Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
sports

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

2012 GP3 Series

Season of motor racing competitions


Season of motor racing competitions

Formula One GP2 Series Teams' Champion: Lotus GP

The 2012 GP3 Series season was the third season of the GP3 Series, a feeder series for the GP2 Series. The season began at Barcelona on 12 May and concluded at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on 9 September after eight rounds made up of two races each and all in support of European Formula One Grands Prix.

The series adopted the points system used by Formula One for the feature race, with points awarded to the top ten drivers and twenty-five points on offer for victory. The points awarded in the sprint race also were changed, with the winner receiving fifteen points and top eight drivers receiving points. The points awarded for pole position and the fastest lap of the race also were doubled.

The winner of the championship was Mitch Evans driving for the MW Arden team, who outscored Lotus GP driver Daniel Abt by two points.

2012 was also the final season that the Dallara GP3/10 chassis package, which débuted in the inaugural season of the series in 2010, was used in competition, as a new chassis package and car, the Dallara GP3/13, was introduced for 2013.

Teams and drivers

Ten teams and thirty drivers had been due to take part in the 2012 season. However, in April 2012 it was reported that only twenty-seven drivers would take place with Mücke Motorsport missing from the grid.

TeamNo.Driver nameRounds
FRA Lotus GP1DEU Daniel AbtAll
2USA Conor DalyAll
3FIN Aaro VainioAll
AUS MW Arden4NZL Mitch EvansAll
5ITA David FumanelliAll
6FIN Matias LaineAll
GBR Marussia Manor Racing7RUS Dmitry SuranovichAll
8BRA Fabiano MachadoAll
9CYP Tio EllinasAll
IRL Status Grand Prix14PHL Marlon StöckingerAll
15PHL Kotaro Sakurai1–2, 4
GBR Lewis Williamson5–8
16GBR Alice PowellAll
PRT Ocean Racing Technology17ESP Carmen JordáAll
18ITA Kevin CecconAll
19IRL Robert CreganAll
CHE Jenzer Motorsport20ROU Robert VisoiuAll
21CHE Patric NiederhauserAll
22CZE Jakub Klášterka1–2
ARG Facu Regalia4
CHE Alex Fontana6–7
ITA Trident Racing23ITA Vicky PiriaAll
24ITA Antonio Spavone1–4
25ITA Giovanni Venturini4–8
GBR Carlin26GBR Alex BrundleAll
27PRT António Félix da CostaAll
28GBR William BullerAll
GBR Atech CRS GP29HUN Tamás Pál KissAll
30BEL John Wartique1–3, 7–8
BRA Fabio Gamberini4
ARG Facu Regalia6
31USA Ethan RingelAll

Driver changes

; Changed teams

  • Conor Daly, who contested the 2011 season with Carlin, signed with Lotus GP.
  • After a season with Status Grand Prix, António Félix da Costa moved to Carlin, a team he competed with at two rounds of the series in 2010.
  • Matias Laine switched from Marussia Manor Racing to MW Arden.
  • Tamás Pál Kiss, who raced for Tech 1 Racing, joined Atech CRS GP.
  • Marlon Stöckinger left Atech CRS GP to join Status Grand Prix.
  • Aaro Vainio moved from Tech 1 Racing to Lotus GP.

