Gabby Chaves GP3 Estoril test summary

CHAVES SHINES IN ITALIAN F3 AND GP3 SERIES TESTING

American standout led the Mygale contingent at Monza and was fourth fastest in his first GP3 outing with ART Grand Prix

ESTORIL, PORTUGAL (October 18, 2010) - American Gabby Chaves has further strengthened his position as one of the leading young racers in Europe, thanks to a superb pair of test outings in Italian Formula 3 Championship and GP3 Series cars. The highly rated Floridian started things off by turning the fourth fastest time - quickest of the Mygale cars - in a recent Italia F3 pre-event test at the Autodromo Internazionale di Monza, following that up with the fifth best overall run in his GP3 debut at the Circuito do Estoril.

With the Rookie of the Year title on the line in the upcoming Italian Formula 3 Championship season-finale at Monza, Chaves entered the final in-season series test at the famed Italian road course focused on further developing his Eurointernational prepared Mygale M-10, and establishing a solid base-line setup to work with come race time in late October. The American teenager not only did that, but showed he can potentially challenge those piloting the quicker Dallara chassis for top honors, by posting the second fastest time in the morning, and fourth best time in the quicker afternoon run, leading the Mygale contingent.

As impressive as his continued run of form behind the wheel of Italia F3 car was, Chaves really made a mark when he buckled into an ART Grand Prix GP3 car for the first time in Portugal. Chaves, despite having never driven a GP3 car previously or seen the Estoril circuit, was quickly up to speed, turning times on par or better than other talented up-and-coming racers who had been testing the previous two days. When the checkered flag ended the morning session, the 2009 Formula BMW Americas champion was an impressive P5 on the 30-car timecharts. Chaves however was not done showcasing his talents. Overcoming not only a handling issue, that was quickly resolved by ART crew, but also random stop by officials to check the weight of the car in the closing minutes, Chaves managed to jump from P24 to P4 on the timing monitors in the final two laps of the afternoon run, ending the day fifth overall.

"I really enjoyed driving the ART Grand Prix GP3 Series car," stated Chaves. "While I'm pleased to have posted the fifth best time in my debut outing, I wish I had been able to run all three days [Chaves' trip to Portugal was delayed by travel issues leaving Monza], as I think I could have potentially challenged for top honors. While I'm already thinking about the next time I can drive a GP3 car, my focus for now returns to the Italian Formula 3 Championship and clinching the Rookie of the Year honors at Monza."

Chaves concludes his Italian Formula 3 Championship campaign with Rounds 15-16 taking place on October 23-24, at the historic Autodromo Internazionale di Monza. The Eurointernational driver enters the season-finale doubleheader leading the rookie championship and lying ninth in the overall title fight.

Additional information on Gabby Chaves can be obtained from his website @ www.GabbyChaves.com . For direct contact, please email gabbyracing@yahoo.com and/or Felipe Santos, Manager, at felisantos@yahoo.com or 573-144726550

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About Gabby Chaves:

Widely considered one the premier up-and-coming drivers in the junior formula car ranks, Chaves has made a name for himself by winning races and challenging for championship titles. The American first got behind the wheel of a race car at the age of 13, winning a Skip Barber Racing Shoot-out scholarship. In his first full-season of competition, the former Easy Kart, Stars of Karting and Florida Winter Tour champion captured the Colombian Grand Prix Formula Renault 2000 title and finished as the series runner-up in the Skip Barber Eastern Regional Series. Building on this success, Chaves went undefeated in the 2006-07 Skip Barber Regional Southern Series, winning all 10 races. The teenager continued his winning ways one year later, extending his Skip Barber Racing victory streak to 17 consecutive victories, leading the Skip Barber National Series before making the switch to Formula BMW Pacific competition. Last year, Chaves returned to the top of the championship charts, winning the final Formula BMW Americas title with five wins and podium finishes in every race. In 2010, Chaves will race full-time in Europe, competing in the Italian F3 Championship.

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Possible Caption: Gabby Chaves immediately impressed in his GP3 Series testing debut with ART Grand Prix. (Photo: GP3 Series Media Services)

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