Photo: Sam Bloxham/GP3 Series Media Service
GP3 newcomer Alex Lynn backed up his status as pre-season favourite by claiming pole position for the first race of the year in Barcelona.
The winter recruit to the Red Bull Junior Team was lurking behind top spot for much of the session as German F3 Marvin Kirchhofer led the way. Lynn was able to improve with a few minutes left on the clock and claim top spot, with none of the other leading drivers able to improve late on.
Kirchhofer finished up second, 0.112s off pole. Practice pace-setter Richie Stanaway claimed third for his single-seater racing return, while Jimmy Eriksson and Patrick Kujala demonstrated their off-season progress to complete the top five.
Dino Zamparelli was in the mix throughout the session and ended up sixth ahead of Lynn’s Carlin team-mate Emil Bernstorff, while Alex Fontana ensured all three ART cars were in the top eight.
Jenzer Motorsport duo Pal Varhaug and Matheo Tuscher completed the top ten. Expected contender Nick Yelloly was 11th ahead of Patric Niederhauser, who stopped on track after the chequered flag, and Dean Stoneman, who had a high-speed spin at Campsa late on.
Qualifying times
| Pos | Driver? | Team | Time? | Gap | Laps? |
| 1 | Alex Lynn | Carlin | 1:35.614 | 13 | |
| 2 | Marvin Kirchhofer | ART Grand Prix | 1:35.726 | 0.112 | 13 |
| 3 | Richie Stanaway | Status Grand Prix | 1:35.784 | 0.170 | 13 |
| 4 | Jimmy Eriksson | Koiranen GP | 1:35.904 | 0.290 | 12 |
| 5 | Patrick Kujala | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:35.970 | 0.356 | 11 |
| 6 | Dino Zamparelli | ART Grand Prix | 1:36.015 | 0.401 | 11 |
| 7 | Emil Bernstorff | Carlin | 1:36.136 | 0.522 | 12 |
| 8 | Alex Fontana | ART Grand Prix | 1:36.151 | 0.537 | 12 |
| 9 | Pal Varhaug | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:36.165 | 0.551 | 13 |
| 10 | Matheo Tuscher | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:36.210 | 0.596 | 14 |
| 11 | Nick Yelloly | Status Grand Prix | 1:36.230 | 0.616 | 13 |
| 12 | Patric Niederhauser | Arden International | 1:36.276 | 0.662 | 13 |
| 13 | Dean Stoneman | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:36.375 | 0.761 | 11 |
| 14 | Roman de Beer | Trident | 1:36.579 | 0.965 | 11 |
| 15 | Robert Visoiu | Arden International | 1:36.711 | 1.097 | 12 |
| 16 | Ryan Cullen | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:36.759 | 1.145 | 12 |
| 17 | Adderly Fong | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:36.787 | 1.173 | 13 |
| 18 | Jann Mardenborough | Arden International | 1:36.871 | 1.257 | 12 |
| 19 | Victor Carbone | Trident | 1:37.023 | 1.409 | 12 |
| 20 | Nelson Mason | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:37.084 | 1.470 | 12 |
| 21 | Luis Sa Silva | Carlin | 1:37.163 | 1.549 | 11 |
| 22 | Santiago Urrutia | Koiranen GP | 1:37.166 | 1.552 | 11 |
| 23 | Alfonso Celis | Status Grand Prix | 1:37.300 | 1.686 | 12 |
| 24 | Beitske Visser | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:37.406 | 1.792 | 13 |
| 25 | Ivan Taranov | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:38.071 | 2.457 | 5 |
| 26 | Denis Nagulin | Trident | 1:38.203 | 2.589 | 12 |
| 27 | Carmen Jorda | Koiranen GP | 1:38.694 | 3.080 | 12 |