It may only be the middle of October, but winter testing has already got under way for the GP3 Series at the Estoril circuit in Portugal. A number of drivers from GP3’s inaugural year are returning, but many new faces will also be making an appearance.
The likes of James Calado, Lewis Williamson, Oli Webb and Rupert Svendsen-Cook will be looking to make the jump from British Formula 3, while the impressive Conor Daly (2010 Star Mazda Champion), Tamas P’al Kiss (Formula Renault UK) and Mitch Evans (2010 Toyota Racing Series Champion) also made their GP3 débuts in the test.
In the end, it was series-returnee Nico Muller that topped the timing sheets on the first day of testing for Jenzer Motorsport, heading the Addax Team duo of Miki Monras in the morning session and Roberto Mehri in the afternoon run. There were several red flag moments during the day, but none for any significant offs or damage.
Come the second day, it was the third Addax driver, Felix da Costa that ran fastest in the morning ahead of James Calado (ART Grand Prix), although the afternoon told a slightly different story with Lewis Williamson (Atech CRS GP) and Nigel Melker (RSC Mücke) respectively topping the order – Da Costa was 3rd quickest, but Calado only picked up the 12th fastest lap.
P’al Kiss brought out the only major stoppage of the day – an off for the Hungarian driver, caused some damage to the front of his Status GP machine.
Manor Racing’s Adrien Tambay was fastest on the final day, registering the quickest time of the test in the process – he was ahead of Williamson, who did return to the top spot in the afternoon, with a time just faster than Robin Frijns (MW Arden).
With the field quickly getting used to their new cars, their were few red flags during the final days and apart from some minor issues, unreliability failed to rear its head. Despite only running on Thursday and Friday, Lewis Williamson really got the attention with his quick runs and he may become a force to be reckoned with in next years competition.
Next week, the teams arrive at the Spanish circuit at Jerez for the second post-season test as evaluations continue for the 2011 GP3 season.
Day One (Wednesday, October 13th)
Morning Session
|
Pos
|
Car #
|
Team
|
Driver
|
Laps
|
Time
|
(km/h)
|
|
1
|
25
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Nico Muller
|
40
|
1:32,581
|
162,6
|
|
2
|
17
|
Addax Team
|
Miki Monras
|
38
|
1:32,600
|
162,6
|
|
3
|
1
|
ART Grand Prix
|
James Calado
|
31
|
1:32,641
|
162,5
|
|
4
|
8
|
Manor Racing
|
Adrien Tambay
|
24
|
1:32,742
|
162,3
|
|
5
|
19
|
Addax Team
|
Roberto Mehri
|
27
|
1:32,912
|
162
|
|
6
|
21
|
MW Arden
|
Simon Trummer
|
48
|
1:33,007
|
161,9
|
|
7
|
4
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Christensen
|
34
|
1:33,012
|
161,9
|
|
8
|
18
|
Addax Team
|
Adriano Buzaid
|
42
|
1:33,039
|
161,8
|
|
9
|
7
|
Manor Racing
|
Conor Daly
|
35
|
1:33,158
|
161,6
|
|
10
|
16
|
Carlin
|
Felix da Costa
|
28
|
1:33,172
|
161,6
|
|
11
|
5
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Dean Smith
|
40
|
1:33,219
|
161,5
|
|
12
|
28
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Aaro Vainio
|
30
|
1:33,220
|
161,5
|
|
13
|
27
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Hugo Valente
