It was all smiles from the team in the eye-catching green and black: Status Grand Prix on home soil produced a fantastic one-two result in the hands of Kiwi Richie Stanaway and Brit Nick Yelloly. Carlin’s Emil Bernstorff pocketed the final spot on the rostrum. After making a good start, Stanaway was never headed and achieved his second GP3 win of his career.
The threatening rain did not appear in front of the very enthusiastic and passionate fans at the Silverstone circuit. Cool temperatures set the scene for Race 2 and reverse pole-sitter Dino Zamparelli bogged down at the start to end lap one in P5. Stanaway made a clean start to go into the lead but Bernstorff made a lightning getaway from fifth to move into second on the first few turns. Yelloly and Kirchhöfer held third and fourth whilst Series leaders Alex Lynn and Jimmy Eriksson dropped down several places out of the top ten.
Contact was made between Alex Fontana (ART Grand Prix) and Patrick Kujala (Marussia Manor Racing) which meant a premature end for both. Action was frenetic throughout the field as Stanaway started to build an advantage back to his Status Grand Prix teammate Yelloly.
Eriksson had Lynn filling his mirrors as the duo caught the Jenzer Motorsport car of Pal Varhaug and Arden International’s Patric Niederhauser. The Swiss driver attempted several moves to pass the Norwegian as Varhaug felt the pressure and ran wide, cutting a corner in the process. When Varhaug came back on track, Niederhauser once again pounced, this time trying a move down the inside of him and Eriksson sensed his opportunity – diving down the middle of the pair of them. Unfortunately, contact was made, with Eriksson and Niederhauser tumbling into the gravel and Varhaug suffering damage also and retiring.
This allowed some clear air for Series leader Lynn and he set his sights on Jann Mardenborough. The Carlin driver made the move stick and was then was embroiled in a four way battle for fifth: Dean Stoneman (Marussia Manor Racing), Riccardo Agostini (Hilmer Motorsport), Zamparelli and Lynn was a fierce fight and it was the Italian rookie who made the first successful manoeuvre on Stoneman for P5. Zamparelli and Lynn were quick to follow suit and unluckily for Stoneman in his home race – his car began to slow and he retired after a strong race.
Stanaway held a 2.6s margin over Yelloly, with a further two seconds advantage back to Bernstorff. The action wasn’t done yet with Lynn still on a charge to move up the order and on the last lap he got the better of Zamparelli for P6 to claim his first race two points of the 2014 GP3 season.
After 15 laps, Stanaway and Yelloly crossed the line and celebrated a wonderful one-two for Status Grand Prix. It was Yelloly’s first podium this year and a third rostrum appearance for Bernstorff who once again picked up vital points in the championship. Kirchhöfer came home fourth, ahead of Agostini – the Hilmer Motorsport driver posting his best result to date. Lynn, Zamparelli and Mathéo Tuscher completed the final point’s positions.
Lynn remains on top in the Drivers’ Standings with an eight point lead over Eriksson. Stanaway lies in third, 18 points off the Carlin driver, with Bernstorff and Kirchhöfer rounding out the top five. Carlin head the Teams’ Standings on 148 points, but Status Grand Prix move back into second place and close the point’s deficit. Koiranen GP are third ahead of ART Grand Prix and Marussia Manor Racing.
Six races this season and five different winners – we can expect another superb encounter for Round 4 in Hockenheim, Germany on 18-20 July in two weeks’ time.
Results - 15 laps
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Richie Stanaway Status 27m39.436s
2. Nick Yelloly Status +2.737s
3. Emil Bernstorff Carlin +7.789s
4. Marvin Kirchhofer ART +14.363s
5. Riccardo Agostini Hilmer +16.508s
6. Alex Lynn Carlin +17.503s
7. Dino Zamparelli ART +18.743s
8. Matheo Tuscher Jenzer +19.748s
9. Luis Sa Silva Carlin +21.217s
10. Alfonso Celis Status +27.015s
11. Adderly Fong Jenzer +27.614s
12. Nelson Mason Hilmer +31.685s
13. Robert Visoiu Arden +33.491s
14. Santiago Urrutia Koiranen +40.139s
15. Jann Mardenborough Arden +41.636s
16. Dean Stoneman Manor +52.287s
17. Roman de Beer Trident +1m13.076s
18. Carmen Jorda Koiranen -1 lap
Retirements:
Pal Varhaug Jenzer 9 laps
Patric Niederhauser Arden 10 laps
Jimmy Eriksson Koiranen 10 laps
Sebastian Balthasar Hilmer 14 laps
Ryan Cullen Manor 14 laps
Alex Fontana ART 15 laps
Patrick Kujala Manor 15 laps
Victor Carbone Trident 15 laps
