Home Z - Archive seriesGP3 Fuoco denies Kirchhofer to end day one of Estoril test on top

Fuoco denies Kirchhofer to end day one of Estoril test on top

by Valentin Khorounzhiy
Photo: Sam Bloxham / GP3 Series Media Service

Photo: Sam Bloxham / GP3 Series Media Service

Ferrari protege Antonio Fuoco ended an overcast day of the GP3 pre-season at Estoril on top.

Fuoco, running in the #1 car for 2014 champions Carlin, moved up to first in the final hour of the session and narrowly held on to the benchmark.

ART’s Marvin Kirchhofer was the session leader before Fuoco and came close to taking the spot back in the final minutes, ultimately missing out by just 0.001s.

Arden’s Emil Bernstorff was another driver with a good shot at setting the pace, but ended up 0.022s off in third.

Trident’s Luca Ghiotto was a tenth down in fourth, with Carlin’s new signing Jann Mardenborough taking fifth.

FIA F3 Europe champion Esteban Ocon ended the day in sixth, finishing as second-best rookie to his former teammate Fuoco.

Ralph Boschung led the Jenzer efforts in seventh, with Jimmy Eriksson being the top Koiranen man in eighth.

Morning pacesetter Oscar Tunjo took ninth this time around, while Matheo Tuscher held on to tenth despite causing a late red flag.

Session results
Pos. Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Antonio Fuoco Carlin 1:28.410 36
2 Marvin Kirchhofer ART Grand Prix 1:28.411 0.001 35
3 Emil Bernstorff Arden International 1:28.433 0.023 30
4 Luca Ghiotto Trident 1:28.516 0.106 26
5 Jann Mardenborough Carlin 1:28.595 0.185 35
6 Esteban Ocon ART Grand Prix 1:28.626 0.216 31
7 Ralph Boschung Jenzer Motorsport 1:28.638 0.228 34
8 Jimmy Eriksson Koiranen GP 1:28.773 0.363 26
9 Oscar Tunjo Trident 1:28.994 0.584 32
10 Matheo Tuscher Jenzer Motorsport 1:29.001 0.591 37
11 Seb Morris Status Grand Prix 1:29.015 0.605 37
12 Mitch Gilbert Carlin 1:29.169 0.759 20
13 Alex Palou Campos Racing 1:29.304 0.894 35
14 Alex Fontana Status Grand Prix 1:29.465 1.055 46
15 Matthew Parry Koiranen GP 1:29.477 1.067 31
16 Kevin Ceccon Arden International 1:29.599 1.189 30
17 Alfonso Celis ART Grand Prix 1:29.860 1.450 33
18 Pal Varhaug Jenzer Motorsport 1:30.017 1.607 23
19 Sandy Stuvik Status Grand Prix 1:30.207 1.797 32
20 Artur Janosz Trident 1:30.393 1.983 31
21 Adderly Fong Koiranen GP 1:30.446 2.036 24
22 Zaid Ashkanani Campos Racing 1:31.879 3.469 20
23 Alex Bosak Arden International 1:33.201 4.791 29