|
31
|
1:33,234
|
161,5
|
|
14
|
3
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Pedro Nunes
|
34
|
1:33,352
|
161,3
|
|
15
|
10
|
RSC Mücke
|
Nigel Melker
|
36
|
1:33,407
|
161,2
|
|
16
|
26
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Doru Sechelariu
|
37
|
1:33,426
|
161,1
|
|
17
|
22
|
MW Arden
|
Mitch Evans
|
44
|
1:33,492
|
161
|
|
18
|
2
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Rio Haryanto
|
33
|
1:33,559
|
160,9
|
|
19
|
15
|
Carlin
|
Josef Newgarden
|
19
|
1:33,570
|
160,9
|
|
20
|
31
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Marlon Stockinger
|
39
|
1:33,576
|
160,9
|
|
21
|
30
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Tamas P’al Kiss
|
28
|
1:33,646
|
160,8
|
|
22
|
12
|
RSC Mücke
|
Willi Steindl
|
38
|
1:33,667
|
160,7
|
|
23
|
24
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Zoel Amberg
|
35
|
1:33,953
|
160,2
|
|
24
|
23
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Vittorio Ghirelli
|
38
|
1:34,032
|
160,1
|
|
25
|
29
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Nick Yelloly
|
38
|
1:34,098
|
160
|
|
26
|
14
|
Carlin
|
Svendsen -Cook
|
21
|
1:34,312
|
159,6
|
|
27
|
20
|
MW Arden
|
Matias Laine
|
42
|
1:34,359
|
159,6
|
|
28
|
9
|
Manor Racing
|
Thomas Hylkema
|
41
|
1:34,515
|
159,3
|
|
29
|
11
|
RSC Mücke
|
Andrina Gugger
|
40
|
1:35,854
|
157,1
|
|
30
|
6
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Kotaro Sakurai
|
26
|
1:36,445
|
156,1
|
Afternoon session
|
Pos
|
Car #
|
Team
|
Driver
|
Laps
|
Time
|
(km/h)
|
|
1
|
25
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Nico Muller
|
40
|
1:32,198
|
163,3
|
|
2
|
19
|
Addax Team
|
Roberto Mehri
|
35
|
1:32,201
|
163,3
|
|
3
|
30
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Tamas P’al Kiss
|
32
|
1:32,218
|
163,3
|
|
4
|
10
|
RSC M ü cke
|
Nigel Melker
|
41
|
1:32,286
|
163,1
|
|
5
|
4
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Christensen
|
32
|
1:32,294
|
163,1
|
|
6
|
8
|
Manor Racing
|
Adrien Tambay
|
26
|
1:32,312
|
163,1
|
|
7
|
1
|
ART Grand Prix
|
James Calado
|
37
|
1:32,406
|
162,9
|
|
8
|
31
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Marlon Stockinger
|
26
|
1:32,471
|
162,8
|
|
9
|
16
|
Carlin
|
Felix da Costa
|
36
|
1:32,502
|
162,8
|
|
10
|
15
|
Carlin
|
Josef Newgarden
|
31
|
1:32,511
|
162,7
|
|
11
|
24
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Zoel Amberg
|
34
|
1:32,571
|
162,6
|
|
12
|
7
|
Manor Racing
|
Conor Daly
|
37
|
1:32,622
|
162,5
|
|
13
|
17
|
Addax Team
|
Miki Monras
|
29
|
1:32,646
|
162,5
|
|
14
|
29
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Nick Yelloly
|
39
|
1:32,657
|
162,5
|
|
15
|
18
|
Addax Team
|
Adriano Buzaid
|
38
|
1:32,678
|
162,4
|
|
16
|
22
|
MW Arden
|
Mitch Evans
|
29
|
1:32,714
|
162,4
|
|
17
|
28
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Aaro Vainio
|
39
|
1:32,736
|
162,3
|
|
18
|
5
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Dean Smith
|
38
|
1:32,799
|
162,2
|
|
19
|
3
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Pedro Nunes
|
39
|
1:32,810
|
162,2
|
|
20
|
26
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Doru Sechelariu
|
28
|
1:32,924
|
162
|
|
21
|
23
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Vittorio Ghirelli
