Fuoco, Alex Fontana and Sandy Stuvik completed the top ten.

Ferrari Academy Driver, Fuoco, will start tomorrow’s GP3 Race 2 from reverse pole – the race action kicks off at 09.25 am with tyre degradation key to how the race will progress.

Barcelona – Race 1

Fastest Lap : Esteban Ocon (ART Grand Prix) : 1 :38.997 on lap 2

Not Classified

Kirchhöfer victorious in Barcelona race 2

ART Grand Prix’s Marvin Kirchhöfer converts great start into win in Spain

A lightning getaway was pivotal for Marvin Kirchhöfer today. The German ace shot away from fourth on the grid into P2 and was ready to pounce when pole-sitter Antonio Fuoco (Carlin and Ferrari Academy driver) ran wide after just a few corners. The ART Grand Prix winner seized his opportunity and drove home to his second GP3 career win. Koiranen GP’s Jimmy Eriksson was second, with Carlin’s Jann Mardenborough stealing third on the final lap.

Race 2 of the 2015 GP3 Series season took place under clear skies with the 24 drivers ready for battle in the thirty minute race. It was an all Italian front row with rookie Fuoco in prime position and Kevin Ceccon (Arden International) in second. When the lights went out, Fuoco was sluggish away. Kirchhöfer however jumped straight into second and was on the rear of Fuoco. The Carlin driver ran wide a few corners later and Kirchhöfer moved into the lead and began building an advantage.

On lap two, Eriksson made a blinding overtake on Fuoco to head into second place, with the German already two seconds off in the distance. Ceccon also had a poor start and dropped down to P5 with his teammate Emil Bernstorff in front of him early on in the 17 lap race.

As Kirchhöfer bridged the gap back to Eriksson and Fuoco to almost five seconds, Ceccon had his mirrors full of Mardenborough with a tasty dice developing. On lap 13, the Brit found his way through on the Italian at Turn one and then began to reel in Bernstorff.

The final two laps were captivating with a three way fight between Fuoco, Bernstorff and Mardenborough for the final rostrum place. The Italian moved Bernstorff wide, with the pair both losing momentum; Mardenborough was ready to attack and took advantage of the squabble, sneaking into third place with just a few corners remaining.

It was all smiles for Kirchhöfer; crossing the line almost seven seconds clear of Eriksson. Mardenborough, Fuoco and Bernstorff completed the top five, with Ceccon just resisting yesterday’s race winner Esteban Ocon and Trident’s Luca Ghiotto for P6.

ART Grand Prix’s race winners Ocon and Kirchhöfer lead the Drivers’ Standings on 29 and 27 points respectively. Ghiotto, Mardenborough, Bernstorff and Eriksson have 23, 22, 21 and 20 points apiece.

The French squad are on top in the Teams’ Standings with 27 points, with Carlin and Arden International on 34 and 31.

Round 2 will take place at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg on 19-21 June.

Barcelona – Race 2

Fastest Lap : Marvin Kirchhöfer (ART Grand Prix) : 1 :38.197 on lap 2

Press release GP3