; Entering/Re-Entering GP3 Series

  • Daniel Abt joined the series, driving for Lotus GP, after a season in the Formula 3 Euro Series.
  • Alex Brundle competes in the series for Carlin, moving from the FIA Formula Two Championship. He was joined by British Formula 3 driver William Buller.
  • Auto GP champion Kevin Ceccon and Irish Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series driver Robert Cregan signed with Ocean Racing Technology for his series debut.
  • Cypriot-born British Formula Renault driver Tio Ellinas joined Marussia Manor Racing.
  • European F3 Open runner-up David Fumanelli made his series debut, driving for MW Arden.
  • After missing the 2011 racing season, Carmen Jordá drives for the Ocean Racing Technology team.
  • Jakub Klášterka returned to motorsport after two-year absence, joining Jenzer Motorsport.
  • Formula Three Sudamericana champion Fabiano Machado entered the series with Marussia Manor Racing.
  • Italian Formula Abarth champion Patric Niederhauser and fellow Formula Abarth driver Robert Visoiu moved into the GP3 Series, continuing their association with Jenzer Motorsport. Both combine GP3 with an Italian Formula Three program with BVM and Ghinzani Arco Motorsport respectively.
  • Formula Abarth graduate Vicky Piria became the series' first female driver, after signing for Trident Racing. She was joined in the team by fellow Formula Abarth driver Antonio Spavone, who also competing in Auto GP World Series in 2012.
  • British Formula Renault driver Alice Powell signed with Status Grand Prix, and was joined in the team by British Formula 3 Rookie champion Kotaro Sakurai.
  • F2000 Series and Formula Enterprise driver Ethan Ringel joined Atech CRS GP.
  • After driving for four rounds in Formula Abarth with Euronova Racing, Dmitry Suranovich joined Marussia Manor Racing for his GP3 Series debut.
  • Belgian sports car racer John Wartique made his debut in GP3 and single seaters with Atech CRS GP team.

;Mid-season changes

  • Jakub Klášterka left Jenzer Motorsport between the Monaco and Valencia rounds of the championship. He was replaced by Auto GP World Series driver Facu Regalia for the next round at Silverstone.
    • After missing the Hockenheim races, Regalia moved to Atech CRS GP for the Hungarian round. Alex Fontana took his place at Jenzer.
  • Kotaro Sakurai left Status Grand Prix due to sponsorship problems. His place was filled by Lewis Williamson, who previously raced in GP3 with MW Arden.
  • Giovanni Venturini joined the series for the rest of the season from Silverstone onwards, driving a third car for Trident Racing.
  • John Wartique was replaced by Fabio Gamberini at Atech CRS GP for the Silverstone round after Wartique's sponsors failed to meet their financial obligations with the team.

Team changes

  • The series has proposed amending the rules which mean teams are obligated to run three cars. Under the proposed rule changes, teams will only need to enter two cars, and will have the option of entering a third.
  • Addax Team will exit the championship to concentrate on their GP2 Series team, and will be replaced by Trident Racing. Trident started the season with only two cars instead of three, before entering a third from Silverstone onwards.
  • After competing as Lotus ART in 2011, ART Grand Prix was renamed as Lotus Grand Prix in both the GP2 and GP3 Series championships, reflecting their increased relationship with title sponsor Lotus Cars. The cars will carry a black and gold livery modelled on the livery used by parent team Lotus F1.
  • Ocean Racing Technology replaced Tech 1 Racing.
  • RSC Mücke, the Ralf Schumacher-Mücke Motorsport collaboration, indicated to series organisers that they would not be taking part in the 2012 season, reducing the number of cars on the grid from thirty to twenty-seven.

2012 Schedule

The 2012 calendar was announced on 16 December 2011. The series consisted of eight rounds, with a round in Monaco confirmed on 26 January 2012. The series had previously attempted to include a race in Monaco for the 2011 season, but was forced to abandon its plans when it was found that the support paddock did not have enough space for the GP3 Series. The series supported every Grand Prix on the European leg of the 2012 Formula One season.

