Kvyat sets the pace in Free Practice at Monza

Russian Daniil Kvyat topped the timings in the official Free Practice for Round 7 of the 2013 GP3 Series season in Monza, Italy with a laptime of 1:37.715. MW Arden team mate Carlos Sainz was next along in P2, ahead of Carlin’s Alexander Sims.

The session opened up with high track temperatures of 37 degrees as the 27 drivers ventured around the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. First out onto the circuit was Sainz, Robert Visoiu and David Fumanelli. Trident’s Fumanelli was first to lap in the 1m39’s before Kvyat, Kevin Korjus and Conor Daly bettered the Italian’s time.

Kvyat headed the timings by a mere 0.020s over Sims at the midway point, with the Russian GP3 winner again improving on his own personal best to increase his advantage. The drivers made their way into the pits towards the latter part of Free Practice, some to try new Pirelli tyres, whilst others concentrated on strategy and longer runs.

Bamboo Engineering’s Lewis Williamson shot to P1 but only for a few seconds as Carlin’s Nick Yelloly lapped quicker. Adderly Fong (Status Grand Prix) lit up the timing screen, setting the fastest first sector and a good middle, but went off into the gravel at Turn 11, ending his session.

With just a few seconds left on the clock, Kvyat reclaimed his position back at the top of the timesheets to end fastest overall, just one tenth quicker than Sainz. At the chequered flag Sims took P3, ahead of Yelloly, Visoiu, Fumanelli, Alex Fontana, Williamson, Melville McKee and Giovanni Venturini.

Qualifying takes place at 09.45 CET tomorrow morning, this will be even more important with all eyes on the battle for the GP3 championship and with 4 points up for stake for claiming pole position, competition will be fiercer than ever…

GP3 Series