Race Report

Formula 1 Grosser Preis von Oesterreich 2014
GP3 SERIES

Circuit: RedBull Ring (A), Length 4,326 km, 21^st/22^nd June 2014, Rounds 3 & 4
www.projekt-spielberg.at/aktuelles

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2014:
Pal Varhaug (NOR), Mathéo Tuscher (CH) and Adderly Fong (PRC)

Mixed Emotions at RedBull Ring

The GP3 Series teams met up for the second event of the season as part of the Formula One programme at the Grosser Preis von Oesterreich 2014, held for the first time since 2003 on the rebuilt and renamed RedBull Ring circuit near Zeltweg. The heat was on when the GP3 Series rediscovered the circuit and the competition was very close again throughout the 26-strong field.

Race One Qualifying

Saturday, 21/06/14, 09.45 – 10.15, Weather: Cloudy, 14°C

Free practice on Friday evening took place in cool temperatures on a dry track. There was a lengthy break after an accident, and as a result it was very difficult to establish a good rhythm in the little time remaining. Mathéo ended up 11^th with Pal 19^th and Adderly 20^th.
The track was just as dry for qualifying. Mathéo was 3^rd on his first set of tyres, but could not improve his lap times with his second set. That dropped him back to 14^th. Pal and Adderly shared a similar fate, unable to improve with their second sets. Pal found himself in 21^st, 1.069 seconds off pole, with Adderly immediately behind in 22^nd.

GP3 Series

Race One (30 Minutes)

Saturday, 21/06/14, 17.20, Weather: Sunny, 19°C

The start was bedevilled with incidents, and the Safety Car had to be deployed immediately. After an unhappy qualifying session Mathéo had only one goal, to get into the points. He managed to avoid all the first lap accidents and turned the situation to his advantage. He had started 14^th and was now up to 8^th. Adderly and Pal also survived the first lap, and were able to make up places and were now 16^th and 17^th respectively. The clear up took just one lap before the race was restarted and Mathéo again shot up the order to claim 6^th place. From then on he was caught up in the group fight for 4^th place that included Stanaway, Kirchhofer and Yelloly. He must have been able to feel Yelloly breathing down his neck at times, but was he was still able to put pressure on Kirchhofer. No one in the train made any mistakes, and there were no changes of position as a result, Mathéo crossing the finishing line in 6^th after a very strong race. Adderly was surprised by Pal at the restart and was now 17^th. Shortly afterwards Celis left his braking too late and hit the side of Adderly’s car, putting both of them out of the race with damaged cars. Pal drove an excellent race, overtaking Mason and Zamparelli in a series of courageous moves. His lap times matched those of the group including Mathéo, and he was able to claim 13^th at the end of a tough race. After the race Celis was penalised for hitting Adderly and would start Sunday’s race from the pitlane.

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, 22/06/14, 09.25, Weather: Sunny, 16°C

At the first attempt to start the race Kirchhofer failed to get away and the start was aborted, the field completing a second green flag lap. The second attempt was successful and Sa Silva led from Yelloly and Mathéo, the three of them becoming embroiled in a fierce fight for the lead. Yelloly tried to get past Sa Silva, but Sa Silva hung on, while Mathéo was pushing equally hard. When Yelloly lost momentum, he tried to get past Sa Silva on the inside. Sa Silva moved over, and Mathéo got onto the grass and lost control of his car. He ran over the rear wheel of Sa Silva and both cars ended up in the gravel trap, their race sadly over. Pal made a good getaway and was up to 10^th at the end of the first lap. He drove an error free race and was able to defend his place against Stoneman. By the time Mardenborough dropped back Pal was 9^th, and he was able to claim his first top ten finish. Adderly moved up to 17^th early on and was then able to get past Carbone and Mason. He kept Fontana behind him and after a very good race took the chequered flag in 15^th.

The next race is in two weeks’ time at Silverstone (GB).

Championship standings after 2 out of 16 races:

1^st Alex Lynn (GB), 62 points; 2^nd Jimmy Eriksson (SWE), 49 points; 3^rd Richi Stanaway (NZ), 45 points; 4^th Emil Bernstorff (GB), 36 points; 5^th Marvin Kirchhofer (D), 26 points; 6^th Mathéo Tuscher (CH), 24 points

2014 GP3 Series

For more information:

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