Following the success of GP2 Series, GP3 Series was launched
in 2010 to act as a feeder series for GP2.
So far Jean-Éric Vergne is the only ex-GP3 driver to make it to Formula
One, but given the number of GP3 drivers who graduate to GP2 and Formula Renault
3.5 it should not be long before the Formula One field is filled by GP3 Series
graduates. Esteban Gutiérrez, James
Calado and Tom Dillmann, all race winners in GP2, all previously drove in GP3,
with Esteban Gutiérrez taking the inaugural title.
Like the GP2 car, the GP3 chassis is developed by Dallara. The turbo charged engine, which is based on a
2L road car engine, delivers 280hp, and is developed by Renault Sport. The car also has Pirelli tyres, similar to
those used in Formula One and GP2 Series.
There are 9 teams competing in GP3 Series this season, each
running up to 3 drivers. There were due
to be 10 teams, but German team Mücke Motorsport pulled out in early this year. The season will be contested over 16 races in
8 rounds, each round supporting Formula One.
This will be the first season which the series has been able to run at
Monaco, as in previous years the paddock has been too small to accommodate GP3.
Lotus GP
Just as in GP2 Series, this season sees ART Grand Prix
rebadged as Lotus GP. The team is the
strongest in GP3, having won every drivers’ and teams’ championship in the
series so far. With a strong driver
line-up, it seems likely that the French team will be able to keep their run of
success going.
I predict – 1st
1. Daniel
Abt
German Daniel Abt drove in Formula 3 Euro Series last
season, finishing 7th in a difficult year. Previously he has been ADAC Formel Masters
champion in 2009, and was runner-up in 2010’s ATS Formel 3 Cup (the German
Formula 3 championship). While he might
have benefited more from a second season in Formula 3 Euro Series, he has
landed on his feet by getting a seat at Lotus GP this season, and he should
regularly be in the points, if not on the podium.
I predict – 4th
2. Conor
Daly
The number 2 car has been lucky in GP3 Series so far, as
both GP3 drivers’ champions drove the number 2 car when they won the
title. It is not far-fetched to see
Conor Daly repeating the feat this season.
The American driver, son of ex-Formula One driver Derek Daly, was Star
Mazda (an American open-wheel junior series) champion in 2010, before having
his first taste of GP3 with Carlin last season.
While he only finished 17th in the championship, he
contributed almost half of Carlin’s points for the season, and is almost a
certainty to pick up his first win this season.
I predict – 2nd
3. Aaro
Vainio
Aaro Vainio made his debut in GP3 Series last season, taking
one podium. The Finnish driver had
driven in Formula Renalt 2.0 Eurocup in 2010, finishing 4th. With an illustrious history in karting, which
saw him crowned European Champion and runner-up in the World Championship in 2009,
Vainio’s career is only just beginning, and he has the ability to take wins
this season.
I predict – 6th
MW Arden
In GP3 Series, Arden International have teamed up with Red
Bull Racing driver Mark Webber to compete as MW Arden. Last season the team picked up 2 wins on
their way to finishing 2nd in the teams’ championship. This year they have the potential to go one
better.
I predict – 2nd
4. Mitch
Evans
Mitch Evans returns with MW Arden for his second season in
GP3 Series. A good start to last season
saw him leading the championship after round 3, but a combination of the ART
drivers improving and Evans being hit by a series of bad results saw him drop
down the rankings, finishing the season only 9th. Mitch Evans definitely has the talent to
succeed in GP3 Series, as demonstrated by a string of successes down under –
runner-up in the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship in 2008-09, runner-up in
the Australian Formula Ford Championship and VSCRC Formula Ford Fiesta Series
in 2009, runner-up in the Australian Drivers’ Championship and winner of the
Toyota Racing Series in 2010.
I predict – 1st
5. David
Fumanelli
Having come 2nd in last season’s European F3 Open
championship, David Fumanelli is a new graduate to GP3 Series. The Italian driver got his chance as a result
of a successful test at Jerez in 2011, which saw him set the fastest lap on day
1. A strong driver, Fumanelli could pick
up wins straight away.
I predict – 5th
6. Matias
Laine
Finnish driver Matias Laine returns for his second season in
GP3 Series, having driven for Marussia Manor Racing last season. Last season he failed to score any points,
and looking at his record in other series, he might struggle to score again.