|
37
|
1:32,962
|
161,9
|
|
22
|
12
|
RSC M ü cke
|
Willi Steindl
|
44
|
1:33,010
|
161,9
|
|
23
|
20
|
MW Arden
|
Matias Laine
|
46
|
1:33,034
|
161,8
|
|
24
|
14
|
Carlin
|
Svendsen -Cook
|
19
|
1:33,088
|
161,7
|
|
25
|
9
|
Manor Racing
|
Thomas Hylkema
|
34
|
1:33,157
|
161,6
|
|
26
|
2
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Rio Haryanto
|
29
|
1:33,167
|
161,6
|
|
27
|
21
|
MW Arden
|
Simon Trummer
|
26
|
1:33,205
|
161,5
|
|
28
|
27
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Hugo Valente
|
20
|
1:34,397
|
159,5
|
|
29
|
6
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Kotaro Sakurai
|
18
|
1:35,357
|
157,9
|
|
30
|
11
|
RSC M ü cke
|
Andrina Gugger
|
41
|
1:35,520
|
157,6
|
Day Two (Thursday, October 14th)
Morning session
|
Pos
|
Car #
|
Team
|
Driver
|
Laps
|
Times
|
(km/h)
|
|
1
|
17
|
Addax Team
|
Felix da Costa
|
32
|
1:31,627
|
164,3
|
|
2
|
1
|
ART Grand Prix
|
James Calado
|
30
|
1:31,659
|
164,3
|
|
3
|
10
|
RSC Mücke
|
Nigel Melker
|
40
|
1:31,762
|
164,1
|
|
4
|
3
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Pedro Nunes
|
31
|
1:31,924
|
163,8
|
|
5
|
22
|
MW Arden
|
Mitch Evans
|
34
|
1:32,062
|
163,5
|
|
6
|
20
|
MW Arden
|
Robin Frijns
|
33
|
1:32,086
|
163,5
|
|
7
|
19
|
Addax Team
|
Roberto Mehri
|
32
|
1:32,107
|
163,5
|
|
8
|
12
|
RSC Mücke
|
Willi Steindl
|
46
|
1:32,130
|
163,4
|
|
9
|
24
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Zoel Amberg
|
42
|
1:32,143
|
163,4
|
|
10
|
2
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Matias Laine
|
32
|
1:32,150
|
163,4
|
|
11
|
30
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Tamas P’al Kiss
|
39
|
1:32,159
|
163,4
|
|
12
|
4
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Christensen
|
41
|
1:32,160
|
163,4
|
|
13
|
7
|
Manor Racing
|
Conor Daly
|
33
|
1:32,200
|
163,3
|
|
14
|
25
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Marlon Stockinger
|
37
|
1:32,373
|
163
|
|
15
|
28
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Miki Monras
|
41
|
1:32,526
|
162,7
|
|
16
|
23
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Vittorio Ghirelli
|
46
|
1:32,534
|
162,7
|
|
17
|
26
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Doru Sechelariu
|
38
|
1:32,560
|
162,7
|
|
18
|
15
|
CARLIN
|
Josef Newgarden
|
30
|
1:32,612
|
162,6
|
|
19
|
8
|
Manor Racing
|
Rio Haryanto
|
40
|
1:32,707
|
162,4
|
|
20
|
31
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Lewis Williamson
|
44
|
1:32,737
|
162,3
|
|
21
|
29
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Nick Yelloly
|
37
|
1:32,905
|
162
|
|
22
|
21
|
MW Arden
|
Simon Trummer
|
22
|
1:32,924
|
162
|
|
23
|
14
|
CARLIN
|
Svendsen -Cook
|
29
|
1:33,066
|
161,8
|
|
24
|
27
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Hugo Valente
|
25
|
1:33,156
|
161,6
|
|
25
|
18
|
Addax Team
|
Julian Leal
|
37
|
1:33,202
|
161,5
|
|
26
|
9
|
Manor Racing
|
Thomas Hylkema
|
45
|
1:33,300
|
161,4
|
|
27
|
5
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Ivan Lukashevich
|
47
|
1:33,648
|
160,8
|
|
28
|
16
|
CARLIN
|
Richard Bradley
|
34
|
1:33,894
|
160,3
|
|
29
|
11
|
RSC Mücke
|
Andrina Gugger
|
39
|
1:33,943
|
160,3
|
|
30
|
6
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Kotaro Sakurai