RoundLocationCircuitDateSupporting1R1R22R1R23R1R24R1R25R1R26R1R27R1R28R1R2
ESP Catalunya, SpainCircuit de Catalunya12 May**
13 May
MCO Monte Carlo, MonacoCircuit de Monaco25 May**
26 May
ESP Valencia. SpainValencia Street Circuit23 June**
24 June
GBR Silverstone, UKSilverstone Circuit7 July**
8 July
DEU Hockenheim, GermanyHockenheimring21 July**
22 July
HUN Budapest, HungaryHungaroring28 July**
29 July
BEL Spa, BelgiumCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps1 September**
2 September
ITA Monza, ItalyAutodromo Nazionale Monza8 September**
9 September
Sources:

Race summaries

Carlin's António Félix da Costa qualified on pole position by 0.01 seconds to Lotus GP drivers Conor Daly and Aaro Vainio. However, on the start of the race their team-mate Daniel Abt made a fast getaway from seventh on the grid to lead. But Abt and Félix da Costa both had a jump start and got drive-through penalties. Returnee Mitch Evans, who was behind the two drivers after the start, won the opening race at Barcelona. Status Grand Prix's Marlon Stöckinger scored his first series podium, finishing second. Vainio completed the podium. Conor Daly recouped in the sprint race, claiming his first series win. Reverse polesitter Robert Visoiu and MW Arden's Matias Laine were also on podium.

Two weeks later at Monaco Vainio took the championship lead from Evans after his first series win from pole position in the feature race. He was joined on the podium by Atech CRS GP's Tamás Pál Kiss and Ocean Racing Technology's Kevin Ceccon. Stöckinger, who started from reverse pole, celebrated his first series win. Félix da Costa and Abt completed the podium. The race was noted by two huge accidents between Carlin team-mates Alex Brundle and William Buller, and between Marussia Manor Racing's Dmitry Suranovich and Daly.

The next series stop was at Valencia Street Circuit, where Mitch Evans regained championship lead with win from pole. Aaro Vainio was second, while David Fumanelli scored his first series podium. Like at Monaco the win in the sprint race was claimed by reverse polesitter. This time it was Jenzer Motorsport's Patric Niederhauser, who won the race in GP3 for the first time. Abt and Laine completed the podium.

Prior Silverstone round António Félix da Costa became part of the Red Bull Junior Team and his results increased. He scored his first win of the season, despite start behind championship leaders Evans and Vainio, who joined Félix da Costa on podium. Tyre strategy enabled William Buller to claim the victory in the second race starting from last row on the grid. Daly and Niederhauser completed the podium.

Daniel Abt scored his first pole position on the home soil at Hockenheim. But wet race conditions helped Patric Niederhauser score his second win. Conor Daly and Trident Racing's Giovanni Venturini joined him on podium. Evans extended championship lead by winning the sprint race. He was joined by Lotus GP's Abt and Daly. The race was noted by airborne accidents which left Vicky Piria and Fabiano Machado with injuries.

António Félix da Costa was unstoppable at Budapest, becoming the first GP3 Series driver, who had double win during the weekend. Habitual residents of the podium Abt, Evans and Niederhauser rose again on the podium stages, with Alex Brundle, who joined them for the first time.

Results

RoundCircuitPole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning teamReport1R1R22R1R23R1R24R1R25R1R26R1R27R1R28R1R2
ESP Circuit de CatalunyaPRT António Félix da CostaCHE Patric NiederhauserNZL Mitch EvansAUS MW ArdenReport
PHLUSA Conor DalyFRA Lotus GP
MCO Circuit de MonacoFIN Aaro VainioITA Kevin CecconFIN Aaro VainioFRA Lotus GPReport
PHL Marlon StöckingerPHL Marlon StöckingerIRL Status Grand Prix
ESP Valencia Street CircuitNZL Mitch EvansNZL Mitch EvansNZL Mitch EvansAUS MW ArdenReport
PRT António Félix da CostaCHE Patric NiederhauserCHE Jenzer Motorsport
GBR Silverstone CircuitNZL Mitch EvansPRT António Félix da CostaPRT António Félix da CostaGBR CarlinReport
CYP Tio EllinasGBR William BullerGBR Carlin
GER HockenheimringDEU Daniel AbtCYP Tio EllinasCHE Patric NiederhauserCHE Jenzer MotorsportReport
NZL Mitch EvansNZL Mitch EvansAUS MW Arden
HUN HungaroringFIN Aaro VainioPRT António Félix da CostaPRT António Félix da CostaGBR CarlinReport
NZLPRT António Félix da CostaGBR Carlin
BEL Circuit de Spa-FrancorchampsNZL Mitch EvansPRT António Félix da CostaDEU Daniel AbtFRA Lotus GPReport
PRT António Félix da CostaFIN Matias LaineAUS MW Arden
ITA Autodromo Nazionale MonzaNZL Mitch EvansCYP Tio EllinasDEU Daniel AbtFRA Lotus GPReport
NZLCYP Tio EllinasGBR Marussia Manor Racing
Source:

