Race Report

2014 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 SERIES

Cisrcuit: Abu Dhabi (UAE), Length 5.554 km, 22^nd/23^rd November 2014, Rounds 17 & 18
www.yasmarinacircuit.com

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2014:
Pal Varhaug (NOR), Mathéo Tuscher (CH) and Kevin Ceccon (I)

Top ten for our three drivers in Abu Dhabi

After a long break of six weeks since the last round at Sochi in October, the ninth and final round of the season was held in the spectacular setting of the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The championship had yet to be decided and exciting racing was expected. 23 drivers had entered the event.

Race One Qualifying

Friday, 21/11/14, 15.00 – 15.30, Weather: Sunny, 27°C

The only free practice session was run on Friday at midmorning in very warm temperatures. The Yas Marina circuit is made up of many corners and is very demanding. The field ended up very close together with Pal 11^th, Kevin 12^th and Mathéo 14^th. The time difference between Pal and 5th was just three hundredths of a second.
The qualifying session was run only a few hours later in the heat of the afternoon. Our drivers performed well and ended the session in 11^th (Kevin), 15^th (Mathéo) and 17^th (Pal).

GP3 Series

Race One (30 Minutes)

Saturday, 22/11/14, 12.05, Weather: Sunny, 27°C

The race started on time in the main heat of the day and Kujala promptly caused an accident, when he hit the rear of Mathéo’s car and then spun into Sa Silva. Kujala and Sa Silva were out immediately and Mathéo drove slowly back to the pitlane where broken suspension was diagnosed and unfortunately he had to retire. The Safety Car was deployed immediately and stayed out until the damaged cars had been cleared away. Kevin had made a great start and improved his position by two places immediately and was now 9^th. He next attacked Yelloly, who was running in the very popular 8^th position, but it wasn’t easy to overtake and Kevin decided that it was too risky. Kevin managed to come home in a fine 9^th without any problems and collected some points too as a result. Pal also got away well and managed to avoid the first lap accident, and was in 14^th place occasionally managing to put pressure on Mardenborough just in front. However Mardenborough made no mistake and there was never a chance for Pal to get past him. Pal took the flag in a decent 14^th place in the end. After the race Kujala was handed a penalty for causing the accident and must start the second race from the pit lane.

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 the finishing order in the first race.

GP3 Series

Race One (30 Minutes)

Sunday, 23/11/14, 13.00, Weather: Sunny, 28°C

The final race of the season started with an incident when Kirchhofer didn’t get away on the green flag lap and as a result had to start from the pitlane. Kevin again made a very good start and worked his way up the order after the first lap to claim 6^th place. Pal had also made progress and was now 10^th, while Mathéo was in 14^th. The Safety Car had to be deployed for one lap, to give the marshals time to clean away the debris from contact between Stoneman and Fontana and at the restart Mathéo was able to make up some more places and was now 11^th. Kevin drove steadily and was able to match the rapid pace of the top five to come home in an excellent 6^th after a flawless drive. Pal ran wide in one corner and that was enough for Visoiu to overtake him. Pal tried to counterattack and win back the place, but it proved to be impossible. When Mardenborough dropped back that meant that Pal was back up to 10^th again and that was where he was happy to finish. Mathéo meanwhile came under pressure from Kirchhofer from about the midway point of the race. Mathéo put in a strong run and was able to keep his opponent behind him until the end, coming home in a good 11^th place.
Winner Niederhauser was excluded from the results after the race when his car failed scrutineering. Kevin was also awarded a penalty for disrespecting track limits when overtaking and he was dropped a place, but because of Niederhauser’s exclusion this meant that he stayed in 6^th place. Pal moved up to 9^th and Mathéo to 10^th.

The race cars will only arrive back in Europe towards the end of December so the official GP3 winter test days will be held here in Abu Dhabi. They will take place in the coming week, on 27^th, 28^th and 29^th November 2014, the 2014 season coming to a close after that.

Championship final standings after 18 races:

1^st Alex Lynn (GB), 207 points; 2^nd Dean Stoneman (GB), 163 points; 3^rd Marvin Kirchhofer (D), 161 points; 4^th Emil Bernstorff (GB), 134 points; 5^th Jimmy Eriksson (SWE), 134 points; 6^th Nick Yelloly (GB), 127 points; 12^th Mathéo Tuscher (CH), 29 points; 15^th Kevin Ceccon (I), 20 points; 17^th Pal Varhaug (NOR), 12 points

2014 GP3 Series

For more information:

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