Photos: GP3 Media Service
We take a look at each of the 26 drivers taking the start in the third season of the GP3 Series this weekend in Barcelona…
Despite only having two seasons under its belt, GP3 has already proven to be a popular series to race in and a hotbed of young racing talent. While it’s hard to see the likes of the vintage class of 2011 ever being seen again, 2012 still sees a number of very promising drivers lining up to race on the support bill at the European Formula 1 Grands Prix.
Last year had a full grid of 30 drivers, all of whom had either done GP3, F3 or Formula Renault the season before with the exception of US racing convert Conor Daly. This year we’re missing four cars, and drivers have been found from categories as wide-ranging, shall we say, as the V8 Supercar Development Series and Peugeot 207s.
Here’s the lowdown on each and every driver, regardless of where they’ve come from…
Lotus GP
1. Daniel Abt
Age: 19
Nation: Germany
Talent: 5 out of 5 | Experience: 3 out of 5
F1 hopes: 4 out of 5 | Title chances: 4 out of 5
The son of the man behind the Abt Sportsline tuning company and DTM squad, Abt makes the switch from the Formula 3 Euro Series. He finished seventh overall last year after a slightly disappointing campaign. The ADAC Formel Masters champion in 2009, Abt then finished runner-up in the German F3 Cup in 2010 with an impressive campaign.
He then made a stunning debut on the international scene at the Macau Grand Prix that year, leading the race until crashing out. While last season failed to live up to that promise, he again showed his talent when he jumped into a GP3 car at the end of the year, topping the timesheets on half of the six days of post-season testing. Whether he can quite repeat that form during the coming season remains to be seen, but he will certainly be one to watch.
His family connections mean he is backed by a number of well-known companies, including Red Bull (the German arm of the energy drink firm rather than any formal links to the Junior Team scheme), Deutsche Post and Playstation. He could certainly go far. If not to F1, he’ll certainly have a DTM seat waiting for him.
2. Conor Daly
Age: 20
Nation: United States
Talent: 4 out of 5 | Experience: 4 out of 5
F1 hopes: 3 out of 5 | Title chances: 4 out of 5
The son of Irish ex-F1 driver Derek made a strong impression during his first European campaign last year in GP3, after winning the Star Mazda Championship ‘back home’ in 2010. He scored a seventh-place finish at round three at Valencia and picked up six subsequent top eight finishes.
With a year’s experience of the circuits and the car under his belt, a switch from Carlin to top team Lotus (formerly ART) should see him become a regular towards the front of the field, and his testing pace has shown that he could be winning races.
Daly seems to have the necessary talent and joins the likes of Alexander Rossi as an American on the fringes of F1, but it’s not clear whether he yet has the finances needed to race at the next level.
3. Aaro Vainio
Age: 18
Nation: Finland
Talent: 5 out of 5 | Experience: 4 out of 5
F1 hopes: 4 out of 5 | Title chances: 4 out of 5
After a highly successful karting career, Vainio moved into single-seaters in 2010 where he came fourth in Eurocup Formula Renault. For his second season in cars he stepped up to GP3, driving for Tech 1. He scored a third-place finish at just his third race, at Barcelona. He only managed a couple more points finishes during the year, but it was still a respectable campaign for a driver of his experience.
As a member of Nicolas Todt’s All Road Management firm alongside the likes of Felipe Massa, Pastor Maldonado and Jules Bianchi, Vainio has now switched to Todt’s team for his second campaign in GP3. He’s been amongst the pacesetters in pre-season testing, and could well be amongst the title contenders.
A strong season could easily see Vainio make the next step, and his record certainly suggests he has what it takes to make it to F1.
MW Arden
4. Mitch Evans
Age: 17
Nation: New Zealand
Talent: 5 out of 5 | Experience: 4 out of 5
F1 hopes: 5 out of 5 | Title chances: 5 out of 5
At only 17, the fact that Evans begins as the overwhelming pre-season favourite speaks volumes for his talent. Last year he arrived in Europe and claimed a stunning victory from pole in just his third race in GP3 and on the continent. One race weekend later and he was leading the points.
