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GP3 series travels to Barcelona for final pre season test

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Khatir Soltani
GP3 press release

It’s new surroundings for GP3 this week as the series crosses the border into Spain for the final officially pre-season test at circuit de Catalunya.

After yet another impressive display in Le Castellet two weeks ago the teams are heading to Spain to begin readying themselves for the season opener on May 8 and 9. Yet again the reliability of the GP3 car proved to be exceptional, with just under 13,000 km completed in 3,360 laps during the two day test, and at the end of the final session the top twenty drivers were separated by just one second proving again what a competitive field the GP3 Series is.

In the two weeks we have been away two new drivers have put pen to paper and signed up to contest the 2010 season. The 2009 McLaren Autosport Award winner and Formula Renault 2.0 UK champion Dean Smith will race with Carlin, alongside American UK Formula Ford Champion Josef Newgarden. The British and US racers are the first two drivers to be officially announced in Carlin’s GP3 line-up.

However, the big news this week is the car number allocation, which will come into effect from tomorrow onwards. The thirty young GP3 protagonists took part in a 30-minute qualifying shootout in Le Castellet to determine number allocation for the season.

Classification was decided by the fastest lap set out of the three drivers from each team, and after a closely fought battle it was the usual suspects who came out on top.

ART Grand Prix will start its 2010 campaign with 1, 2 and 3 on the sides of their Dallara machines after Alexander Rossi took the top stop in a closely fought session. The young American was followed by teammate Esteban Gutierrez in second place.

Canadian Robert Wickens ended the session in third spot claiming 4, 5 and 6 for his team Status Grand Prix.


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
As a car enthusiast, he tests and compares vehicles from different categories through the eyes of the consumer, ensuring relevant and objective reviews.
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada