Jack Harvey takes victory in frenetic GP3 race at Monza

Jack Harvey has taken his second victory in the GP3 Series, after yet another incredibly frenetic race around the legendary Autodromo di Monza in Italy. The British sensation assumed the lead at the start, after initial poleman Patric Niederhauser stalled. He was followed by race one winner Daniil Kvyat, with Lewis Williamson 3rd.

After causing the incident at the start of the opening race of the weekend, Marussia Manor Racing’s Dino Zamparelli was suspended from the second race. The GP3 field took to the grid in overcast weather conditions, with the threat of rain still looming in the distance. At the start poleman Patric Niederhauser stalled, throwing away his chances of victory as the field streamed around him. Unfortunately not all of the drivers managed to avoid the stricken Swiss ace, as team-mate and fellow countryman Alex Fontana slammed into the rear of his car. This saw Fontana’s front-left wheel fly violently into the air, luckily clattering into the adjacent catch-fencing.

Further down the road the usual freneticism ensued as the field negotiated the tight opening chicane, as Ryan Cullen slammed into the rear of David Fumanelli before also collecting Giovanni Venturini. Although Fumanelli was able to limp back to the pits for a new rear-wing, the other drivers involved in the opening corner’s shenanigans were all forced into retirement. To allow the marshals to safely retrieve the stricken machines, the safety car was deployed for one lap.

As the safety car peeled into the pits, Jack Harvey stormed into the lead of the race ahead of Championship leader Facu Regalia. During the lap, numerous battles for position raged on up and down the pack, with Nick Yelloly and Jimmy Eriksson colliding at Turn 11 and spinning into retirement in the deep retaining gravel trap. The Swedish rookie had lost his rear-wing during the restart, and was therefore lacking grid throughout the final corner. By Lap 5 Lewis Williamson had perfected an overtaking maneuver on Facu Regalia for 2nd, and began reeling in his fellow countryman for the lead of the race.

With Jack Harvey and Lewis Williamson now engrossed in a battle for the lead, race one winner Daniil Kvyat began to catch Facu Regalia for 3rd. The Russian sensation perfected a maneuver for the position around the outside of Turn 4, demoting the Championship leader down a further position in his ART Grand Prix machine. Despite his competitive pace, Lewis Williamson soon found himself in the clutches of Daniil Kvyat, who wasted no time in perfecting an overtaking maneuver for 2nd position.

As the front runners jostled for the lead of the race, Adderly Fong collided with Samin Gomez and suffered a violent incident into retirement. The Canadian-born Hong Kong driver was forced wide by the Jenzer Motorsport driver, which subsequently saw him smash through the polystyrene bollards and fly over the kerbs at Turn 1. The Status Grand Prix driver eventually came to rest just after the opening chicane, with his car irreparably damaged.

Despite Adderly Fong and Samin Gomez’s incident at Turn 1, the race continued on without a safety car interruption. This enabled Jack Harvey to hold on and secure an illustrious victory for ART Grand Prix ahead of Daniil Kvyat, with Lewis Williamson a close 3rd. Further back Conor Daly managed to snatch the final points-paying position away from Carlos Sainz, after sweeping around the outside of the Spaniard at Turn 11.

The GP3 paddock will reconvene in early November for what should be a sensational season finale, around the iconic Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Facu Regalia will be striving to retain his lead in the Championship, with the likes of Daniil Kvyat, Conor Daly and Kevin Korjus hot on his heels.

Picture Copyright © Andrew Ferraro/GP3 Series Media Service

Jack Harvey Takes Maiden GP3 Victory In Incident-Filled Race

Jack Harvey has cruised to his maiden GP3 victory after an incident-filled 15 lap race around the legendary Silverstone circuit, which included a horrific incident for Patrick Kujala who barrel-rolled over the rear of David Fumanelli.

