Race Report

2012 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix
GP3 SERIES

Circuit: Spa-Francorchamps (B), Length 7,003 km, 31^st Aug./2^nd Sept. 2012, Rounds 13 & 14
www.spa-francorchamps.be

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2012:
Robert Visoiu (ROM), Patric Niederhauser (CH) and Alex Fontana

Fontana and Niederhauser in the top six

The GP3 Series met up at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps (B) circuit, as ever racing as one of the support races for the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix. This was their seventh outing out of a total of eight supporting the 2012 Grand Prix Programme.

Race One Qualifying

Saturday, 01/09/12, 09.45 – 10.15, Weather: Sunny, 15°C

The free practice session on Friday was run on a wet track, but it dried out for the qualifying session. Alex put in a very good performance and ended the session in a very good position, 9^th on the grid for race one. Patric was 12^th and Robert finished in 18^th.

GP3 Series

Race One (30 Minutes)

Saturday, 01/09/12, 17.20, Weather: Sunny, 16°C

The start of the race was delayed by 45 minutes as everyone had to wait for the barriers to be repaired after a massive accident during the GP2 race. As a result the GP3 race was shortened by five minutes and so would run over 25 minutes. Unfortunately on lap five Cregan spun off and hit the barriers. The Safety Car was immediately deployed, but shortly afterwards the race was red flagged and stopped. The race director decided very quickly that there would not be a restart and so the results were declared as at the end of lap 4. This means that only half points could be awarded. Alex overtook Venturini at the start, but Venturini took the place back on the second lap. That left Alex in 10^th which earned him half a point. Patric managed to overtake Stockinger at the start for 11^th. As usual Robert started well, avoided Fumanelli who had stalled on the grid, and then overtook Brundle and Piria. He was up to 15^th when the race was red flagged. The premature end of the race was a shame because it meant none of our drivers were able to show what they are capable of.

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

GP3 Series

Race Two (30 Minutes)

Sunday, 02/09/12, 09.25, Weather: Sunny, 12°C

The track was dry for the start of Race Two though the temperature was on the cool side at 12°C. After a demon start Alex was already up to 7^th, Patric was 8^th and Robert was 13^th. This legendary circuit offers plenty of overtaking opportunities, which made for a very exciting race. Alex soon slipped past Ceccon, and when Evans made a mistake Alex was promoted up a place to 5^th. He was now on Felix da Costa’s heels, while the Portuguese was piling the pressure on Williamson. Felix da Costa got past, and then it was Alex’s turn to try and find a way past Williamson. It took him a few laps but he eventually made it and, after a super race, he finished just behind Daly in an excellent 4^th place. Patric, meanwhile, first had to fight it out with Abt, Ceccon, Evans and Buller. It took him some time to deal with them; Ceccon was his first victim, then he managed to out brake both Evans and Buller in one move to claim 7^th just behind Abt. Patric drove brilliantly but Abt couldn’t be forced into a mistake. Later they both managed to overtake Williamson which moved Patric to an excellent 6^th, which was where he finished. This meant that Alex and Patric both scored important points today. Robert started from 15^th and was soon embroiled in the usual midfield melee. He was battling with Fumanelli, Pal Kiss, Brundle and Powell, the five of them trading places lap after lap with Robert getting ahead only to be overhauled and having to do it all again. Robert crossed the finish line in 13^th after a very exciting race.

Championship standings after 14 out of 16 races:

1^st Mitch Evans (NZ), 147.5 points; 2^nd Antonio Felix da Costa (POR), 126 points; 3^rd Aaro Vainio (FIN),123 points; 4^th Daniel Abt (D), 112.5 points; 5^th Conor Daly (USA), 94 points; 6^th Patric Niederhauser (CH), 91 points; 13^th Robert Visoiu (ROM), 22 points; 19^th Alex Fontana (CH), 8.5 points

2012 GP3 Series

For more information:

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