2016 Catalunya GP3 Series round

The 2016 Catalunya GP3 Series round was a GP3 Series motor race on 14 and 15 May 2016 at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. It was the first round of the 2016 GP3 Series. The race weekend supported the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.

Spain    2016 Catalunya GP3 round
Round details
Round 1 of 9 rounds in the
2016 GP3 Series
Layout of the Circuit de Catalunya
Layout of the Circuit de Catalunya
Location Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló, Spain
Course Permanent racing facility
4.665 km (2.892 mi)
Race 1
Date 14 May 2016
Laps 22
Pole position
Driver United Kingdom Jake Hughes DAMS
Time 1:34.632
Podium
First Monaco Charles Leclerc ART Grand Prix
Second United Kingdom Jake Hughes DAMS
Third Japan Nirei Fukuzumi ART Grand Prix
Fastest lap
Driver Monaco Charles Leclerc ART Grand Prix
Time 1:38.649 (on lap 22)
Race 2
Date 15 May 2016
Laps 17
Podium
First Thailand Alexander Albon ART Grand Prix
Second Colombia Óscar Tunjo Jenzer Motorsport
Third Italy Antonio Fuoco Trident
Fastest lap
Driver Colombia Óscar Tunjo Jenzer Motorsport
Time 1:38.722 (on lap 2)

The round saw the début of the third-generation GP3 car, the Dallara GP3/16, which replaced the GP3/13 chassis used between 2013 and 2015.

Background

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The defending champions for GP3, Esteban Ocon, were unable to defend their respective titles due to the ruling which forbids driver champions from returning to the series. Ocon served as a Mercedes development driver and was also the reserve driver for the Renault Formula 1 team, dovetailing his F1 commitments with a season in the DTM.

Classification

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Qualifying

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The first qualifying for GP3's third-generation car started under clear skies, with Alexander Albon taking the early lead. Jake Dennis, Jack Aitken, Kevin Jörg, Charles Leclerc, and Nirei Fukuzumi all took turns at the head of the pack, but Jake Hughes had the last word, claiming pole with a terrific lap. With teammate Jörg in second, it was a dream debut qualifying for newcomer team DAMS.

Pos. No. Driver Team Time Grid
1 27   Jake Hughes DAMS 1:34.632 1
2 28   Kevin Jörg DAMS 1:34.772 2
3 1   Charles Leclerc ART Grand Prix 1:34.949 3
4 2   Nirei Fukuzumi ART Grand Prix 1:35.048 4
5 9   Jake Dennis Arden International 1:35.117 5
6 20   Óscar Tunjo Jenzer Motorsport 1:35.160 6
7 5   Antonio Fuoco Trident 1:35.201 7
8 3   Alexander Albon ART Grand Prix 1:35.207 8
9 17   Ralph Boschung Koiranen GP 1:35.344 9
10 11   Jack Aitken Arden International 1:35.415 10
11 4   Nyck de Vries ART Grand Prix 1:35.463 11
12 10   Tatiana Calderón Arden International 1:35.469 12
13 19   Richard Gonda Jenzer Motorsport 1:35.594 13
14 23   Steijn Schothorst Campos Racing 1:35.598 14
15 7   Giuliano Alesi Trident 1:35.656 PL1
16 16   Matevos Isaakyan Koiranen GP 1:35.693 15
17 14   Matt Parry Koiranen GP 1:35.746 192
18 26   Santino Ferrucci DAMS 1:35.792 16
19 24   Konstantin Tereshchenko Campos Racing 1:36.070 17
20 18   Akash Nandy Jenzer Motorsport 1:36.157 18
21 6   Artur Janosz Trident 1:36.215 20
22 8   Sandy Stuvik Trident 1:36.282 21
23 15   Mahaveer Raghunathan Koiranen GP 1:37.222 22
24 22   Álex Palou Campos Racing 1:37.248 23
Source:[1]
1.^ – Alesi failed to stop at the weighbridge after qualifying and was forced to start from the pit lane.[2]
2.^ – Parry received a three-place grid penalty for impeding a rival.[2]

Race 1

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In contrast to the qualifying session, the sky was overcast and the threat of rain ever-present. A lightning start from Ferrari Driver Academy's Charles Leclerc saw him grab first place entering the first turn, while Kevin Jörg fell to fifth. After an exciting opening few laps, the field stagnated, with Leclerc edging away from polesitter Jake Hughes and teammate Nirei Fukuzumi. Further back in the pack, Jack Aitken stalled at the start, while Steijn Schothorst retired with mechanical problems. An intense battle developed between the Koiranen GP drivers, who were fighting for tenth place and the final point. Meanwhile, Leclerc continued to build a gap to Hughes, eventually recording his first GP3 win with a margin of just over six seconds. Hughes held off Fukuzumi for second, with Antonio Fuoco finishing a distant fourth. Behind them were Jörg, Alexander Albon, and Jake Dennis, who had a wild off-track moment early on at the final corner. Óscar Tunjo finished eighth, giving him reverse-grid pole for the Sprint Race, with Nyck de Vries and Ralph Boschung completing the top ten.

