Nico Muller tops first day of GP3 testing at Estoril for Trident
Nico Muller topped the timesheets for Trident Racing on the opening day of GP3 testing at Estoril on Tuesday
The 19-year-old Swiss, who has yet to secure a race deal for the coming season, lapped the Portuguese circuit in 1m31.285s with just 15 minutes of the afternoon session remaining, knocking Mitch Evans off the top spot by just 0.015s.
Evans had set the fastest time during the morning session, despite the MW Arden driver completing only seven laps before the lunch break. He improved by just 0.071s during the warmer afternoon.
Antonio Felix da Costa was third quickest for Carlin to make it three GP3 racewinners in the top three positions. Lotus pair Aaro Vainio and Conor Daly completed the top five ahead of MW Arden's Matias Laine.
New Manor signing Tio Ellinas was seventh quickest with Tamas Pal Kiss (Atech CRS), David Fumanelli (MW Arden) and 15-year-old Matheo Tuscher (Jenzer) completing the top 10.
Manor driver Fabiano Machado brought out the red flags during the morning with a spin into the gravel, while Carlin's Will Buller did likewise during the afternoon. They were 14th and 17th overall.
The test continues on Wednesday.
Combined times:
Pos Driver Team Time Gaps Laps 1. Nico Muller Trident 1m31.285s 52 2. Mitch Evans MW Arden 1m31.300s + 0.015s 23 3. Antonio Felix da Costa Carlin 1m31.361s + 0.076s 42 4. Aaro Vainio Lotus 1m31.461s + 0.176s 40 5. Conor Daly Lotus 1m31.487s + 0.202s 48 6. Matias Laine MW Arden 1m31.498s + 0.213s 31 7. Tio Ellinas Manor 1m31.640s + 0.355s 45 8. Tamas Pal Kiss Atech CRS 1m31.713s + 0.428s 21 9. David Fumanelli MW Arden 1m31.745s + 0.460s 42 10. Matheo Tuscher Jenzer 1m31.867s + 0.582s 54 11. Alexander Sims Status 1m31.941s + 0.656s 53 12. Robert Visoiu Jenzer 1m32.043s + 0.758s 56 13. Daniel Abt Lotus 1m32.089s + 0.804s 42 14. Fabiano Machado Manor 1m32.203s + 0.918s 74 15. Marlon Stockinger Status 1m32.240s + 0.955s 35 16. Miki Weckstrom Status 1m32.252s + 0.967s 35 17. Will Buller Carlin 1m32.677s + 1.392s 42 18. Dmitry Suranovich Manor 1m32.831s + 1.546s 49 19. Antonio Spavone Trident 1m32.849s + 1.564s 53 20. Patric Niederhauser Jenzer 1m32.977s + 1.692s 58 21. Alex Brundle Carlin 1m32.993s + 1.708s 40 22. Vicky Piria Trident 1m33.383s + 2.098s 36 23. Ethan Ringel Atech CRS 1m33.535s + 2.250s 50 24. Robert Cregan Tech 1 1m33.911s + 2.626s 43 25. Yuki Shiraishi Tech 1 1m35.125s + 3.840s 29
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