Carlos Sainz jr. Fastest After Opening Day Of GP3 Estoril Test

Spanish GP3 debutant Carlos Sainz jr. has ended the opening day of the Estoril test fastest for MW Arden, after GP3’s first official pre-season test around the Portuguese circuit. The 18-year-old set the fastest time in the afternoon period, whereas Cypriot Tio Ellinas set the pace in the morning for Marussia Manor Racing.

The opening day of the pre-season test at Estoril was the dawn of a new era of GP3 action, with the 27 drivers taking to the track in the brand-new GP3/13 machine. Several teams up and down the grid sported revised liveries, such as Status Grand Prix and MW Arden, only adding to the excitement and intrigue which surrounds the new season. This test was also the first opportunity for two new outfits to gain their first taste of GP3 action, as Koiranen GP from Finland and Bamboo Engineering (formerly Atech Grand Prix) from the United Kingdom took to the track.

The Carlin of Angolan driver Luís Sá Silva made GP3 history by becoming the first driver to take to the track in the new GP3/13 machine, as the new 400hp car roared into life around the Estoril circuit. Soon, the majority of the field had also taken to the track to carry out various installation laps. However, the drivers soon began experimenting with the new machinery and setting competitive lap times, with the Carlin of Eric Lichtenstein setting the initial benchmark ahead of Kevin Korjus and David Fumanelli.

Tio Ellinas produced the fastest time in the morning period.

Russian driver Daniil Kvyat then rose to the top of the timing sheets with a stunning time only several tenths under the GP3 lap record around Estoril, before former race winner Tio Ellinas surpassed the record with a 01:29.396 for Marussia Manor Racing. This lap remained unchallenged as the morning session drew to a close, with Ellinas being followed by the MW Arden of Daniil Kvyat and David Fumanelli in the Trident.

After the lengthy two hour lunch break, the drivers returned to the Estoril circuit. During the break, the track temperature dropped slightly as Aaro Vainio set the fastest time with a 01:28.971. Italian ace David Fumanelli momentarily posted the fastest time of the day, before Russian rookie Daniil Kvyat put his MW Arden atop the timing sheets, nearly three quarters of a second faster than the Trident driver.

A red flag delay was caused at the start of the final hour of proceedings, when American driver Ethan Ringel of Bamboo Engineering spun. However, track action was quickly resumed as Carlos Sainz jr. produced a blisteringly quick time of a 01:26.816 to assert his authority over proceedings in the final minutes of the day. The Spaniard remained fastest as the day was brought to a conclusion, with Sainz jr. being followed by MW Arden team-mate Daniil Kvyat and Marussia Manor Racing’s Tio Ellinas in 3rd. The GP3 Estoril test will continue tomorrow, as the stars of the future continue to prepare for the new season.

Today’s times:

Pos  Driver                 Team         Time       Gap       Laps
 1.  Carlos Sainz Jr        MW Arden     1m26.816s            29
 2.  Daniil Kvyat           MW Arden     1m27.616s  + 0.800s  27
 3.  Tio Ellinas            Manor        1m27.681s  + 0.865s  19
 4.  David Fumanelli        Trident      1m27.714s  + 0.898s  26
 5.  Kevin Korjus           Koiranen     1m27.846s  + 1.030s  25
 6.  Robert Visoiu          MW Arden     1m27.871s  + 1.055s  24
 7.  Giovanni Venturini     Trident      1m28.021s  + 1.205s  30
 8.  Patric Niederhauser    Jenzer       1m28.068s  + 1.252s  42
 9.  Facu Regalia           ART          1m28.112s  + 1.296s  27
10.  Conor Daly             ART          1m28.309s  + 1.493s  28
11.  Jack Harvey            ART          1m28.509s  + 1.693s  21
12.  Patrick Kujala         Koiranen     1m28.614s  + 1.798s  24
13.  Aaro Vainio            Koiranen     1m28.791s  + 1.975s  19
14.  Alex Fontana           Jenzer       1m28.844s  + 2.028s  28
15.  Nick Yelloly           Carlin       1m29.019s  + 2.203s  28
16.  Adderly Fong           Status       1m29.029s  + 2.213s  26
17.  Emanuele Zonzini       Trident      1m29.159s  + 2.343s  28
18.  Dino Zamparelli        Manor        1m29.201s  + 2.385s  30
19.  Josh Webster           Status       1m29.417s  + 2.601s  27
20.  Samin Gomez            Jenzer       1m29.682s  + 2.866s  35
21.  Vicky Piria            Manor        1m29.816s  + 3.000s  27
22.  Eric Lichtenstein      Carlin       1m29.852s  + 3.036s  27
23.  Ethan Ringel           Bamboo       1m30.266s  + 3.450s  27
24.  Luis Sa Silva          Carlin       1m30.477s  + 3.661s  26
25.  Jimmy Eriksson         Status       1m30.694s  + 3.878s  29
26.  Lewis Williamson       Bamboo       1m31.142s  + 4.326s  9
27.  Roberto La Rocca       Bamboo       1m31.313s  + 4.497s  13

Picture(s) Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP3 Series Media Service