Photo: Alastair Staley/GP3 Series Media Service
25-year-old Briton Alexander Sims topped GP3 practice on his one-off return to the series at Nurburgring with Status.
Sims, who is substituting for Fong this weekend, came out on top in a session that saw a very close fight for first between a plethora of drivers. Carlin’s Argentinian youngster Eric Lichtenstein took second, with Dino Zamparelli coming in in third.
ART’s Jack Harvey posted the fourth quickest time coming off of his maiden GP3 race win at Silverstone. Lewis Williamson and Nick Yelloly were fifth and sixth respectively, making it five Brits in the top six in the session. Championship leader Tio Ellinas finished practice in seventh, ahead of Luis Sa Silva, with David Fumanelli and his compatriot Giovanni Venturini rounding out the top ten.
Session results
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
| 1 | Alexander Sims | Status Grand Prix | 1:45.208 | 20 | |
| 2 | Eric Lichtenstein | Carlin | 1:45.348 | +0.140 | 19 |
| 3 | Dino Zamparelli | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:45.531 | +0.323 | 19 |
| 4 | Jack Harvey | ART Grand Prix | 1:45.707 | +0.499 | 16 |
| 5 | Lewis Williamson | Bamboo Engineering | 1:45.812 | +0.604 | 19 |
| 6 | Nick Yelloly | Carlin | 1:45.829 | +0.621 | 17 |
| 7 | Tio Ellinas | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:45.928 | +0.720 | 18 |
| 8 | Luis Sa Silva | Carlin | 1:46.148 | +0.940 | 19 |
| 9 | David Fumanelli | Trident | 1:46.487 | +1.279 | 19 |
| 10 | Giovanni Venturini | Trident | 1:46.590 | +1.382 | 20 |
| 11 | Alex Fontana | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:46.596 | +1.388 | 13 |
| 12 | Kevin Korjus | Koiranen GP | 1:46.635 | +1.427 | 14 |
| 13 | Daniil Kvyat | MW Arden | 1:46.651 | +1.443 | 18 |
| 14 | Melville Mckee | Bamboo Engineering | 1:46.792 | +1.584 | 18 |
| 15 | Samin Gomez | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:46.802 | +1.594 | 19 |
| 16 | Patric Niederhauser | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:46.832 | +1.624 | 15 |
| 17 | Jimmy Eriksson | Status Grand Prix | 1:46.855 | +1.647 | 19 |
| 18 | Robert Visoiu | MW Arden | 1:47.097 | +1.889 | 18 |
| 19 | Emanuele Zonzini | Trident | 1:47.101 | +1.893 | 19 |
| 20 | Carlos Sainz, Jr. | MW Arden | 1:47.143 | +1.935 | 17 |
| 21 | Facu Regalia | ART Grand Prix | 1:47.148 | +1.940 | 15 |
| 22 | Conor Daly | ART Grand Prix | 1:47.267 | +2.059 | 17 |
| 23 | Aaro Vainio | Koiranen GP | 1:47.421 | +2.213 | 16 |
| 24 | Josh Webster | Status Grand Prix | 1:47.866 | +2.658 | 18 |
| 25 | Patrick Kujala | Koiranen GP | 1:47.871 | +2.663 | 12 |
| 26 | Ryan Cullen | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:48.456 | +3.248 | 20 |
| 27 | Carmen Jorda | Bamboo Engineering | 1:50.188 | +4.980 | 19 |