Aaro Vainio storms to GP3 victory after lights-to-flag drive at Budapest
Aaro Vainio has stormed to his third GP3 victory around the Hungaroring, after a masterful lights-to-flag drive from the Finn who managed to fend off the charging Conor Daly during the closing laps. The leading duo were followed by Russian ace Daniil Kvyat in the MW Arden, with Jack Harvey 4th.
At the start Aaro Vainio stormed into a commanding lead over Conor Daly, as the 27-car field negotiated the tricky first few corners without incident. During the opening few laps Championship leader Tio Ellinas plummeted through the order, after first Patric Niederhauser and then Alex Fontana and Dino Zamparelli all overtook the struggling Cypriot. Whilst the field began to evenly spread themselves out around the tight and twisty confines of the Hungaroring, Aaro Vainio managed to open up a comfortable two second lead over the American ace of Conor Daly.
By Lap 9 Tio Ellinas managed to recover after his highly uncompetitive start to the race, with the Marussia Manor Racing driver managing to overtake Dino Zamparelli down the start/finish straight. As the race progressed numerous battles raged on up and down the order, with the likes of Patric Niederhauser, Giovanni Venturini and Tio Ellinas all battling hard for position. The latter began pushing beyond the limits in the closing stages of the race, as he dipped a wheel onto the grass and run extensively wide on the exit of Turn 4 but managed to rejoin.
The flow of the race was disrupted on Lap 12, after a big shunt between Luis Sa Silva and Emanuele Zonzini, with Samin Gomez also involved but miraculously able to continue. As Sa Silva, Zonzini and Gomez negotiated Turn 1, utter disaster struck when Gomez collided with Sa Silva and the unsuspecting Trident of Zonzini barrel-rolled over the Angolan driver. This incident naturally brought out the safety car, as the efficient marshals cleared the two stricken cars and debris.
After only several laps behind the safety car the race was resumed, with Conor Daly pressurizing race leader Aaro Vainio. The ART Grand Prix driver was frustratingly denied the luxury of overtaking the race leader, as the duo negotiated Turn 2 practically side-by-side. Further back the traditional GP3 mayhem ensued, as Lewis Williamson suffered a spectacular spin in a cloud of tyre smoke. Melville McKee endured a frustrating end to the race, as he dropped through the order whilst running wide with Jimmy Eriksson between Turns 4 and 5.
Despite the crazy end to the race, Aaro Vainio managed to keep his composure and secure a masterful victory after a mature drive from the Koiranen GP driver. The leading duo were separated by just +0.6 seconds across the line, with Daniil Kvyat just under five seconds behind for MW Arden. Robert Visoiu managed to finish 8th, therefore securing him the reverse grid pole for tomorrow’s second race. The Romanian driver will start alongside Kevin Korjus.
Results - 17 laps: Pos Driver Team Time/Gap 1. Aaro Vainio Koiranen 29m17.213s 2. Conor Daly ART +0.691s 3. Daniil Kvyat MW Arden +4.853s 4. Jack Harvey ART +7.061s 5. Carlos Sainz Jr MW Arden +7.262s 6. Facu Regalia ART +7.507s 7. Kevin Korjus Koiranen +8.588s 8. Robert Visoiu MW Arden +9.307s 9. Patric Niederhauser Jenzer +10.295s 10. Giovanni Venturini Trident +11.550s 11. Alex Fontana Jenzer +12.736s 12. Tio Ellinas Manor +13.175s 13. Dino Zamparelli Manor +14.139s 14. Jimmy Eriksson Status +16.751s 15. Patrick Kujala Koiranen +18.645s 16. Nick Yelloly Carlin +18.793s 17. David Fumanelli Trident +19.245s 18. Melville McKee Bamboo +21.309s 19. Eric Lichtenstein Carlin +21.428s 20. Samin Gomez Jenzer +21.725s 21. Adderly Fong Status +22.012s 22. Josh Webster Status +22.372s 23. Carmen Jorda Bamboo +22.793s 24. Lewis Williamson Bamboo +23.417s Retirements: Driver Team Laps Luis Sa Silva Carlin 12 Emanuele Zonzini Trident 12 Josh Webster Status 6
Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP3 Series Media Service
Matias Laine Quickest On Day 1 Of Valencia Test
After the first two rounds of the 2012 GP3 Series, the teams and drivers returned to track action earlier today for day one of a two day test at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo. The MW Arden of Matias Laine finished the day fastest overall, as fellow countryman Aaro Vainio currently sits atop the Drivers’ Championship for Lotus.
A new face joined the driving line-up for the opening day of the test, as Venezuelan driver Samin Gomez prepared to make her GP3 debut with Jenzer Motorsport. Her addition to the grid meant a record breaking four female drivers would be taking part in the GP3 test, alongside GP3 regulars Alice Powell, Vicky Piria and Carmen Jorda.