While results didn’t go his way for the rest of the year and he slumped to ninth in the points, he remained one of the quickest guys out there. Sticking with the MW Arden team owned by his manager and mentor Mark Webber and his team boss Christian Horner, Evans has been clearly the guy to beat over testing and it’s hard to see anyone stopping. That’s assuming the pressure doesn’t get to him.
Evans will almost certainly make the step up to the next level next year, and it can’t be long before he signs up with an F1 team either.
Click here to read our driver profile of Mitch
5. David Fumanelli
Age: 20
Nation: Italy
Talent: 3 out of 5 | Experience: 3 out of 5
F1 hopes: 3 out of 5 | Title chances: 3 out of 5
Fumanelli’s record doesn’t scream out talent. A quiet rookie year in Italian Formula Renault was followed by a step up to the F3 Open, where in two seasons he claimed six wins and finished third in the standings in 2010. He remained in the series for a third year last year, and while a dreadful first half of the season had left him languishing down in 12th in the standings he then found another gear, claiming a race win at each of the final four rounds to finish up just five points shy of the champion.
It was form he carried into GP3 post-season testing, where he impressed MW Arden enough to gain a drive with the team. It’s hard to place exactly how well he will do – he could be an outside contender for the title or he could be further back towards the midfield.
6. Matias Laine
Age: 22
Nation: Finland
Talent: 3 out of 5 | Experience: 5 out of 5
F1 hopes: 2 out of 5 | Title chances: 4 out of 5
Fumanelli’s past record doesn’t look great, but teammate Laine makes him look like a future world champion. With an F3 Euro Series campaign already under his belt, Laine could only muster a best result of 14th in GP3 last year, leaving him 31st in the final standings (in a grid of only 30!).
Everything changed over winter testing though, where he has been a constant frontrunner. Quite where he has found this sudden pace from is a mystery.
2012 may only be his fourth year in single-seaters, but a late start means he’s already 22 – and as such he’s going to need to do really well if he harbours F1 ambitions.
Marussia Manor Racing
7. Dmitry Suranovich
Age: 16
Nation: Russia
Talent: 3 out of 5 | Experience: 1 out of 5
F1 hopes: 4 out of 5 | Title chances: 2 out of 5
Suranovich has less than a year’s single-seater experience, after stepping into Formula Abarth out of karts in the middle of last year. Since then he’s boosted his track time however by competing in the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand earlier in 2012, claiming a podium finish on his way to 12th overall.
GP3 testing has shown that he’s likely to spend most of his time in the midfield. Clearly chosen by Marussia as a potential Russian F1 driver of the future, his lack of experience could make for a tough 2012. But he’s certainly got time on his side.
8. Fabiano Machado
Age: 25
Nation: Brazil
Talent: 3 out of 5 | Experience: 3 out of 5
F1 hopes: 2 out of 5 | Title chances: 3 out of 5
There might be nine years between them, but Machado only has a bit more car racing experience than Suranovich. He only stepped out of karting in 2010, contesting 12 South American F3 races and claiming four race wins. He ran full-time in the championship last year, with a comfortable run to the title.
While he seems to certainly have some talent considering his experience and could well have success in Europe, his age makes F1 almost a no-go for him unless he can ascend the ranks very quickly. Most likely a midfield runner this year though.
9. Tio Ellinas
Age: 20
Nation: Cyprus
Talent: 5 out of 5 | Experience: 2 out of 5
F1 hopes: 4 out of 5 | Title chances: 4 out of 5
After winning the Grand Prix Shootout competition, Ellinas has competed in British Formula Ford and Formula Renault UK for the past two seasons. Last year he was Alex Lynn’s nearest rival in Renaults for much of the season, but was overhauled for second overall and the tag of best newcomer by Oliver Rowland at the death.