At the start Conor Daley jumped the start and stormed into 2nd position, whereas the American’s team-mate Jack Harvey shot from 2nd position into the lead at Turn 1. Through the opening corners several drivers ran slightly wide, including the MW Arden of Carlos Sainz jr. As many battles ensued throughout the order, race leader Jack Harvey proceeded to produce the fastest lap of the race. Further down the order Ryan Cullen and Jimmy Eriksson made minor contact at Turn 1, resulting in both drivers coming under investigation by the race stewards.

After visibly jumping the start, Conor Daly was struck with a drive-thru penalty along with the Bamboo Engineering of Melville McKee and the Trident Racing of David Fumanelli. As the race progressed, the safety car was deployed after a huge incident between Series rookie Patrick Kujala and David Fumanelli, with the former barrel-rolling over of the rear of the Italian’s machine. The Koiranen GP driver violently flew through the air and clattered into the retaining tyre barrier, eventually coming to rest upside-down.

The ever-efficient British marshals were immediately on the scene, as the 16-year-old Finn was assisted from his wrecked GP3/13 machine. The safety car period lasted for several laps as the stricken machines were cleared, before the race was resumed with only five laps remaining. Conor Daly immediately elected to serve his drive-thru penalty, as Jack Harvey stormed back into a commanding lead. As the race drew to a conclusion, Lewis Williamson and Carlos Sainz jr. collided whilst battling for 8th position and the reverse grid pole for tomorrow’s second race. The Briton was forced into a frustrating retirement down the Wellington Straight, as Sainz jr. limped around in his damaged MW Arden.

Despite the incident-filled 15 laps, Jack Harvey managed to bring his ART Grand Prix machine home to secure his maiden GP3 victory on home soil, ahead of initial pole-man Kevin Korjus with team-mate Facu Regalia a distant 3rd. Italian driver Giovanni Venturini will start tomorrow’s race from the reverse grid pole, alongside the Jenzer Motorsport driver of Alex Fontana.

Picture Copyright © Malcolm Griffiths/GP3 Series Media Service

Jack Harvey Joins Lotus For 2013 GP3 Season

Newly-crowned British Formula Three International Series Champion Jack Harvey will join Lotus GP for next year’s GP3 season, joining the outfit which has won all three Constructors’ Championships in the history of the Series. The Briton got his first taste of GP3 machinery at the Estoril test in November, and greatly impressed the Lotus outfit.

The 19-year-old began his open-wheel motor sport career in 2009 in the Formula BMW Pacific and European Series with Fortec Motorsports, which saw him take only one victory in the European Series. For 2010, Harvey continued with just the Formula BMW Europe Series, this time stamping his authority over proceedings with seven victories on his way to 2nd in the Championship standings. In 2011, the Briton progressed to the British Formula Three Series and in 2012 became the Champion of the prestigious Series with Carlin.

This sensational performance in the British Formula Three Series saw Jack Harvey land himself with a drive at the GP3 Series post-season test with both Carlin and Lotus. The Briton impressed both outfits during the two tests at Jerez and Estoril, no doubt assisting in his “graduation” to a full-time drive with Lotus for next season. Harvey has intentions in following in the footsteps of fellow countryman James Calado, who also drove for the Lotus GP outfit in GP3 prior to his progression to GP2 with the same team.

“The relationship with Lotus GP is fantastic and I’m proud to have the opportunity to enter the GP3 Series with them.” Explained Jack Harvey, “I would like to follow in the steps of another Racing Steps Foundation-backed Lotus GP driver, my fellow countryman James Calado, who was GP3 runner-up in 2010. We learned a lot during testing and coming to grips with the new tyres will be very important. I am looking forward to the challenge of being in GP3 and especially with Lotus GP, because the team has a great heritage. Our aim has to be to push for the championship.”

Both Esteban Gutierrez and Valtteri Bottas drove for the Lotus GP outfit during their time in the GP3 Series, and both have since progressed to Formula 1 for the 2013 season. Jack Harvey will unquestionably be striving to emulate the results of these two drivers, as he aims to rise through the motor sport echelon to Formula 1.

Picture Copyright © LAT Photographic