29/07/2010
NEWS STORY
In the second half of the season, the fight for the inaugural GP3 Series crown is well and truly on. With the second of two back-to-back races this weekend the drivers have a final chance to close in on series leader Esteban Gutierrez before the summer break.
The ART Grand Prix driver took his fourth victory of the season last weekend increasing his lead in the driver's standings to 30 points. But, after claiming his maiden victory in Germany Status GP's Robert Wickens is hot on the heels of the Mexican - after a troubled start to the season the Canadian is now showing his true racing form and won Race 1 in dramatic style.
Round 6 in Budapest this weekend promises to be one of the hottest of the year so far for the Formula One hopefuls. At just 4.381 kilometres the Hungarian track is also one of the shortest on the calendar, but with numerous hairpins and chicanes to deal with it will throw up new challenges for the eager young drivers and is sure to provide more exciting racing action.
The Pirelli-shod drivers will be using the soft-compound tyre which was first used at the European Grand Prix in Valencia. Pirelli's Racing Manager Mario Isola explains: The Hungaroring in Budapest is one of the circuits where it is clear that the soft compound tyre is the best option, given that the nature of the surface is not at all aggressive on the rubber. A soft-compound tyre should enable drivers to find the maximum grip possible, even though temperatures are likely to be warm and dry. We're learning a lot from the inaugural season of the GP3 series and working to refine our tyre compounds all the time. We expect to come away from the Hungaroring with some more valuable lessons."
In the drivers' standings Gutierrez is leading Robert Wickens who moved into second spot last weekend. Alexander Rossi has slipped into third spot after failing to score points in Germany. ART Grand Prix is looking seemingly untouchable at the top of the team's standings, with 92 points the French team has a 43 point lead. However, the fight for second and third is well and truly on. Status Grand Prix, Manor Racing and Jenzer Motorsport are split but just 13 points - the teams have 49, 44 and 36 points respectively.
Two GP3 drivers will be missing from the grid this weekend after accidents at Hockenheimring. Jenzer Motorsport's Simon Trummer suffered one broken and three fractured vertebrae after landing heavily in a crash during Race 2, and Manor Racing's James Jakes damaged the ligaments in his right arm after a crash in the same race. Both drivers are hoping to return to racing action at Spa in four weeks time.