The day’s running got underway in hazy but humid conditions at the Valencia circuit, as the MW Arden trio of Matias Laine, Mitch Evans and David Fumanelli took to the track to complete their installation laps. The Finnish driver stormed to the top of timing sheets early on, until the Status Grand Prix of Marlon Stockinger went fastest.
Fabiano Machado caused the first red flag delay of the day, as the Brazilian driver embedded his Marussia Manor Racing car in the gravel trap. However, once the track returned to green flag conditions it was his team-mate, Tio Ellinas, who went fastest. Matias Laine then returned to the top of the timing sheets shortly after, and subsequently remained there until the end of the morning session. Both Laine and Vainio stopped on the track as the session came to a close, with technical issues plaguing their cars.
After the lunch interval, William Buller set the initial pace for Carlin until his team-mate, Antonio Felix da Costa, assumed the top spot. Fabiano Machado then caused yet another red flag delay, as the Brazilian driver stopped on the track. As the afternoon session enter its mid-point stage, the Lotus of Conor Daly went fastest as the majority of the field switched their focus to long runs.
Nico Muller then set a scintillating time which propelled the Swiss driver to the top, as the former GP3 driver returned with Trident Racing for testing purposes. Antonio Felix da Costa then returned to the top with only 15 minutes of the day remaining, however his reign at the top was short-live as Muller reasserted his authority on proceedings with a 01:26.865 which remained unbeaten as the day came to a close.
The Valencia test concludes tomorrow, as the cars take to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo for the last time before the GP3 fraternity head to the Valencia Street Circuit for round three of the 2012 season.
Morning session: Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Matias Laine MW Arden 1m26.610s 2. Daniel Abt Lotus 1m26.613s + 0.003s 3. Tio Ellinas Manor 1m26.629s + 0.019s 4. David Fumanelli MW Arden 1m26.686s + 0.076s 5. Marlon Stockinger Status 1m26.725s + 0.115s 6. Antonio Felix da Costa Carlin 1m26.817s + 0.207s 7. Conor Daly Lotus 1m26.836s + 0.226s 8. Patric Niederhauser Jenzer 1m26.932s + 0.322s 9. Mitch Evans MW Arden 1m27.134s + 0.524s 10. Nico Muller Trident 1m27.317s + 0.707s 11. Robert Visoiu Jenzer 1m27.323s + 0.713s 12. William Buller Carlin 1m27.332s + 0.722s 13. Aaro Vainio Lotus 1m27.516s + 0.906s 14. Kevin Ceccon Ocean 1m27.524s + 0.914s 15. Tamas Pal Kiss Atech CRS 1m27.579s + 0.969s 16. Antonio Spavone Trident 1m27.651s + 1.041s 17. Dmitry Suranovich Manor 1m28.043s + 1.433s 18. Fabiano Machado Manor 1m28.142s + 1.532s 19. Vicky Piria Trident 1m28.217s + 1.607s 20. Ethan Ringel Atech CRS 1m29.047s + 2.437s 21. Alice Powell Status 1m29.067s + 2.457s 22. Samin Gomez Jenzer 1m29.179s + 2.569s 23. John Wartique Atech CRS 1m29.493s + 2.883s 24. Robert Cregan Ocean 1m29.672s + 3.062s 25. Carmen Jorda Ocean 1m30.512s + 3.902s Afternoon session: Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Nico Muller Trident 1m26.865s 2. Antonio Felix da Costa Carlin 1m27.046s + 0.181s 3. Tio Ellinas Manor 1m27.663s + 0.798s 4. David Fumanelli MW Arden 1m27.721s + 0.856s 5. Kevin Ceccon Ocean 1m27.723s + 0.858s 6. Conor Daly Lotus 1m27.785s + 0.920s 7. Robert Visoiu Jenzer 1m27.842s + 0.977s 8. Mitch Evans MW Arden 1m27.870s + 1.005s 9. Matias Laine MW Arden 1m27.912s + 1.047s 10. Daniel Abt Lotus 1m27.982s + 1.117s 11. William Buller Carlin 1m27.990s + 1.125s 12. Aaro Vainio Lotus 1m28.059s + 1.194s 13. Patric Niederhauser Jenzer 1m28.144s + 1.279s 14. Dmitry Suranovich Manor 1m28.417s + 1.552s 15. Ethan Ringel Atech CRS 1m28.515s + 1.650s 16. Antonio Spavone Trident 1m28.693s + 1.828s 17. Tamas Pal Kiss Atech CRS 1m28.901s + 2.036s 18. Vicky Piria Trident 1m29.003s + 2.138s 19. Alice Powell Status 1m29.022s + 2.157s 20. John Wartique Atech CRS 1m29.045s + 2.180s 21. Samin Gomez Jenzer 1m29.132s + 2.267s 22. Fabiano Machado Manor 1m29.481s + 2.616s 23. Marlon Stockinger Status 1m29.694s + 2.829s 24. Robert Cregan Ocean 1m29.920s + 3.055s 25. Carmen Jorda Ocean 1m31.040s + 4.175s
Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP3 Series Media Service