Race Report

2012 Formula 1 British Grand Prix
GP3 SERIES

Circuit: Silverstone (GB), Length 5,901 km, 07^th / 08^th July 2012, Rounds 7 & 8
www.silverstone.co.uk

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2012:
Robert Visoiu (ROM), Patric Niederhauser (CH) and Facu Regalia (ARG)

Podium for Niederhauser in Silverstone

The GP3 Series reconvened on the demanding new Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit, racing as one of the support races for the Formula 1 British Grand Prix. This was their fourth outing supporting the 2012 Grand Prix Programme.

Race One Qualifying

Sunday, 07/07/12, 08.45 – 09.15, Weather: Overcast, 15°C

In contrast to Friday‘s free practice, when it rained heavily, the track was practically dry. Our new driver Facu Regalia made the most of the improved conditions and claimed 14^th on the grid for Race One. Robert managed 18^th while Patric, who made a big mistake on what should have been his fastest lap ended up 19^th. Some penalties were handed out after the session and that moved all of our drivers up two places in the order.

GP3 Series

Race One (30 Minutes)

Saturday, 07/07/12, 16.20, Weather: Sunny, 18°C

It was raining hard in the afternoon, which meant that the Formula 1 qualifying session was delayed, as were the GP2 and GP3 Series races that were scheduled afterwards. Finally, towards the end of the afternoon the rain eased off a bit. The start of the first GP3 race went well with no notable incidents despite the very wet track and the fact that all the drivers had opted for slick tyres. Patric soon noticed that it was getting easier to run faster and faster and managed to gain a place per lap to move up the order, and by half distance he was up in 10^th place. Robert also managed to overtake during the second part of the race and finished in 12^th. Facu, who had made the best start of the three, was 11^th at the end of lap one but then lost ground, finally crossing the finish line in a respectable 14^th. Conditions were difficult, and it was not easy to judge how much faster you could drive each lap as the racing line became ever drier. Looked at from this angle all our drivers delivered very good performances. After the race though Robert was penalised for crossing the finish line twice because he missed the entrance to parc fermé the first time. He was demoted three places on the grid for the second race.

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 finishing order in the first race.

GP3 Series

Race Two (30 Minutes)

Sunday, 08/07/12, 09.15, Weather: Overcast, 18°C

The track was still very wet and it was a very difficult decision as to which tyres to mount for the race. Jenzer Motorsport opted, like half of the field, to start on rain tyres. As a result Patric was able to make up several places in the first few laps of the race and even managed to take the lead for two laps (out of a total of 14 laps). Robert had made equally good progress and was in an excellent 3^rd place. Facu took less risks and although he gained some places he then lost them again. In the end he was still able to bring it home in the top ten with a more than respectable 9^th in only his second race in the series. From lap 7 onwards many teams decided to call their drivers in for a tyre change while Buller and Daly, who had started on slicks, were now able to take advantage of their tyre choice and qucikly moved up the order. Patric couldn’t defend his lead and had to let them both through as did Robert. Patric did, however, manage to defend his 3^rd place from Ellinas, who was also now on slicks and moving rapidly through the order. Patric was delighted to clame the last step on the podium while Robert crossed the line in an excellent 5^th place. This was a very good result especially considering just where our drivers had started the race from!

Championship standings after 8 out of 16 races:

1^st Mitch Evans (NZ), 100 points; 2^nd Aaro Vainio (FIN), 89 points; 3^rd Antonio Felix da Costa (POR), 58 points; 4^th Daniel Abt (D), 54 points; 5^th Patric Niederhauser (CH), 50 points; 6^th Conor Daly (USA), 45 points; 7^th Tio Ellinas (CYP), 45 points; 12^th Robert Visoiu (ROM), 22 points

For more information:

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