Holland’s Nigel Melker got his 2011 GP3 campaign off to a dream start at Istanbul on Saturday.
The RSC Mucke pilot jumped straight into a commanding lead from the second row of the grid, following a sluggish start by poleman Tom Dillmann (Carlin).
Dillmann was also passed neatly into the first turn by fellow front row habitant, Andrea Caldarelli, with Lotus-ART contender, Valtteri Bottas fending off Antonio Felix da Costa to assume 4th place. With Dillmann out in front, Caldarelli struggled to challenge, yet was not truly challenged himself.
It was not as easy a run for Dillmann – as he fell away from Caldarelli, da Costa faded somewhat, leaving Bottas to charge hard right up to the flag, giving Dillmann much to think about come Saturday evening.
The leading five remained so for the distance, with much of the action coming in the lower points positions – much of which was provided by the MW Arden’ Mitch Evans and Lewis Williamson.
The duo battled hard for 6th early on, but it was a battle that came to nought for Williamson. A hasty move into turn 12 around the outside of Evans, would see the 21-year-old spin gently into the run off area.
A second collision in turn twelve would see Williamson’s luck run out. Come the fourth tour, the MW Arden man was running alongside Leonardo Cordeiro (Carlin), when the pair clashed, sending the damaged Cordeiro into a slight spin.
Williamson, tripped up by turn 12’s shallow gravel trap, was flipped onto his rollbar, bringing out the safety car instantly for a short period. Thankfully, both emerged unscathed.
Also on Evans’ trail was Alexander Sims. The Briton had initially qualified 2nd, only to receive a ten-place penalty later. Sims battled his way back into contention for 6th, spending much of the race swapping positions with the young Kiwi – eventually to be decided in Evans’ favour.
Sims would lose another spot before the race was done. With his pace deteriorating, both Dean Smith (8th, Addax) and Michael Christensen (9th, RSC Mucke) closed in.
It would culminate in a three-way battle on the final lap, only resolved as the trio clattered their way through the last set of turns. As they filtered out, Christensen secured 7th ahead of both Sims and Smith.
With 8th place confirmed, Sims took the final point and guaranteed pole for the second race of the weekend. For his troubles, Smith took home 9th and no points.
Some way behind, Gabby Chaves came home 10th after starting on the eighth row. For a time, it appeared as if Rio Haryanto would occupy 11th, only to be scuppered by a slow puncture late on.
Outside the top dozen, Nick Yelloly started 22nd following a post-qualifying penalty – at the end of fifteen laps, the ATECH CRS runner came home 13th.
James Calado got off the line poorly, dropping from 5th to 20th by turn one – he would cross the line 17th.
Race Rating: 2 out of 5
2011 GP3 Round of Turkey (Rd 1, Race 1)
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Nigel Melker RSC Mucke 28m13.773s (15 laps)
2. Andrea Caldarelli Tech 1 + 0.605s
3. Tom Dillmann Carlin + 2.942s
4. Valtteri Bottas ART + 3.840s
5. Antonio Felix da Costa Status + 4.410s
6. Mitch Evans MW Arden + 7.214s
7. Michael Christensen RSC Mucke + 10.608s
8. Alexander Sims Status + 11.713s
9. Dean Smith Addax + 11.928s
10. Gabby Chaves Addax + 19.559s
11. Nico Muller Jenzer + 23.673s
12. Zoel Amberg Atech CRS + 24.192s
13. Nick Yelloly Atech CRS + 24.977s
14. Ivan Lukashevich Status + 26.180s
15. Aaro Vainio Tech 1 + 26.354s
16. Tamas Pal Kiss Tech 1 + 27.239s
17. James Calado ART + 27.507s
18. Matias Laine Manor + 29.871s
19. Simon Trummer MW Arden + 30.222s
20. Dominic Storey Addax + 30.644s
21. Conor Daly Carlin + 31.336s
22. Pedro Nunes ART + 32.066s
23. Maxim Zimin Jenzer + 53.931s
24. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs Manor + 1m03.096s
25. Vittorio Ghirelli Jenzer + 1 lap
Retirements:
Rio Haryanto Manor 13 laps
Luciano Bacheta RSC Mucke 8 laps
Leonardo Cordeiro Carlin 3 laps
Lewis Williamson MW Arden 3 laps
Marlon Stockinger Atech CRS 1 laps
Pos Driver Team Points
1. Nigel Melker RSC Mucke 10
2. Andrea Caldarelli Tech 1 9
3. Tom Dillmann Carlin 8
4. Valtteri Bottas ART 5
5. Antonio Felix da Costa Status 4
6. Mitch Evans MW Arden 3
7. Michael Christensen RSC Mucke 2
8. Alexander Sims Status 1
