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GP3 drivers hail "incredibly efficient" DRS
The new GP3 DRS system was warmly received by the drivers who competed at the opening round of the 2017 season at Barcelona last weekend.
Edited: May 18, 2017, 11:36 AM
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For this year, the third-tier single seater series has adopted the Formula 1-style overtaking aid, which is available to the drivers six times in feature races and four times in sprint events.
Although there had been a limited trial of the system in pre-season testing, the two races in Spain represented the first time the field had used the DRS in competition.
"It is incredibly efficient," ART Grand Prix driver and European Formula 3 race winner George Russell told Motorsport.com.
"The closing speed in the last 300m of the straight is incredible compared to the guy you're behind.
"So this is really promising for the season and for GP3 as a whole, but it really took me by surprise how efficient and how effective it was."
Russell used his DRS to recover from a slow start in the first race at Barcelona – which was won by is teammate Nirei Fukuzumi – and another driver who used the system to rise up the order was Jenzer Motorsport's Alessio Lorandi, who came away from Spain with a pair of third places.
"It's definitely a nice feeling," he said after race one. "I'm really happy that they have introduced the DRS – it would be even more fun if it was unlimited like in Formula 2, but it's already a good step."
Arden International team boss Julian Rouse outlined his thoughts regarding the strategic possibilities the DRS limit gives to the teams, who inform the drivers how many activations they have remaining.
"From a racing perspective it looked like it gave drivers more opportunities but also having a limited usage puts a bit more of a strategy into the race on how the drivers are using it, which makes it a lot more interesting," he said.
Alex Kalinauckas
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