Race Report

2016 Formula 1 British Grand Prix
GP3 SERIES

Circuit: Silverstone (GB), Length 5.901 km, 09^th/10^th July 2016, Rounds 5 & 6
www.silverstone.co.uk

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2016:
Akash Nandy (MAS) and ARJUN MAINI (IND)

A PROMISING START AND POINTS FOR MAINI

The GP3 Series reconvened on the demanding Silverstone Circuit, racing as one of the support races for the Formula 1 British Grand Prix. This was their third outing supporting the 2016 Grand Prix Programme. Driving for Jenzer Motorsport were Akash Nandy (MAS) and, for the first time, Arjun Maini (IND).

Race One Qualifying

Saturday, 02/07/16, 09.45 – 10.15, Weather: Rain, 16°C

The free practice session on Friday afternoon took place on a dry track. Arjun, sitting in a GP3 race car for the very first time, was getting on well and achieved 15^th place. Unfortunately there was a red flag, stopping the session when he was out on his best lap. Akash improved steadily and in the end was in 22^nd place.
Right at the start of the qualifying session, with everybody ready on slick tyres, a rain shower crossed the circuit. There was an accident just 5 minutes into the session and it had to be stopped. At the restart some drivers opted for slicks, some for rain tyres. It was soon clear that despite the rain that was still falling the drivers who had chosen slicks were faster. Throughout the session Arjun, despite the very difficult conditions, drove very well. Shortly before the end he shot to the top, and only a few drivers were able to go faster. That put him in an excellent 4^th place when the session had to be stopped because of another accident with just 3 minutes to go. Akash also drove very strongly and was in an excellent 8^th place. There were no opportunities for improvement in the remaining time, especially as it had started raining again. After the session some penalties were handed out to 2^nd-placed Leclerc for one, but also unfortunately to Akash, due to an incident in the previous race. With that Arjun Maini, on his first appearance in the GP3 Series, would start from a fantastic 3^rd on the grid, with Akash in 13^th, his best starting position this season.

GP3 Series

Race One (40 Minutes)

Saturday, 02/07/16, 17.10, Weather: Overcast, 21°C

The race started under thick black cloud, but the rain didn’t materialise. Arjun started from 3^rd but was maybe a tad too careful. In his efforts to avoid any contact he had fallen back to 11^th by the end of the first lap. He was in the middle of some hard fighting and dropped as far as 13^th before he settled in to a rhythm and was able to figure out what was possible for the tyres in what was his first race on Pirellis. He put in some impressive moves to claw his way back up to 10^th on the very last lap, thus claiming the final points on offer. This was an excellent performance in his very first race in this hard-fought championship. Akash had to avoid several incidents on the start lap and also lost a few places. In a very exciting race he managed to hold position after that and brought home the car home well in 19^th place.
After the race time penalties were handed out to Janosz and Dennis. That promoted Arjun to 8^th place in the results list, which meant more points for him, but also meant, according to the rules, the he would start on pole position for the Sunday race.

The grid for the second race of the weekend was set by reversing the order of the first eight finishers in the first race, with the rest of the places set according to finishing order in the first race.

GP3 Series

Race Two (30 Minutes)

Sunday, 03/07/16, 09.15, Weather: Overcast, 13°C

It had rained overnight and the track was still damp. Despite the still threatening black clouds hanging over the circuit, all the drivers opted for slick tyres. Arjun got off to a good start from pole position but Stuvik had a little more momentum and managed to squeeze in front into the first corner. Leclerc and Palou were now on the right side and were also through. Arjun was fighting fiercely and was hit hard by Parry, damaging his rear tyre; he made it back to the pitlane where the punctured tyre was changed and Parry was immediately handed a time penalty for his actions, though he also had to pit with a broken front wing. Arjun was able to rejoin the race again but was now a long way back. In the remaining time Arjun collected valuable experience on the slow drying track and was able to produce some very fast lap times. He took the chequered flag in 19^th in the end. Akash made a good start and improved steadily to 15^th place, but then ran wide over the wet kerbs and his car slid straight into the gravel trap. Unfortunately that ended his race.

We are now looking forward to the next race in two week’s time at Budapest (HU).

Championship standings after 6 out of 18 races:

1^st Charles Leclerc (F), 86 points; 2^nd Alexander Albon (THA), 84 points; 3^rd Antonio Fuoco (I), 72 points; 4^th Nick de Vries (NL), 42 points; 5^th Ralph Boschung (CH), 38 points; 6^th Jake Hughes (GB), 31 points; 9^th Oscar Tunjo (COL), 18 points; 18^th Arjun Maini, 4 points

2016 GP3 Series

For more information:

• www.gp3series.com
• www.italiaracing.net