|
22
|
1:34,635
|
159,1
|
Afternoon session
|
Pos
|
Car #
|
Team
|
Driver
|
Laps
|
Time
|
|
1
|
31
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Lewis Williamson
|
35
|
1:31,432
|
|
2
|
10
|
RSC Mücke
|
Nigel Melker
|
33
|
1:31,672
|
|
3
|
17
|
Addax Team
|
Felix da Costa
|
44
|
1:31,782
|
|
4
|
4
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Michael Christensen
|
31
|
1:31,843
|
|
5
|
12
|
RSC Mücke
|
Willi Steindl
|
49
|
1:31,945
|
|
6
|
3
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Pedro Nunes
|
42
|
1:31,976
|
|
7
|
2
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Matias Laine
|
37
|
1:32,004
|
|
8
|
19
|
Addax Team
|
Roberto Mehri
|
37
|
1:32,030
|
|
9
|
15
|
CARLIN
|
Josef Newgarden
|
31
|
1:32,044
|
|
10
|
7
|
Manor Racing
|
Conor Daly
|
39
|
1:32,052
|
|
11
|
29
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Nick Yelloly
|
38
|
1:32,068
|
|
12
|
1
|
ART Grand Prix
|
James Calado
|
48
|
1:32,124
|
|
13
|
21
|
MW Arden
|
Simon Trummer
|
44
|
1:32,151
|
|
14
|
25
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Marlon Stockinger
|
34
|
1:32,182
|
|
15
|
18
|
Addax Team
|
Julian Leal
|
39
|
1:32,208
|
|
16
|
20
|
MW Arden
|
Robin Frijns
|
40
|
1:32,273
|
|
17
|
22
|
MW Arden
|
Mitch Evans
|
41
|
1:32,296
|
|
18
|
24
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Zoel Amberg
|
40
|
1:32,301
|
|
19
|
23
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Vittorio Ghirelli
|
37
|
1:32,601
|
|
20
|
28
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Miki Monras
|
31
|
1:32,624
|
|
21
|
26
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Doru Sechelariu
|
28
|
1:32,637
|
|
22
|
27
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Hugo Valente
|
34
|
1:32,659
|
|
23
|
9
|
Manor Racing
|
Thomas Hylkema
|
34
|
1:32,751
|
|
24
|
30
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Tamas P’al Kiss
|
14
|
1:32,752
|
|
25
|
5
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Ivan Lukashevich
|
32
|
1:32,779
|
|
26
|
8
|
Manor Racing
|
Rio Haryanto
|
33
|
1:32,815
|
|
27
|
6
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Kotaro Sakurai
|
29
|
1:32,991
|
|
28
|
16
|
CARLIN
|
Richard Bradley
|
32
|
1:33,188
|
|
29
|
14
|
CARLIN
|
Svendsen -Cook
|
40
|
1:33,452
|
|
30
|
11
|
RSC Mücke
|
Andrina Gugger
|
26
|
1:33,768
|
Day Three (Friday, October 15th)
Morning session
|
Pos
|
Car #
|
Team
|
Driver
|
Laps
|
Time
|
|
1
|
7
|
Manor Racing
|
Adrien Tambay
|
40
|
1:30,973
|
|
2
|
31
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Lewis Williamson
|
44
|
1:31,098
|
|
3
|
10
|
RSC M ü cke
|
Nigel Melker
|
39
|
1:31,122
|
|
4
|
3
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Pedro Nunes
|
44
|
1:31,122
|
|
5
|
2
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Gabriel Chaves
|
41
|
1:31,224
|
|
6
|
20
|
MW Arden
|
Robin Frijns
|
31
|
1:31,236
|
|
7
|
17
|
Addax Team
|
Dean Smith
|
36
|
1:31,240
|
|
8
|
4
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Michael Christensen
|
34
|
1:31,242
|
|
9
|
18
|
Addax Team
|
Julian Leal
|
40
|
1:31,266
|
|
10
|
22
|
MW Arden
|
Mitch Evans
|
34
|
1:31,310
|
|
11
|
26
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Aaro Vainio
|
42
|
1:31,374
|
|
12
|
21
|
MW Arden
|
Simon Trummer
