Spa GP3: Tio Ellinas leads crash-disrupted wet practice

The Cypriot Manor driver waited until the last lap of the session to post a 2m28.100s time and deprive form man Antonio Felix da Costa of the top spot after the field lost 20 minutes because of a red flag when Belgian John Wartique crashed at Eau Rouge.

The session began in wet conditions with heavy drizzle and intense spray. Daniel Abt had only completed two laps and set the fastest time thus far (2m32.126s) when Wartique went off heavily.

The former Eurocup Clio racer's Atech CRS Dallara went into the tyres backwards and all but disappeared in the retaining wall.

Wartique was able to climb from his machine unaided but was taken by ambulance to the medical centre.

Once the session resumed da Costa shot to the top of the times with a 2m29.211s lap - highlighting the improving conditions as the rain stopped and the track's treachery levels decreased.

The Portuguese would improve on that time with an impressive 2m28.482s lap - more than 0.8 seconds faster than anyone else on track.

He went quicker again with a 2m28.145s, but ultimately that was not enough to protect him from Ellinas.

Abt was third despite running wide at Rivage. Conor Daly bumped Alex Brundle down to fifth right on the flag.

Championship contender Aaro Vainio was sixth - and he too spun at Fagnes - ahead of points leader Mitch Evans.

Matias Laine, Lewis Williamson and Alex Fontana completed the top 10.

Pos  Driver                  Team       Time       Gap
 1.  Tio Ellinas             Manor      2m28.100s
 2.  Antonio Felix da Costa  Carlin     2m28.143s  + 0.043s
 3.  Daniel Abt              Lotus      2m28.204s  + 0.104s
 4.  Conor Daly              Lotus      2m28.392s  + 0.292s
 5.  Alex Brundle            Carlin     2m29.063s  + 0.963s
 6.  Aaro Vainio             Lotus      2m29.498s  + 1.398s
 7.  Mitch Evans             MW Arden   2m29.555s  + 1.455s
 8.  Matias Laine            MW Arden   2m29.692s  + 1.592s
 9.  Lewis Williamson        Status     2m29.925s  + 1.825s
10.  Alex Fontana            Jenzer     2m30.093s  + 1.993s
11.  David Fumanelli         MW Arden   2m30.122s  + 2.022s
12.  Will Buller             Carlin     2m30.133s  + 2.033s
13.  Tamas Pal Kiss          Atech CRS  2m30.296s  + 2.196s
14.  Marlon Stockinger       Status     2m30.324s  + 2.224s
15.  Patric Niederhauser     Jenzer     2m30.556s  + 2.456s
16.  Kevin Ceccon            Ocean      2m30.801s  + 2.701s
17.  Robert Visoiu           Jenzer     2m30.998s  + 2.898s
18.  Giovanni Venturini      Trident    2m31.157s  + 3.057s
19.  Robert Cregan           Ocean      2m31.404s  + 3.304s
20.  Ethan Ringel            Atech CRS  2m31.455s  + 3.355s
21.  Fabiano Machado         Manor      2m31.584s  + 3.484s
22.  Dmitry Suranovich       Manor      2m31.832s  + 3.732s
23.  Vicky Piria             Trident    2m34.041s  + 5.941s
24.  Carmen Jorda            Ocean      2m35.412s  + 7.312s
25.  Alice Powell            Status     2m35.772s  + 7.672s
26.  John Wartique           Atech CRS  2m36.035s  + 7.935s