I predict – 11th
Marussia Manor Racing
Last season Marussia Manor Racing managed to take two of
their drivers to victory. With an all-rookie
line-up this season the team might find it difficult to have as much success,
but Manor are an experienced motorsport outfit, and know how to best develop
young drivers.
I predict – 4th
7. Dmitry
Suranovich
16 year-old Dmitry Suranovich is a debutant in GP3 Series,
having just finished racing in the Toyota Racing Series, where he finished 12th
in the championship, picking up one podium.
While he is still young, and is building experience in open-wheel
racing, Suranovich did not have a particularly stellar karting career to build
upon, and he might struggle now he is up against more experienced drivers.
I predict – 16th
8. Fabiano
Machado
The reigning Formula Three Sudamerica champion, Fabiano
Machado now makes the move to GP3 Series.
Having won from the start in Formula Three Sudamerica, he is a talented
driver who learns quickly, and so he will probably get up to speed in GP3
Series, though his pre-season testing form was not the best. Also counting against Machado is his age, as
at 25 years of age he is the oldest driver in GP3 Series; while a drivers age
should not particularly count against them, F1 teams are not likely to take a
gamble on a driver in his late 20s in this day and age.
I predict – 14th
9. Tio
Ellinas
Eftihios ‘Tio’ Ellinas joins GP3 Series from the Formula
Renault 2.0 UK Championship, in which he finished 3rd, equal on
points with Oliver Rowland in 2nd.
The Cypriot driver has looked good in pre-season testing, and it would
not be a surprise if he managed to win a race in his debut season.
I predict – 7th
Status Grand Prix
Created in 2005 to run A1 Team Ireland in the now defunct A1
Grand Prix series, Status joined GP3 Series when it began in 2010. If the team carries their form from the last
race of 2011 over they will do well, as they won the final race of last season
at Monza. Looking at their driver
line-up though, the team may not be at the front end of the field as often as
they might life.
I predict – 6th
14. Marlon Stöckinger
The first Filipino driver to win a race in Europe, Marlon Stöckinger
joins Status Grand Prix after a difficult first season in GP3 with Atech CRS
Grand Prix, in which he failed to score any points. Hopefully now that he has a year of
experience in GP3 to build on he will be able to finish in the points
consistently.
I predict – 15th
15. Kotaro
Sakurai
While Kotaro Sakurai is the reigning British Formula Three
Rookie Class champion, one should not read too much into that, as he was the
only Rookie Class driver to compete in more than 5 of the 10 rounds of the
championship, and his best finish was a 13th place. Given a history of low-finishes, he will
probably struggle to score points this season.
I predict – 20th
16. Alice
Powell
This season Alice Powell is making the move up to GP3 from
Formula Renault UK, in which she finished 9th. Powell showed her talent in 2010, when she
won the Formula Renault BARC championship.
This year I think that finishing in the points consistently and building
experience for next season would be a good goal.
I predict – 18th
Ocean Racing
Technology
GP2 Series outfit Ocean Racing Technology are one of two
teams making their debut in GP3 Series this season. Starting out in a new series is difficult for
even the most experienced of teams, so it may take a few races for Ocean to hit
their stride.
I predict – 7th
17. Kevin
Ceccon
Kevin Ceccon is one of the more exciting drivers making his
debut in GP3 Series in my opinion. Last
season the young Italian driver just edged out Luca Filippi to take the Auto GP
title, the previous winner of which was Romain Grosjean. While he struggled in GP2 Series last year
before bowing out to concentrate on Auto GP, he should find GP3 Series more his
level and he could well end up on the podium on a few occasions.
I predict – 8th
18. Carmen
Jordá
Spanish driver Carmen Jordá last drove competitively in
2010, when she raced in Indy Lights, finishing the season in 16th. Jordá does not have the most impressive
record in competitive motorsport, and in GP3 she will find it difficult to
score points.
I predict – 26th
19. Robert
Cregan
Robert Cregan is moving into GP3 Series this season after a
year driving V8 Supercars. With little
experience in open-wheel racing, he might be slow to adapt to the different
style of GP3 Series. As long as he beats
Carmen Jordá, he will have done okay.
I predict – 24th
Jenzer Motorsport
Swiss team Jenzer Motorsport finished 3rd in
their first season of GP3 Series, but had a more torrid time last season, only
finishing 7th, though their driver Nico Müller did finish 4th. The team are the reigning Formula Abarth
champions and have the quality necessary to finish higher, but their drivers
will need to adapt to GP3 Series quickly.
