Photo: Sam Bloxham/GP2 Series Media Service
GP3 points leader Alex Lynn set the pace in free practice for the final round of the season in Abu Dhabi, where he will become champion in qualifying later today if rival Dean Stoneman fails to take pole.
Stoneman had sat on top of the times until Lynn set his best lap in the final minutes of practice. Stoneman needs to score maximum points this weekend – including the four bonus points for pole – in order to deny Lynn the crown.
Nick Yelloly moved up to P2 at the chequered flag, just 0.027s behind his fellow Briton, with Marvin Kirchhofer also within a tenth of the pace in third.
Stoneman was moved back to fourth ahead of fellow Sochi winner Patric Niederhauser. Next up were Alex Fontana, Patrick Kujala and Dino Zamparelli, with the top ten completed by Emil Bernstorff and Luis Sa Silva.
Kang Ling rounded out the 23-car field in his first drive of a GP3 car, three spots behind fellow Trident newcomer Ryan Cullen.
Practice session results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
| 1 | Alex Lynn | Carlin | 1:56.241 | 18 | |
| 2 | Nick Yelloly | Status Grand Prix | 1:56.268 | 0.027 | 18 |
| 3 | Marvin Kirchhofer | ART Grand Prix | 1:56.324 | 0.083 | 18 |
| 4 | Dean Stoneman | Koiranen GP | 1:56.469 | 0.228 | 15 |
| 5 | Patric Niederhauser | Arden International | 1:57.125 | 0.884 | 19 |
| 6 | Alex Fontana | ART Grand Prix | 1:57.149 | 0.908 | 18 |
| 7 | Patrick Kujala | Trident | 1:57.212 | 0.971 | 18 |
| 8 | Dino Zamparelli | ART Grand Prix | 1:57.223 | 0.982 | 18 |
| 9 | Emil Bernstorff | Carlin | 1:57.268 | 1.027 | 20 |
| 10 | Luis Sa Silva | Carlin | 1:57.462 | 1.221 | 17 |
| 11 | Pal Varhaug | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:57.502 | 1.261 | 21 |
| 12 | Kevin Ceccon | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:57.533 | 1.292 | 19 |
| 13 | Jann Mardenborough | Arden International | 1:57.545 | 1.304 | 18 |
| 14 | Matheo Tuscher | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:57.616 | 1.375 | 19 |
| 15 | Riccardo Agostini | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:57.787 | 1.546 | 18 |
| 16 | Robert Visoiu | Arden International | 1:57.882 | 1.641 | 16 |
| 17 | Jimmy Eriksson | Koiranen GP | 1:58.082 | 1.841 | 13 |
| 18 | Richie Stanaway | Status Grand Prix | 1:58.707 | 2.466 | 11 |
| 19 | Santiago Urrutia | Koiranen GP | 1:58.810 | 2.569 | 15 |
| 20 | Ryan Cullen | Trident | 1:59.087 | 2.846 | 18 |
| 21 | Alfonso Celis | Status Grand Prix | 1:59.189 | 2.948 | 16 |
| 22 | Nelson Mason | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:59.195 | 2.954 | 17 |
| 23 | Ling Kang | Trident | 2:01.129 | 4.888 | 18 |