Christensen, Gutierrez lead GP3 tests
MW Arden driver Michael Christensen edged ahead of the hitherto dominant Esteban Gutierrez (ART) on the final afternoon of pre-season testing for the inaugural GP3 Series at Catalunya today - but the Mexican still had the quickest time of the two-day test
Former Formula 3 Euro Series driver Gutierrez was fastest in both Tuesday sessions and then led the way again this morning, when his lap of 1m37.467s put him two tenths of a second ahead of ex-Formula BMW Europe racer Christensen.
The Dane then beat Gutierrez this afternoon, lapping in 1m36.716s to take the top spot by 0.053 seconds.
Renger van der Zande was third for Mucke in both sessions, with McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner Dean Smith fourth for Carlin in the final session.
Although ART has led most of the tests, Status team manager Simon Cayzar believes very close competition can be expected when GP3 kicks off at the Spanish Grand Prix meeting in May. Status drivers Robert Wickens and Daniel Morad were both in the top ten today, and Wickens had been third yesterday.
"ART Grand Prix look strong in all track conditions, but drivers and teams have been testing with different fuel levels and set-ups, so it's not until qualifying at the Spanish GP that we will truly all know where we stand," said Cayzar.
"What's a clear factor, though, is that there are 30 very equal and competitive cars out there, and there will be multiple stoppages in sessions - there's a going to be a great skill in finding a clear lap to set a time, and the fact that some frontrunners will sometimes be unlucky is going to mix up the grids and make the racing even more exciting."
Pos Driver Team Time 1. Michael Christensen MW Arden 1m37.716s 2. Esteban Gutierrez ART 1m37.769s 3. Renger van der Zande Mucke 1m37.913s 4. Dean Smith Carlin 1m37.918s 5. Miki Monras MW Arden 1m37.926s 6. Daniel Morad Status 1m37.969s 7. Pal Varhaug Jenzer 1m38.024s 8. Robert Wickens Status 1m38.073s 9. James Jakes Manor 1m38.327s 10. Ollie Oakes Atech CRS 1m38.336s 11. Nico Muller Jenzer 1m38.357s 12. Alexander Rossi ART 1m38.376s 13. Josef Newgarden Carlin 1m38.399s 14. Simon Trummer Jenzer 1m38.451s 15. Rio Haryanto Manor 1m38.479s 16. Pablo Sanchez Lopez Addax 1m38.480s 17. Felipe Guimaraes Addax 1m38.527s 18. Tobias Hegewald Mucke 1m38.549s 19. Nigel Melker Mucke 1m38.701s 20. Mirko Bortolotti Addax 1m38.702s 21. Stefano Colleti Tech 1 1m38.703s 22. Lucas Foresti Carlin 1m38.762s 23. Pedro Nunes ART 1m39.051s 24. Marko Asmer Atech CRS 1m39.052s 25. Leonardo Cordeiro MW Arden 1m39.186s 26. Fabio Onidi Tech 1 1m39.197s 27. Patrick Reiterer Atech CRS 1m39.273s 28. Jordan Oakes Manor 1m39.350s 29. Doru Sechelariu Tech 1 1m39.637s 30. Ivan Lukashevich Status 1m39.953s
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