Championship standings

;Scoring system Points were awarded to the top 10 classified finishers in the race 1, and to the top 8 classified finishers in the race 2. The pole-sitter in the race 1 also received four points, and two points were given to the driver who set the fastest lap inside the top ten in both the race 1 and race 2. No extra points were awarded to the pole-sitter in the race 2.

;Race 1 points

PositionPoints
1st2nd
2518

;Race 2 points Points were awarded to the top 8 classified finishers.

PositionPoints
1st2nd
1512

Drivers' Championship

PosDriverCAT
ESPMON
MCOVAL
ESPSIL
GBRHOC
DEUHUN
HUNSPA
BELMNZ
ITAPoints1151.52149.53132412351116106710189995610551147123813311424152016191711188.5191201210220230240250260270280290300310PosDriverCAT
ESPMON
MCOVAL
ESPSIL
GBRHOC
DEUHUN
HUNSPA
BELMNZ
ITAPoints
NZL Mitch Evans12054*1*621181321315Ret20
DEU Daniel Abt13663624Ret722111512
PRT António Félix da Costa14772Ret816RetRet1122155
FIN Aaro Vainio3417273Ret56576141114
FIN Matias Laine53211653918†45765136
USA Conor Daly6123Ret11Ret52236973411
CHE Patric Niederhauser45Ret1581103191621165Ret
CYP Tio Ellinas7159845641071344Ret21
ITA Kevin CecconRet103674871715481220139
PHL Marlon Stöckinger21981191116Ret1611913141674
ITA David Fumanelli91745316DNSDNS12108Ret20Ret613
HUN Tamás Pál Kiss12Ret2991011146414101710915
ITA Giovanni Venturini13163811Ret9983
ROU Robert Vișoiu821410Ret12125DSQ1212221513147
GBR William Buller23912Ret109Ret19Ret23121381012
GBR Alex Brundle10810Ret1614710DSQ131531911DSQ10
GBR Lewis Williamson13Ret1058719Ret
CHE Alex Fontana1715104
GBR Alice PowellRet11112218Ret17Ret19Ret19201812128
BRA Fabio Gamberini238
BRA Fabiano Machado16Ret1517Ret19199RetRetDNSDNS2521Ret16
IRL Robert Cregan15Ret18111513201511NC211421DNS2017
RUS Dmitry Suranovich11Ret16DSQRet152220†1514Ret16221822†DNS
PHL Kotaro Sakurai181213201513
BEL John Wartique2113171312Ret23171718
ITA Vicky Piria2216191217181821†14Ret2019161916Ret
ARG Facu Regalia14121818
ESP Carmen Jordá2021Ret2113RetDNQDNQ20Ret24†Ret26232119
USA Ethan RingelRet18Ret1814RetRet1718162217242218Ret
ITA Antonio Spavone17Ret2014Ret172118
CZE Jakub Klášterka19142219
Sources:

|} Notes:

  • † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

Teams' Championship

PosTeamCar
No.CAT
ESPMON
MCOVAL
ESPSIL
GBRHOC
DEUHUN
HUNSPA
BELMNZ
ITAPoints1378.52309.531714133.5599667756839931PosTeamCar
No.CAT
ESPMON
MCOVAL
ESPSIL
GBRHOC
DEUHUN
HUNSPA
BELMNZ
ITAPoints
FRA Lotus GP113663624Ret722111512
26123†Ret11Ret52236973411
33417273Ret56576141114
AUS MW Arden412054*1*621181321315Ret20
591745316DNSDNS12108Ret20Ret613
653211653918†45765136
GBR Carlin2610810Ret1614710DSQ131531911DSQ10
2714772Ret816RetRet1122155
2823912Ret109Ret19Ret23121381012
CHE Jenzer Motorsport20821410Ret12125DSQ1212221513147
2145Ret1581103191621165Ret
221914221914121715104
GBR Marussia Manor Racing711Ret16DSQRet152220†1514Ret16221822†DNS
816Ret1517Ret19199RetRetDNSDNS2521Ret16
97159845641071344Ret21
IRL Status Grand Prix1421981191116Ret1611913141674
1518121320151313Ret1058719Ret
16Ret11112218Ret17Ret19Ret19201812128
PRT Ocean Racing Technology17Ret10Ret2113RetDNQDNQ20Ret24†Ret26232119
1820213674871715481220139
1915Ret18111513201511NC211421DNS2017
GBR Atech CRS GP2912Ret2991011146414101710915
302113171312Ret238181823171718
31Ret18Ret1814RetRet1718162217242218Ret
ITA Trident Racing232216191217181821†14Ret2019161916Ret
2417Ret2014Ret172119
2513163811Ret9983
Sources:

|} Notes:

  • † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

Footnotes

References

References

  1. (4 October 2011). "GP2 & GP3 Series adopt F1 points system". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  2. (9 September 2012). "Evans clinches GP3 title". [[Sky Sports]].
  3. [http://www.gp2series.com/Global/GP2%20Insider/2012%20Insiders/GP2_49_p1-8_lo.pdf Insiders]GP2 Series {{Webarchive. link. (2012-05-03)
  4. (10 January 2012). "Lotus ART becomes Lotus GP in 2012". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  5. (18 January 2012). "Daniel Abt joins Lotus GP". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  6. (2 March 2012). "Lotus GP sign American ace Daly". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  7. (20 January 2012). "Lotus GP confirm Aaro Vainio for 2012 season". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  8. (9 January 2009). "GP3 Series teams revealed". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  9. (16 January 2012). "Mitch Evans signs with MW Arden for 2012 GP3 season". Arden International Motorsport Limited.
  10. (13 January 2012). "David Fumanelli joins MW Arden for 2012 GP3 Series season". Arden International Motorsport Limited.
  11. (25 January 2012). "Matias Laine completes MW Arden driver line up for 2012 GP3 Series season". Arden International Motorsport Limited.
  12. (3 February 2012). "Russia's Dmitry Suranovich will drive for the team in this year's GP3 Series". [[Marussia Motors]].
  13. (15 February 2012). "Marussia Manor Racing GP3 Confirms Fabiano Machado for 2012 Season". [[Marussia Motors.
  14. (17 February 2012). "Tio Ellinas completes Marussia Manor Racing GP3 driver line-up". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  15. (6 February 2012). "Filipino-Swiss driver Marlon Stöckinger joins Status GP for 2012". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  16. (5 April 2012). "Kotaro Sakurai joins Status GP for 2012 GP3 Series season". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  17. (18 July 2012). "Status GP sign up Scottish racer Lewis Williamson". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  18. (16 April 2012). "Status Grand Prix sign Alice Powell". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  19. Elizalde, Pablo. (7 March 2012). "Ocean replaces Tech 1 in GP3 series from 2012 season". [[Haymarket Group.
  20. (10 March 2012). "Jorda and Cregan join Ocean Racing Technology". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  21. (6 April 2012). "Kevin Ceccon signs on with Ocean Racing Technology in the GP3 Séries". [[Ocean Racing Technology]].
  22. (13 February 2012). "Jenzer Motorsport announce first GP3 driver for 2012 as Robert Visoiu". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  23. (3 March 2012). "Jenzer Motorsport confirm Niederhauser for 2012". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  24. (8 May 2012). "Jakub Klasterka takes last seat". [[Jenzer Motorsport]].
  25. (30 June 2012). "Facu Regalia (ARG) joins us for Silverstone". [[Jenzer Motorsport]].
  26. (24 July 2012). "Alex Fontana joins Jenzer for Budapest". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  27. (17 February 2012). "Vicky Piria joins Trident Racing for 2012 GP3 Series". [[Trident Racing]].
  28. (12 March 2012). "Spavone joins Trident Racing for 2012". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  29. (3 July 2012). "Trident Racing join forces with Venturini". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  30. (3 February 2012). "Brundle joins Carlin for GP3". Capsicum.
  31. (26 March 2012). "Antonio Felix da Costa confirmed at Carlin for GP3". Capsicum.
  32. (12 April 2012). "Buller completes Carlin's GP3 squad". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  33. (3 April 2012). "Atech CRS GP announce Pal Kiss in GP3 line-up". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  34. (7 May 2012). "Atech CRS GP confirms Wartique for GP3 campaign". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  35. (5 July 2012). "2012 Season Round 4 Preview, Silverstone, England". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  36. (26 July 2012). "2012 Season Preview: Round 6, Budapest Hungary". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  37. (18 November 2011). "ATECH CRS GP signs Ethan Ringel for GP3 assault". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  38. (19 January 2012). "Tech 1 welcomes GP3's relaxation of three-car stipulation". [[Haymarket Group.
  39. (10 October 2011). "Trident Racing to enter GP3 Series". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  40. (11 May 2012). "Matias Laine leads MW Arden one-two in opening GP3 practice at Barcelona". [[Haymarket Media Group.
  41. (16 December 2011). "2012 GP3 Series Calendar". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  42. (26 January 2012). "The GP3 Series confirms Monaco to its 2012 calendar". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  43. Freeman, Glenn. (17 December 2011). "GP3 working to add Monaco to 2012 calendar". [[Haymarket Group.
  44. "GP3 Series Calendar 2012". Motorsport Stats.
  45. (16 December 2011). "The GP3 Series unveils the 2012 calendar". Auto Hebdo.
  46. (12 May 2012). "Felix Da Costa flies to maiden pole in Barcelona". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  47. (12 May 2012). "Mitch Evans wins GP3 opener in Spain". GPUpdate.
  48. (13 May 2012). "Daly celebrating first GP3 win in Spain". GPUpdate.
  49. (25 May 2012). "Vainio claims maiden victory in Monte Carlo". GPUpdate.
  50. (26 May 2012). "Stöckinger wins as Daly suffers airborne crash". GPUpdate.
  51. (23 June 2012). "Evans takes championship lead with victory". GPUpdate.
  52. (24 June 2012). "Niederhauser takes maiden win in Valencia". GPUpdate.
  53. (29 June 2012). "Felix Da Costa joins Red Bull Development programme". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  54. (7 July 2012). "Felix Da Costa takes commanding win in Silverstone". GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  55. (8 July 2012). "Buller wins from 25th in GP3 Race 2". GPUpdate.
  56. (21 July 2012). "Abt seals home pole in Germany". GPUpdate.
  57. (22 July 2012). "Niederhauser overcomes rain to win in Germany". GPUpdate.
  58. (22 July 2012). "Evans wins crash-affected second race". GPUpdate.
  59. (28 July 2012). "Félix da Costa victorious at Hungaroring".
  60. (29 July 2012). "Félix Da Costa claims historic GP3 double".
  61. "GP3 Fastest laps". Motorsport Stats.
  62. "GP3 Series Results 2012". Motorsport Stats.
  63. "GP3 Series - Season 2012". Speedsport Magazine.
  64. "GP3 Series Standings 2012". Motorsport Stats.
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 2012 GP3 Series — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report