Since stepping behind the wheel of a GP3 car at the end of last season Ellinas has been on the pace, and amongst the only drivers able to challenge Evans. He’s being hotly talked about during pre-season and could just defy his experience to claim the title.
The Grand Prix Shootout’s organisers proudly talked about approaches for Ellinas from F1 teams, and it appears as though he is properly tied up to the Marussia team from this season onwards.
Click here to read our driver profile of Tio
Status Grand Prix
14. Marlon Stockinger
Age: 21
Nation: Philippines
Talent: 3 out of 5 | Experience: 4 out of 5
F1 hopes: 3 out of 5 | Title chances: 3 out of 5
Stockinger had an uninspiring year in GP3 last year with backmarkers Atech, managing a sole tenth-place finish. A move to lead regular race winners Status should see him towards the sharp end, but it’s not clear that he’s got the required ability to continue the team’s form from previous seasons.
Probably not short of a bob or two with his Filipino-Swiss background, a decent season would probably see him move on up to GP2 or FR3.5. And a decent season should certainly be acheiveable.
15. Kotaro Sakurai
Age: 17
Nation: Japan
Talent: 2 out of 5 | Experience: 3 out of 5
F1 hopes: 2 out of 5 | Title chances: 2 out of 5
Sakurai commits to racing in GP3 after testing extensively over the past two off-seasons. After coming seventh in Formula BMW Pacific in 2010 he last year raced in British F3. There he won the title in the Rookie (or B) class, but that was only after the clear class leader and his only rival Bart Hylkema graduated to the main category in the middle of the season.
Testing pace suggests that Sakurai will be towards the back end of the midfield pack during the season, but expect him to make it a two-year programme assuming he does well enough this year.
16. Alice Powell
Age: 19
Nation: United Kingdom
Talent: 2 out of 5 | Experience: 2 out of 5
F1 hopes: 3 out of 5 | Title chances: 2 out of 5
Powell steps up to GP3 after three seasons racing Formula Renaults in the UK. In 2010 she won the club-level BARC championship, having made the step down from the main series at the start of that year. In 2011 she returned to Formula Renault UK, but could only manage a best result of fourth and finish ninth in the points, as one of only nine full-season drivers in the field.
She struggled to get the funding in place to race in GP3 this year, and thus it remains to be seen whether she would be able to step up to a higher level even if she did well in GP3. Good performances in a fairly high profile category however could see her obtain more backing. And good results could well be possible. The lateness of her deal meant she only got in one pre-season testing, but on the second day she was running inside the midfield.
Ocean Racing Technology
17. Kevin Ceccon
Age: 18
Nation: Italy
Talent: 5 out of 5 | Experience: 3 out of 5
F1 hopes: 3 out of 5 | Title chances: 4 out of 5
Ceccon’s change of series for 2012 is certainly an unlikely one and not one he would really have wanted. After rising to prominence by winning the Auto GP title last year in his first campaign out of F3, it was anticipated he would make a full-time step into GP2 with Auto GP series organisers Coloni, for whom he had already made several appearances with in GP2.
Shamefully on this occasion, money won out and Ceccon lost out to a driver who finsihed behind him in Auto GP last year. A lack of budget left with no alternative seats, and so he had to make the move to GP3. It’s a sizable step down in car performance, but perhaps a step up in competition.
Racing for newcomers Ocean with no experienced teammates will likely hamper any title aspirations. But he can certainly continue to impress.
18. Carmen Jorda
Age: 23
Nation: Spain
Talent: 1 out of 5 | Experience: 3 out of 5
F1 hopes: 1 out of 5 | Title chances: 1 out of 5
Jorda steps into GP3 after no racing in 2011. The previous year she contested five road and street course races in Indy Lights in America, claiming a best result of tenth. That came after three full seasons in Spanish F3/European F3 Open. Running in the Copa class for older cars, she claimed five class podiums and just two overall series points.
She has some experience in this kind of car then, but could be a bit rusty after spending a year out of racing. But more crucially, it’s not clear whether she has the necessary ability. She’s been traditionally at the very back in testing, behind drivers with considerably less experience in single-seaters.