|
31
|
1:31,465
|
|
13
|
28
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Miki Monras
|
25
|
1:31,490
|
|
14
|
1
|
ART Grand Prix
|
James Calado
|
37
|
1:31,506
|
|
15
|
15
|
CARLIN
|
Josef Newgarden
|
34
|
1:31,560
|
|
16
|
12
|
RSC M ü cke
|
Willi Steindl
|
41
|
1:31,596
|
|
17
|
29
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Nick Yelloly
|
40
|
1:31,598
|
|
18
|
5
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Oli Webb
|
45
|
1:31,653
|
|
19
|
27
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Hugo Valente
|
42
|
1:31,679
|
|
20
|
25
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Marlon Stockinger
|
44
|
1:31,763
|
|
21
|
24
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Zoel Amberg
|
31
|
1:31,771
|
|
22
|
9
|
Manor Racing
|
Thomas Hylkema
|
38
|
1:31,815
|
|
23
|
19
|
Addax Team
|
Adriano Buzaid
|
31
|
1:31,839
|
|
24
|
23
|
Jenzer Motorsport
|
Vittorio Ghirelli
|
42
|
1:31,841
|
|
25
|
30
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Tamas P’al Kiss
|
29
|
1:31,936
|
|
26
|
14
|
CARLIN
|
Svendsen -Cook
|
34
|
1:31,976
|
|
27
|
8
|
Manor Racing
|
Rio Haryanto
|
27
|
1:32,566
|
|
28
|
6
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Kotaro Sakurai
|
47
|
1:32,578
|
|
29
|
16
|
CARLIN
|
Richard Bradley
|
31
|
1:32,594
|
Afternoon session
|
Pos
|
Car #
|
Team
|
Driver
|
Laps
|
Times
|
|
1
|
31
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Lewis Williamson
|
36
|
1:31,230
|
|
2
|
20
|
MW Arden
|
Robin Frijns
|
40
|
1:31,243
|
|
3
|
17
|
Addax Team
|
Dean Smith
|
24
|
1:31,734
|
|
4
|
2
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Gabriel Chaves
|
39
|
1:31,770
|
|
5
|
1
|
ART Grand Prix
|
James Calado
|
33
|
1:31,819
|
|
6
|
22
|
MW Arden
|
Mitch Evans
|
29
|
1:31,821
|
|
7
|
10
|
RSC Mü cke
|
Nigel Melker
|
36
|
1:31,829
|
|
8
|
18
|
Addax Team
|
Julian Leal
|
33
|
1:31,875
|
|
9
|
8
|
Manor Racing
|
Rio Haryanto
|
33
|
1:31,878
|
|
10
|
21
|
MW Arden
|
Simon Trummer
|
35
|
1:31,885
|
|
11
|
25
|
JENZER
|
Marlon Stockinger
|
47
|
1:31,888
|
|
12
|
28
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Miki Monras
|
28
|
1:31,908
|
|
13
|
7
|
Manor Racing
|
Adrien Tambay
|
27
|
1:31,957
|
|
14
|
4
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Christensen
|
34
|
1:31,983
|
|
15
|
19
|
Addax Team
|
Adriano Buzaid
|
35
|
1:32,015
|
|
16
|
3
|
ART Grand Prix
|
Pedro Nunes
|
31
|
1:32,035
|
|
17
|
15
|
CARLIN
|
Josef Newgarden
|
48
|
1:32,055
|
|
18
|
30
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Tamas P’al Kiss
|
41
|
1:32,209
|
|
19
|
24
|
JENZER
|
Zoel Amberg
|
40
|
1:32,233
|
|
20
|
29
|
Atech CRS GP
|
Nick Yelloly
|
36
|
1:32,316
|
|
21
|
26
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Aaro Vainio
|
43
|
1:32,427
|
|
22
|
16
|
CARLIN
|
Richard Bradley
|
40
|
1:32,519
|
|
23
|
9
|
Manor Racing
|
Thomas Hylkema
|
41
|
1:32,568
|
|
24
|
5
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Oli Webb
|
29
|
1:32,673
|
|
25
|
14
|
CARLIN
|
Svendsen -Cook
|
30
|
1:32,744
|
|
26
|
23
|
JENZER
|
Vittorio Ghirelli
|
39
|
1:32,923
|
|
27
|
12
|
RSC Mücke
|
Willi Steindl
|
25
|
1:33,050
|
|
28
|
6
|
Status Grand Prix
|
Kotaro Sakurai
|
29
|
1:33,083
|
|
29
|
27
|
Tech 1 Racing
|
Hugo Valente
|
27
|
1:33,341
|
