Photo: Sam Bloxham/GP3 Media Service
Future Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat set the pace in free practice ahead of the GP3 title decider in Abu Dhabi.
The Russian returned to the top of the timesheets at the very end of the session, beating Alexander Sims by 0.028 seconds.
Red Bull stable-mate and fellow MW Arden driver Carlos Sainz took third ahead of Sims’ Carlin team-mate Nick Yelloly. Patric Niederhauser showed a long-overdue return to pace in fifth ahead of Kevin Korjus and Giovanni Venturini.
Dean Stoneman was a superb eighth on his first competitive single-seater outing since his recovery from cancer with ART title contenders Conor Daly and Jack Harvey ninth and tenth.
The team’s remaining driver Facu Regalia, who leads Kvyat by seven points, was 12th.
Robert Cregan was 19th on his return to the series with Trident at his ‘home’ circuit, less than a tenth behind title outsider Tio Ellinas. Alice Powell was 21st.
Practice results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
| 1 | Daniil Kvyat | MW Arden | 1:57.130 | 18 | |
| 2 | Alexander Sims | Carlin | 1:57.158 | 0.028 | 19 |
| 3 | Carlos Sainz | MW Arden | 1:57.299 | 0.169 | 18 |
| 4 | Nick Yelloly | Carlin | 1:57.449 | 0.319 | 19 |
| 5 | Patric Niederhauser | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:57.574 | 0.444 | 18 |
| 6 | Kevin Korjus | Koiranen GP | 1:57.704 | 0.574 | 18 |
| 7 | Giovanni Venturini | Trident | 1:57.849 | 0.719 | 19 |
| 8 | Dean Stoneman | Koiranen GP | 1:58.249 | 1.119 | 17 |
| 9 | Conor Daly | ART Grand Prix | 1:58.250 | 1.120 | 17 |
| 10 | Jack Harvey | ART Grand Prix | 1:58.324 | 1.194 | 17 |
| 11 | Robert Visoiu | MW Arden | 1:58.396 | 1.266 | 18 |
| 12 | Facu Regalia | ART Grand Prix | 1:58.461 | 1.331 | 16 |
| 13 | Alex Fontana | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:58.575 | 1.445 | 18 |
| 14 | Emanuele Zonzini | Trident | 1:58.672 | 1.542 | 18 |
| 15 | Patrick Kujala | Koiranen GP | 1:58.710 | 1.580 | 19 |
| 16 | Dino Zamparelli | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:58.735 | 1.605 | 19 |
| 17 | Luis Sa Silva | Carlin | 1:58.793 | 1.663 | 19 |
| 18 | Tio Ellinas | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:59.257 | 2.127 | 18 |
| 19 | Robert Cregan | Trident | 1:59.340 | 2.210 | 20 |
| 20 | Jimmy Eriksson | Status Grand Prix | 1:59.769 | 2.639 | 20 |
| 21 | Alice Powell | Bamboo Engineering | 2:00.261 | 3.131 | 20 |
| 22 | Josh Webster | Status Grand Prix | 2:00.371 | 3.241 | 21 |
| 23 | Ryan Cullen | Marussia Manor Racing | 2:00.687 | 3.557 | 19 |
| 24 | Samin Gomez | Jenzer Motorsport | 2:01.075 | 3.945 | 20 |
| 25 | Carmen Jorda | Bamboo Engineering | 2:02.001 | 4.871 | 17 |
| 26 | Adderly Fong | Status Grand Prix | 2:04.084 | 6.954 | 4 |