19. Robert Cregan
Age: 23
Nation: Ireland
Talent: 1 out of 5 | Experience: 1 out of 5
F1 hopes: 1 out of 5 | Title chances: 1 out of 5
Why Cregan has made the strange switch from the V8 Supercar Development Series at this stage of his career is an odd one to fathom. Single-seaters clearly hasn’t been the priority in recent years as he also raced Porsches and Maseratis. His only single-seater racing experience is from Formula Fords several years ago.
Considering that, his testing pace has been reasonable and he seems to be making good progress. Still towards the back of the pack though of course. He’s the son of former Toyota F1 team manager Richard Cregan, who’s currently in charge of the Yas Marina Circuit.
Jenzer Motorsport
20. Robert Visoiu
Age: 16
Nation: Romania
Talent: 4 out of 5 | Experience: 1 out of 5
F1 hopes: 4 out of 5 | Title chances: 3 out of 5
Visoiu steps up into GP3 for just his second season in single-seaters. Last year he competed in Formula Abarth, winning two races and finishing up fourth and sixth respectively in the European and Italian classifications.
Despite his lack of experience he has looked strong in testing and could regularly frequent the top ten. He’s also taking part in Italian F3 this year, and scored a couple of podium finishes last time out at the Hungaroring.
2012 is likely to be a learning year for him before a second year challenge at the front of the grid. At his age he could certainly go far.
21. Patric Niederhauser
Age: 20
Nation: Switzerland
Talent: 4 out of 5 | Experience: 2 out of 5
F1 hopes: 3 out of 5 | Title chances: 3 out of 5
Another graduate from Formula Abarth, Niederhauser won the Italian championship last year and finished second in the European standings. That was after he had finished second overall in his rookie season in 2010, between Ferrari proteges Brandon Maisano and Raffaele Marciello.
Another driver who looked fairly rapid in testing late last year, a lack of experience will again probably limit him to aiming for regular points finishes. He’s proven himself against some very good drivers and is another one to keep an eye on. He too is racing in Italian F3, and scored a race win at the opening round in Valencia.
22. Jakub? Klasterka
Age: 18
Nation: Czech Republic
Talent: 2 out of 5 | Experience: 1 out of 5
F1 hopes: 2 out of 5 | Title chances: 1 out of 5
A last minute signing, Klasterka not only heads into this season without driving a GP3 car before, but also without racing anything internationally for the past two seasons. In 2009 he raced in the Formul’Academy Euro Series (the Autosport Academy-linked series currently known as French F4).
There he finished 11th overall with two podium finishes. This year could prove to be somewhat more difficult for him indeed. If he does manage to do well though, it could indicate that he’s got some talent.
Trident Racing
23. Vicky Piria
Age: 18
Nation: Italy
Talent: 2 out of 5 | Experience: 2 out of 5
F1 hopes: 3 out of 5 | Title chances: 1 out of 5
Piria makes the move up into GP3 after two years in Formula Abarth. In 2010 she finished well down the order, only managing a best result of 14th. Last year saw a reasonable improvement, claiming four top ten finishes.
She hasn’t really shown though that she deserves to make the step up though. Testing pace suggests that she’ll be another driver languishing towards the back of the pack.
24. Antonio Spavone
Age: 17
Nation: Italy
Talent: 2 out of 5 | Experience: 3 out of 5
F1 hopes: 2 out of 5 | Title chances: 2 out of 5
Spavone also comes from Formula Abarth, where he only has a year and bit of experience. He did manage a few more top ten results than Piria last year, but again nothing to suggest anything particularly special or that he deserves to make the step up.
He’s also racing in Auto GP this year, finishing in the top eight in five of the eight races so far this season. That grid lacks strength in depth though so again, nothing to suggest he’s one to look out for. GP3 testing pace indicates he’ll be running in the lower midfield.
