GP3 In-Season Testing (Day 1, Hungaroring, June 2nd)

Hungaroring. © Creative Commons

In the first in-season test session of 2011, Lewis Williamson topped the time sheets in his MW Arden machine, but teammate Mitch Evans gave him a run for his money too.

Indeed, it was Evans that was quickest in the morning session (a best of 1:38.508) after Michael Christensen set the early pace in cool, but dry conditions.
Evans ran a busy morning, completing 25 laps, to Christensen’s 20; however neither came close to matching Alexander Sims’ schedule – the Status Grand Prix driver completed 33 tours of the Hungaroring on his way to 17th place, less than one second off of Evans’ pace.

Before the lunch break, Nico Muller (Jenzer Motorsport) found 3rd position on the timing boards; just two-tenths ahead of the Lotus ART pair, Valtteri Bottas (4th) and James Calado (5th).
Next up Antonio Felix da Costa continued to show his quick hand with a best of 1:39.111 from 32 laps.
The Portuguese pilot bettered Tamas Pa’l Kiss (7th, Tech 1 Racing), Gabby Chaves (8th, Addax), Lewis Williamson (9th) and Aaro Vainio (10th, Tech 1 Racing).

While the afternoon stayed cool and dry, rain threatened the Hungaroring, but the lingering grey clouds were not enough stop Lewis Williamson.
The Englishman set the best of the day with a lap at 1:33.330 from a 33-lap afternoon – only one-tenth quicker than Alexander Sims (2nd) and Manor Racing’s Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (3rd).

James Calado shared the honour of most distance covered – both he and Simon Trummer (MW Arden) clocked up 37 laps of the tight and technical Hungaroring circuit; however where Calado finished the day 4th, Trummer had to make do with 13th, some eight-tenths down on Williamson.
Tom Dillmann returned to the GP3 paddock – this time with Addax – after missing the second round in Barcelona, nailing 5th in the session. For now, this is a one-off outing for the Frenchman as he battles to secure a budget to run the rest of the season.

Like the morning, Antonio Felix de Costa set the 6th quickest time, with the RSC Mücke Motorsport pair of Michael Christensen (7th) and Nigel Melker (8th) less than one-tenth shy.
Valtteri Bottas (9th) and Aaro Vainio (10th) filled out the top ten respectively.

Thomas Hylkema took over Andrea Caldarelli’s seat at Tech 1 Racing, following the Italian driver’s departure to Japan’s Formula Nippon Championship. The Dutchman took some time to get up to speed, finishing the day with a best of 1:40.180 after completing 58 laps.

