Issue 49 - GP2 Series

gp2 GallerypirelliAlice PowellVicky PiriaCarmen JordaJust as former GP3 graduates likeEsteban Gutiérrez, Tom Dillmann andRio Haryanto are adapting to life at ahigher level, the GP2 Series had muchto cheer in the last two Formula 1weekends, as one former championtook his first podium, and anothergained his first win.The Grand Prix of China saw2010 and 2011 champions PastorMaldonado and Romain Grosjeanrecord their first points of the year,while ahead of them, 2006 championLewis Hamilton recorded anotherpodium finish in third. But the mangirl powerThe GP3 Series will have an extracompetitive angle in 2012, as for thefirst time the championship will featurefemale racers. The signing of Alice Powellby Status, Vicky Piria at Trident andCarmen Jorda at Ocean has broughtmuch press attention to GP3 ahead ofthe new season.Powell (Great Britain) comes to GP3from Formula Renault UK, and has alreadyraced on an F1 weekend bill in the MRFSeries supporting the inaugural IndianGrand Prix in which she achieved twopodiums. A gritty and determined racer,she was the first female driver to win aFormula Renault race in the UK, and dulywon the 2010 Formula Renault BARCChampionship.Piria (Italy) arrives in GP3 after two yearsin Formula Abarth, racing in 2011 forPrema. Her single seater career began in2009 in Formula Renault, and it is worthnoting that although aged just 19, 2012will already be her fourth season in singleseaters.Jorda (Spain) is, at 23, the eldest of thethree and arrives with some pedigree.Although out of action in 2011, in 2010she competed in Indy Lights in America,after a successful career in EuropeanF3 championship, predominantly inher native Spain, in which she amassednumerous podium positions.gp2 & GP3 graduatescontinue to shineof the weekend was GP2’s 2005 hero,Nico Rosberg, who took his first F1pole position in China and recordedhis first ever F1 win on the Sunday.A week later in Bahrain and therewas yet more success for the GP2graduates. Although Rosberg andHamilton could not repeat theirChina successes, the podium still hadGP2 representation, with reigningchampion Romain Grosjean takingthird place with his very first F1podium. Afterwards, he stated thathe is confident his car is capable ofrace wins this season.Silverstonetesting resultsAs final preparations for the 2012 GP3 season, twodays of testing were held at Silverstone in April.Mitch Evans was fastest in two of the four sessions...Silverstone, 11 April. Morning sessionDriver Team Time1 Mitch Evans MW Arden 1:50.2762 A.Felix da Costa Carlin 1:50.8543 Tio Ellinas Marussia Manor 1:50.9424 William Buller Carlin 1:50.9515 Marlon Stockinger Status Grand Prix 1:51.097Silverstone, 11 April. Afternoon sessionDriver Team Time1 Matias Laine MW Arden 1:50.2922 Mitch Evans MW Arden 1:50.6473 Conor Daly Lotus GP 1:50.9854 William Buller Carlin 1:51.4455 Aaro Vainio Lotus GP 1:51.509Silverstone, 12 April. Morning sessionDriver Team Time1 A.Felix da Costa Carlin 1:50.4572 Conor Daly Lotus GP 1:50.5613 Tio Ellinas Marussia Manor 1:50.5954 William Buller Carlin 1:50.6555 David Fumanelli MW Arden 1:50.740Silverstone, 12 April. Afternoon sessionDriver Team Time1 Mitch Evans MW Arden 1:50.1502 Robert Visoiu Jenzer Motorsport 1:50.6623 Aaro Vainio Lotus GP 1:50.8404 David Fumanelli MW Arden 1:50.9085 Daniel Abt Lotus GP 1:51.133