Carlin
26. Alex Brundle
Age: 21
Nation: United Kingdom
Talent: 3 out of 5 | Experience: 3 out of 5
F1 hopes: 2 out of 5 | Title chances: 3 out of 5
Brundle has yet to indicate during his career that he has what it takes to make a success out of single-seaters, and probably recognises that and is taking his first steps into sportscars this year as a result. The son of Martin Brundle is also having one last stab at single-seaters though with a switch to GP3.
Seventh in Formula Two last year, his second attempt in the series after a disappointing run in 2009. Those were sandwiched by a rather quiet British F3 campaigin. He’s again stepping back into a less powerful machine this year but an upturn in competition. Early testing results suggested he could struggle, but was considerably more competitive at Silverstone and could challenge for a top ten placing overall.
27. Antonio Felix da Costa
Age: 20
Nation: Portugal
Talent: 5 out of 5 | Experience: 5 out of 5
F1 hopes: 3 out of 5 | Title chances: 4 out of 5
Felix da Costa is very highly rated, and for good reasons. Formula Renault NEC champion in 2009, he performed well in the F3 Euro Series the following year and impressed Force India with a test at the end of the season. Last year he switched to GP3, but endured a very disappointing season on his way to 13th overall, although it did end in victory at Monza.
A graduation to GP2 with his manager Tiago Monteiro’s Ocean team was on the cards for 2012 after a seventh place finish on his debut in the Abu Dhabi non-championship races. A lack of funding however forced him to remain in GP3 for another year.
On paper he should be Evans’ nearest challenger, but it remains to be seen whether he can find some consistancy behind the wheel of the GP3 car to be able to constantly score good results.
28. William Buller
Age: 19
Nation: United Kingdom
Talent: 4 out of 5 | Experience: 3 out of 5
F1 hopes: 3 out of 5 | Title chances: 3 out of 5
Buller joins GP3 after two years in British Formula 3, finishing eighth in 2010 after stepping up from Formula BMW Europe and then improving to fourth overall last year with three race wins.
This year he’s also competing in the F3 Euro Series as part of the FIA’s European F3 Championship. He made a promising start at the Hockenheim, picking up two fourth place finishes. GP3 testing was rather quiet for him for much of the winter, but was amongst the pacesetters at Silverstone. His father Alfred is an Irish property developer and owner of the Rockingham race circuit.
Atech CRS GP
29. Tamas Pal Kiss
Age: 20
Nation: Hungary
Talent: 4 out of 5 | Experience: 4 out of 5
F1 hopes: 3 out of 5 | Title chances: 3 out of 5
Kiss stepped into GP3 last season after coming third in the ultra-competitive Formula Renault UK season of 2010. He claimed a win just four races in at the Barcelona sprint race, although points only followed at one further race weekend.
A year’s experience under his belt should see him more of a regular contender for podium finishes, but he could be hampered by switching to backmarkers Atech CRS from Tech 1 instead of the step forward that would have been expected. He raced with the Atech crew in 2010 though, so has form with them.
30. John Wartique
Age: 21
Nation: Belgium
Talent: 1 out of 5 | Experience: 1 out of 5
F1 hopes: 1 out of 5 | Title chances: 1 out of 5
Wartique steps into GP3 to make his single-seater racing debut, after three years racing Peugeot 207s and Renault Clios. He had previously done karting, so he’s perhaps taken a bit of a strange route.
He’s only done a couple of tests but seems to be progressing well considering his lack of experience. Obviously though he’s still going to be amongst the tailenders.
30. Ethan Ringel
Age: 17
Nation: United States
Talent: 1 out of 5 | Experience: 1 out of 5
F1 hopes: 1 out of 5 | Title chances: 1 out of 5
The second American driver in the field, Ringel arrives in Europe with a year’s single-seater racing under his belt from F2000 and Formula Enterprise 4 (no, I don’t know either).
Despite being the first driver to be announced for 2012 and thus having done plenty of testing, he seems to have been unable to latch onto the midfield pack. Difficult to say then that he’s going to be able to show much talent. It might come with more experience though.