Morning Times
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
 1.  Mitch Evans              MW Arden               1:38.508            25
 2.  Michael Christensen      RSC Mücke Motorsport   1:38.823 +  0.315   20
 3.  Nico Müller              Jenzer Motorsport      1:38.879 +  0.371   17
 4.  Valtteri Bottas          Lotus ART              1:39.036 +  0.528   26
 5.  James Calado             Lotus ART              1:39.108 +  0.600   21
 6.  Antonio Felix Da Costa   Status Grand Prix      1:39.111 +  0.603   32
 7.  Tamas Pal Kiss           Tech 1 Racing          1:39.140 +  0.632   24
 8.  Gabby Chaves             Addax Team             1:39.166 +  0.658   23
 9.  Lewis Williamson         MW Arden               1:39.244 +  0.736   21
10.  Aaro Vainio              Tech 1 Racing          1:39.257 +  0.749   23
11.  Adrian Quaife-Hobbs      Marussia Manor Racing  1:39.289 +  0.781   16
12.  Luciano Bacheta          RSC Mücke Motorsport   1:39.296 +  0.788   25
13.  Tom Dillmann             Addax Team             1:39.357 +  0.849   28
14.  Nigel Melker             RSC Mücke Motorsport   1:39.373 +  0.865   14
15.  Daniel Morad             Carlin                 1:39.418 +  0.910   26
16.  Simon Trummer            Jenzer Motorsport      1:39.466 +  0.958   24
17.  Alexander Sims           Status Grand Prix      1:39.498 +  0.990   33
18.  Pedro Nunes              Lotus ART              1:39.589 +  1.081   23
19.  Ivan Lukashevich         Status Grand Prix      1:39.590 +  1.082   29
20.  Zoel Amberg              Atech CRS GP           1:39.720 +  1.212   24
21.  Marlon Stockinger        Atech CRS GP           1:39.762 +  1.254   18
22.  Conor Daly               Carlin                 1:39.859 +  1.351   31
23.  Vittorio Ghirelli        Jenzer Motorsport      1:39.869 +  1.361   22
24.  Rio Haryanto             Marussia Manor Racing  1:39.888 +  1.380   24
25.  Nick Yelloly             Atech CRS GP           1:39.953 +  1.445   14
26.  Leonardo Cordeiro        Carlin                 1:40.651 +  2.143   31
27.  Fernando Monje           Addax Team             1:41.125 +  2.617   25
28.  Maxim Zimin              Jenzer Motorsport      1:41.148 +  2.640   16
29.  Matias Laine             Marussia Manor Racing  1:41.169 +  2.661   18
30.  Thomas Hylkema           Tech 1 Racing          1:41.389 +  2.881   29
Afternoon times
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
 1.  Lewis Williamson         MW Arden               1:38.330            33
 2.  Alexander Sims           Status Grand Prix      1:38.462 +  0.132   27
 3.  Adrian Quaife-Hobbs      Marussia Manor Racing  1:38.487 +  0.157   21
 4.  James Calado             Lotus ART              1:38.626 +  0.296   37
 5.  Tom Dillmann             Addax Team             1:38.660 +  0.330   20
 6.  Antonio Felix Da Costa   Status Grand Prix      1:38.747 +  0.417   26
 7.  Michael Christensen      RSC Mücke Motorsport   1:38.777 +  0.447   26
 8.  Nigel Melker             RSC Mücke Motorsport   1:38.847 +  0.517   25
 9.  Valtteri Bottas          Lotus ART              1:38.854 +  0.524   36
10.  Aaro Vainio              Tech 1 Racing          1:38.860 +  0.530   23
11.  Nico Muller              Jenzer Motorsport      1:38.936 +  0.606   35
12.  Gabby Chaves             Addax Team             1:39.050 +  0.720   21
13.  Simon Trummer            MW Arden               1:39.137 +  0.807   37
14.  Tamas Pal Kiss           Tech 1 Racing          1:39.189 +  0.859   18
15.  Conor Daly               Carlin                 1:39.220 +  0.890   32
16.  Leonardo Cordeiro        Carlin                 1:39.244 +  0.914   26
17.  Nick Yelloly             Atech CRS GP           1:39.315 +  0.985   18
18.  Luciano Bacheta          RSC Mücke Motorsport   1:39.323 +  0.993   32
19.  Zoel Amberg              Atech CRS GP           1:39.514 +  1.184   34
20.  Daniel Morad             Carlin                 1:39.592 +  1.262   20
21.  Marlon Stockinger        Atech CRS GP           1:39.636 +  1.306   21
22.  Vittorio Ghirelli        Jenzer Motorsport      1:39.673 +  1.343   34
23.  Matias Laine             Marussia Manor Racing  1:39.820 +  1.490   26
24.  Rio Haryanto             Marussia Manor Racing  1:39.867 +  1.537   22
25.  Ivan Lukashevich         Status Grand Prix      1:39.979 +  1.649   31
26.  Pedro Nunes              Lotus ART              1:40.067 +  1.737   14
27.  Fernando Monje           Addax Team             1:40.093 +  1.763   19
28.  Thomas Hylkema           Tech 1 Racing          1:40.180 +  1.850   29
29.  Mitch Evans              MW Arden               1:40.248 +  1.918   26
30.  Maxim Zimin              Jenzer Motorsport      1:40.532 +  2.202   36

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