Pos. No. Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 1   Charles Leclerc ART Grand Prix 22 36:38.694 3 25 (2)
2 27   Jake Hughes DAMS 22 +6.023 1 18 (4)
3 2   Nirei Fukuzumi ART Grand Prix 22 +7.452 4 15
4 5   Antonio Fuoco Trident 22 +19.325 7 12
5 28   Kevin Jörg DAMS 22 +22.801 2 10
6 3   Alexander Albon ART Grand Prix 22 +23.391 8 8
7 9   Jake Dennis Arden International 22 +24.086 5 6
8 20   Óscar Tunjo Jenzer Motorsport 22 +25.592 6 4
9 4   Nyck de Vries ART Grand Prix 22 +26.467 11 2
10 17   Ralph Boschung Koiranen GP 22 +27.104 9 1
11 16   Matevos Isaakyan Koiranen GP 22 +28.860 15
12 14   Matt Parry Koiranen GP 22 +30.952 19
13 19   Richard Gonda Jenzer Motorsport 22 +33.095 13
14 10   Tatiana Calderón Arden International 22 +33.871 12
15 26   Santino Ferrucci DAMS 22 +34.241 16
16 6   Artur Janosz Arden International 22 +36.835 20
17 24   Konstantin Tereshchenko Campos Racing 22 +38.168 17
18 8   Sandy Stuvik Trident 22 +44.347 21
19 22   Álex Palou Campos Racing 22 +44.902 23
20 11   Jack Aitken Arden International 22 +45.298 10
21 18   Akash Nandy Jenzer Motorsport 22 +55.655 18
22 7   Giuliano Alesi Trident 22 +1:00.294 PL
23 15   Mahaveer Raghunathan Koiranen GP 22 +1:03.391 22
Ret 23   Steijn Schothorst Campos Racing 0 Retired 14
Fastest lap:   Charles Leclerc (ART Grand Prix) – 1:38.649 (on lap 2)
Source:

Race 2

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Once again, the race was set up at the start, as there were no changes for position inside the top 10 after the opening lap. Óscar Tunjo made a good start from pole position, but it was Alexander Albon that took the lead with a sensational pass around the outside Tunjo in Turn 1. Another excellent start from Antonio Fuoco saw him rise to third, ahead of Jake Dennis, with Nyck de Vries and Matevos Isaakyan both making lightning getaways to be fifth and sixth, after starting ninth and eleventh, respectively. DAMS team-mates Kevin Jörg and Jake Hughes were involved in a race-long scrap for seventh, with Saturday's race winner Charles Leclerc in hot pursuit. Despite Tunjo having a pace advantage in sector one, Albon was faster in the second and third sectors of the lap, which allowed him to maintain his lead and claim a maiden victory. ART Grand Prix swept the opening weekend for the second season in a row. For the second sprint race in a row (dating back to the final weekend of the 2015 season), every driver finished the race, which was an impressive showcase of reliability from the brand-new GP3/16 car.

Pos. No. Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 3   Alexander Albon ART Grand Prix 17 28:24.177 3 15
2 20   Óscar Tunjo Jenzer Motorsport 17 +1.294 1 12 (2)
3 5   Antonio Fuoco Trident 17 +7.307 5 10
4 9   Jake Dennis Arden International 17 +8.114 2 8
5 4   Nyck de Vries ART Grand Prix 17 +11.612 9 6
6 16   Matevos Isaakyan Koiranen GP 17 +12.505 11 4
7 28   Kevin Jörg DAMS 17 +15.012 4 2
8 27   Jake Hughes DAMS 17 +15.670 7 1
9 1   Charles Leclerc ART Grand Prix 17 +16.695 8
10 17   Ralph Boschung Koiranen GP 17 +18.345 10
11 26   Santino Ferrucci DAMS 17 +18.757 15
12 6   Artur Janosz Trident 17 +20.796 16
13 2   Nirei Fukuzumi ART Grand Prix 17 +21.450 6
14 22   Álex Palou Campos Racing 17 +21.934 19
15 8   Sandy Stuvik Trident 17 +24.818 18
16 7   Giuliano Alesi Trident 17 +26.107 22
17 19   Richard Gonda Jenzer Motorsport 17 +27.024 13
18 10   Tatiana Calderón Arden International 17 +27.582 14
19 11   Jack Aitken Arden International 17 +29.135 20
20 14   Matt Parry Koiranen GP 17 +29.524 12
21 24   Konstantin Tereshchenko Campos Racing 17 +30.109 17
22 23   Steijn Schothorst Campos Racing 17 +30.840 24
23 18   Akash Nandy Jenzer Motorsport 17 +33.959 21
24 15   Mahaveer Raghunathan Koiranen GP 17 +43.431 23
Fastest lap:   Óscar Tunjo (Jenzer Motorsport) – 1:38.722 (on lap 2)
Source:

Standings after the round

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  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "GP3 Series 2016 Results - Spain". GP3 Series. GP3 Motorsport Limited. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Barcelona Post-Qualifying Penalties". GP3 Series. GP3 Motorsport Limited. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
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Previous round:
2015 Yas Marina GP3 Series round
GP3 Series
2016 season
Next round:
2016 Red Bull Ring GP3 Series round
Previous round:
2015 Catalunya GP3 Series round
Catalunya GP3 round Next round:
2017 Barcelona GP3 Series round