GP3 Series 2016 - Round 07 - Monza

Last GP3 Race on the European soil and it took place in the high speed track of Monza in Italy.

Jenzer Motorsport line-up was composed of Arjun Maini and Akash Nandy, the 3rd car had been too much damaged the previous week and couldn't be repaired in time.

Free Practice was hold on Friday afternoon under the heat of the Italian summer. Arjun and Akash used the free practice to familiarize again with the track and optimising the setup of the car for the qualifying on the next day. Akash finished the practice P15 followed by his team mate in P16.

Qualifying on saturday morning was eventfull for the Jenzer Drivers. As it had been foreseen on the day before, the slip stream was going to be important and a perfect use of it would be synonym of having a spot at the top of the grid. After the first set of tyres, Arjun was P9 at only 4 tenth of a second of the best performer and hadn't any slip stream during his lap which looked promising for the second set of tyres. Unfortunately, a contact with another driver who hadn't seen him coming in his mirrors, prevented Arjun for a great performance as he had to come back to the pits to change his front wing damaged. At that stage, the red flag came up for another incident on the circuit and with 3 minutes remaining on the clock the whole field was going again on track to have their last attempt for a good spot on the starting grid for the first race. Arjun made a mistake on that unique lap and wasn't able to improve his laptime and positions and finished the qualifying on P19 while his team mate Akash will be starting just behind on P20.

Race 1 : Monza track is very different from the other track and it is easier than in other circuit to recover positions. Both drivers had a pretty good start and their were heading on the back straight before Parabolica corner in P15 and P18. Trying to avoid an early braker in the field, Arjun had no other option than locking his front left tyres and went wide in the last corner, damaging his tyres and had to come back to the pits to fit another tyres. Fortunately, in a certain way, the safety car was out at this moment which limited the amount of time lost by the Indian driver but he wasn't able to rejoin fully the pack before the restart of the race and was P21 at 9 seconds behind the pack when the safety car came in. Nevertheless, the Indian didn't lose any faith and was determined to catch up and pass his competitors. By being the fastest car on track from the first part of the race, Arjun was able to catch and pass a few drivers and ended up his race on P14 making the show on track with nice passing. Akash finishing behind his team mate in P15.

Race 2 : Sunday morning was the last occasion of the week end to score points for the Jenzer Boys. After Race 1 results, Arjun was starting P14 and Akash P15. It was another rocket start from Arjun who was P11 at the end of the first lap. After the incident between the championship leader and his teammate, at the restart of the race, Arjun was P9 and Akash P10. It was time now to use the pace shown at last race to make his way up through the field. Arjun was on a mission and started quickly to pass to be up to P7. He was on a move for P6 when a driver from behind hit his rear crash box and sent him wide in the second chicane. He was able to rejoin the race in P9 and kept his head down to move again up the field. With some ball-moves and with a clever last lap move exit of Ascari corner, Arjun had the chequered flag in P6. It was as well an eventful race for Akash who had to pit to change tyre after a long lock up in the first chicane and finished the race P17.

The potential of the car and its drivers were much higher than the results shown and it will be with a high motivation than the Jenzer Boys will go for the oversea rounds. Next Round in Sepang, Malaysia at the end of the month.