I predict – 5th
20. Robert Visoiu
The youngest driver in GP3 Series, Romanian Robert Visoiu
drove for Jenzer Motorsport in Formula Abarth last year, taking 2 wins to finish
4th in the European championship.
If he takes to GP3 Series, he might well end up on the podium on a
number of occasions, but his main aim should be to beat his team-mates.
I predict – 12th
21. Patric
Niederhauser
Another driver who Jenzer Motorsport have brought into GP3
Series from their Formula Abarth team, Patric Niederhauser won the Formula
Abarth Italian championship, and was 2nd in the European championship. He could have the quality to win races this
season, if any of the Jenzer drivers were to do so.
I predict – 10th
22. Jakub
Klasterka
Czech driver Jakub Klasterka has not driven since 2009, when
he raced as a 15 year-old in Formul’Academy Euro Series, finishing 11th. Against a pair of competitive team-mates, and
with little experience in open-wheel racing, Klasterka could well end up being
outclassed this season.
I predict – 22nd
Trident Racing
Trident Racing are the other team entering GP3 Series this
year, along with Ocean Racing Technology.
Trident have an average record in GP2 Series, and will probably be just
as average in GP3.
I predict – 9th
23. Vicky
Piria
Last season Vittoria ‘Vicky’ Piria was driving in Formula
Abarth, finishing 15th in the Italian championship and 18th
in the European. There are more talented
drivers in GP3 Series than there were in Formula Abarth, and so she will likely
be at the back of the field most season.
I predict – 23rd
24. Antonio
Spavone
This season Antonio Spavone will be driving in Auto GP World
Series as well as in GP3 Series. Having
never won a race in open-wheel racing, and having looked unimpressive in his
racing career so far, he will do well to score points this season.
I predict – 19th
25. TBA
At the first race of the season Trident Racing have decided
only to run two cars. This is the first
season in GP3 Series in which teams are allowed to enter only 2 cars instead of
3, which was previously compulsory. If
they decide that they want to do so, Trident Racing can enter a third car at
any of the rounds this season, so watch this space.
Carlin
Yet another of Carlin’s numerous teams in various open-wheel
series, the GP3 team hasn’t yet performed as well as the Formula Three team
has, or as well as the GP2 team is this season.
With a good driver line-up, though, as well as their own heritage of
success in motorsport, Carlin should be nearer the front of the field this
year.
I predict – 3rd
26. Alex
Brundle
The son of ex-F1 driver and commentator Martin Brundle, Alex
Brundle drove in Formula Two last season.
While he managed to pick up a couple of 3rd place finishes,
he did not trouble the title challengers often enough. This season he should score points, but may
not do much better than that.
I predict – 17th
27. António
Félix da Costa
Last season António Félix da Costa drove for Status Grand
Prix in GP3 Series, winning the final race of the season. Now that he is at Carlin, he might have the
backing behind him to make a serious challenge for the title, and his performances
in pre-season testing suggest that it is very possible.
I predict – 3rd
28. William
Buller
In British Formula Three last season William Buller drove
for Fortec Motorsport, winning 3 races and finishing 4th in the
championship. The Northern Irish driver
has also been driving in Formula 3 Euro Series this season. He might end up on the podium this year, but
regular point finishes would be a good result in his debut year in GP3 Series.
I predict – 9th
Atech CRS Grand Prix
Atech CRS Grand Prix is a collaborative effort between Atech
Grand Prix and CRS Racing. The team
finished last in last year’s GP3 championship, and this year they will be
hoping to score points more consistently.
I predict – 8th
29. Tamás Pál
Kiss
Hungarian Tamás Pál Kiss drove in GP3 Series for Tech 1
Racing last year, taking a win in the sprint race at Catalunya, but was not
able to score points regularly, and only finished 16th. While Kiss clearly has talent, and a year of
experience in GP3 Series will also help him, he may struggle to show his true
abilities at Atech CRS Grand Prix.
Hopefully some podium finishes and regular points will come his way.
I predict – 13th
30. John
Wartique
John Wartique’s previous experience of racing comes from
driving Peugeot 207s in France. The
Belgian driver will probably be found at the back of the grid on most occasions
this year.
I predict – 25th
31. Ethan
Ringel
Ethan Ringel is only just out of karting, driving in sports
cars and F2000 in the USA last season.
With little experience of European open-wheel racing, Ringel’s main aim
for the season should be to beat John Wartique, and get into the points on
occasion.
I predict – 21st
No comments:
Post a Comment