Belated 2013 GP2/GP3 thread

On the back of an immense weekend of for these guys (so far), I figured it would be high time to begin a thread for discussing GP2 and GP3. What do we think so far? Anyone standing out from either series?

 

I havnt really been following it much this year. It would be cool though if we keep this thread going with news and results

 

[video=youtube;krmJ3T7-oS0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krmJ3T7-oS0[/video]

Cecotto doesn't get a penalty for this

 

Frijns really should run away with the title. He's head and shoulders above everyone else tbh.

 

That video is ridiculous, how that move isn't a season-ban I've no idea.

 

I absolutely love it, have done since it began. I'll happily keep it alive

 

The crazy thing is, he's done it before this season in Malaysia (to Sam Bird during qualifying). He should've been banned there and then, but instead got a 10 place grid drop.

There's no way he can go unpunished for this. It was disgusting, and ultimately led to half the field behind him having their races ruined. On another track, it would end in serious injury or even death. He has to learn.

 

This is him going full-Grosjean:
[video=youtube;6N0eEpMxC8o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6N0eEpMxC8o#t=64s[/video]

And this is said quali incident:
[video=youtube;du458jeJ2WI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du458jeJ2WI[/video]

 

Three factors are currently counting against him:

- He missed the opening round
- He doesn't have a budget
- Coletti is proving to be rather unbeatable

How he doesn't have a budget, I don't know. He is one of the biggest talents to burst onto the scene in recent years, and I'm so glad he has at least some recognition in the form of his test/reserve role at Sauber. But the fact he's not even confirmed for Monaco is a crying shame, and a true reflection on the state of motor racing today.

Interestingly on the subject of budget, Frijns did an interview last year and he revealed he turned down a chance to be a Red Bull Junior driver. He said he wanted complete freedom in what he drove, and recent history would suggest that the Red Bull program is a very harsh environment to be in (e.g. Jaime Alguersuari and Lewis Williamson, two very talented drivers axed in somewhat acrimonious circumstances). Nevertheless, it seems to have counted against him this season.

One good thing that could go in his favour is the team he's currently racing for, Hilmer Motorsport. They're a very ambitious team, much like Russian Time but with a bit less cash, and want to achieve long-term success, even if it comes out of their own pockets in the short term. Where Russian Time have talented drivers in Tom Dillman (interestingly another ex-Red Bull driver) and Sam Bird, Hilmer (for now) have Frijns and Jon Lancaster, who is a race winner in Euro F3 and FRenault 3.5 and scored a podium in the Feature Race in Barcelona from 15th on the grid. They also scored points in their first weekend with Conor Daly.

I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping that he will secure budget for the season.

 

Johnny Cecotto takes pole position for the Feature Race...most would argue he shouldn't be racing at all...

 

Full order...

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Johnny Cecotto Jr Arden 1m21.141s Group A
2. Mitch Evans Arden 1m21.157s Group B
3. Sam Bird Russian Time 1m21.509s Group A
4. Fabio Leimer Racing Engineering 1m21.185s Group B
5. Kevin Ceccon Trident 1m21.986s Group A
6. Jolyon Palmer Carlin 1m21.198s Group B
7. Julian Leal Racing Engineering 1m22.092s Group A
8. Tom Dillmann Russian Time 1m21.387s Group B
9. Felipe Nasr Carlin 1m22.163s Group A
10. Robin Frijns Hilmer 1m21.418s Group B
11. Marcus Ericsson DAMS 1m22.349s Group A
12. Sergio Canamasas Caterham 1m21.522s Group B
13. Alexander Rossi Caterham 1m22.511s Group A
14. Stefano Coletti Rapax 1m21.658s Group B
15. Rio Haryanto Addax 1m22.589s Group A
16. Nathanael Berthon Trident 1m22.245s Group B
17. James Calado ART 1m22.677s Group A
18. Stephane Richelmi DAMS 1m22.317s Group B
19. Daniel de Jong MP 1m22.943s Group A
20. Rene Binder Lazarus 1m22.376s Group B
21. Kevin Giovesi Lazarus 1m23.006s Group A
22. Daniel Abt ART 1m22.716s Group B
23. Simon Trummer Rapax 1m23.017s Group A
24. Jake Rosenzweig Addax 1m22.842s Group B
25. Jon Lancaster Hilmer 1m23.443s Group A
26. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs MP 1m23.328s Group B

 

Looking forward to this weekend's GP2. Last year's start:

[video=youtube;k3xXL977-90]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3xXL977-90[/video]

Leimer should be on pole, twice he was miles up on Cecotto's time only to get held up through Rascasse. Hopefully Cecotto bins it, he shouldn't be racing.

 

Some nice controlled clean racing there AG

 

How on earth did they clear that under the safety car? Surely that must have needed red flagging?

 

Cecotto takes out half the field at Turn 1, red flag.

 

Please tell me you're joking.

EDIT: Just checked GP2 Live Timing. Oh my ****ing god.

 

He got a bad start, outbreaked himself into T1 trying to stay ahead of Fabio Leimer, straight into the wall at T1. Accordian effect, lots of incident behind the first one. About 12 cars or so involved. They're trying to get them all bump started to get back to the grid

 

Just pulled a live stream, hoping to get a replay of it.

On another note, I seriously wish Will Buxton would become an F1 commentator. He'd be a right sight better than Croft (although that's not saying much )

 

For ****s sake. The Monaco GP site said it started at 11:15. Missed the pile up and the first four laps. ****ing time difference.

Are there only ten people left running?

 

Bird's got this in the bag if he doesn't crash. Ceccon and Evans are getting held up by Binder.