Season of motor racing competitions
The2011 GP3 Series season was the second season of theGP3 Series , a feeder series for theGP2 Series . The season began atIstanbul Park on 7 May and concluded atAutodromo Nazionale Monza on 11 September after eight rounds made up of two races each and all in support of EuropeanFormula 1 Grands Prix. The 2010 championEsteban Gutiérrez graduated to the GP2 Series so did not defend his title.
After the early rounds, the likes ofMitch Evans ,Nigel Melker ,Andrea Caldarelli andAlexander Sims were fighting for the championship lead. However, Caldarelli had to retire from the series due to failing to raise a sufficient budget for the whole season. Sims then held the lead after consistent podium finishes in both Valencia and Silverstone. This was not to last though, as the FinnValtteri Bottas started to find his speed at Nürburgring, taking the top spot after winning the first race at Hungaroring while Sims was disqualified due rear floor height check. Bottas led the championship with 7 points from Sims. Total of 6 drivers were within 13 points from Bottas at that time.
Bottas was able to secure the title in the first race ofMonza . In that race he took the chequered flag and his closest rival and team-mateJames Calado was left to second place. As 7 points is the maximum from Sunday's race and Bottas had more victories thanCalado , the 7-point gap between them was enough for Bottas to clinch the title with one race still to go.[ 1]
Championship runner-upJames Calado All of the teams used theDallara GP3/10 chassis with and a Renault four-cylinder 2.0 litre (122 cu in) turbocharged engines order and with tyres supplied byPirelli .[ 2]
Changed teams Entering/Re-Entering GP3 Series Formula Renault MEC championZoël Amberg joined the series with Atech CRS GP.Luciano Bacheta , theFormula Renault Eurocup runner-up, joined the series with RSC Mücke Motorsport.Valtteri Bottas joined the championship, having finished third in the Formula 3 Euro Series. He will continue with theLotus ART team that he drove for in the Euro Series.James Calado joined the championship, having finished runner-up toJean-Éric Vergne inBritish Formula 3 withCarlin . He will join Bottas at Lotus ART.Andrea Caldarelli , who finished third inItalian Formula Three , moved into the championship withTech 1 Racing .Aaro Vainio joined him, having driven for the French squad in the Formula Renault Eurocup, finishing fourth in the standings.Gabriel Chaves stepped up from Italian Formula Three to GP3 with the Addax Team. He was joined byDominic Storey , who moved over from a one-off drive in theFormula Renault 3.5 Series .Star Mazda championConor Daly joined the series for Carlin. He was joined byGerman Formula Three championTom Dillmann for the first round of the series inIstanbul Park .Having competed inAustralian Formula Three and theToyota Racing Series since the start of 2010,Mitch Evans joined MW Arden. Matias Laine made his debut in the series withManor Racing , having competed in the Formula 3 Euro Series forMotopark Academy in 2010.Formula Renault UK race-winnersTamás Pál Kiss ,Marlon Stöckinger ,Lewis Williamson andNick Yelloly all joined the series. Pál Kiss drove for Tech 1 Racing, Williamson drove for MW Arden while Stöckinger and Yelloly drove for Atech CRS GP.Alexander Sims made his debut in the series with Status Grand Prix, having finished fourth in the Formula 3 Euro Series forART Grand Prix .Maxim Zimin joined the series with Jenzer Motorsport, having competed with the team inFormula Abarth .Leaving GP3 Series The 2011 calendar was announced on 18 January 2011. The series consisted of eight rounds. A prospective ninth round inMonaco was dropped on 2 February 2011 due to a lack of paddock space.[ 40] [ 3]
The following rounds were included on the provisional calendars published by theFIA but were cancelled:
Championship standings [ edit ] [ edit ] Key Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Other points position Blue Other classified position Not classified, finished (NC) Purple Not classified, retired (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Excluded (EX) Did not arrive (DNA) Withdrawn (WD) Text formatting Meaning Bold Pole position point(s)Italics Fastest lap point(s)
[ edit ] Pos Team Car IST CAT VAL SIL NÜR HUN SPA MNZ Points 1 Lotus ART 1 22 26† 15 26† Ret 15 Ret 17 23 Ret 18 14 8 1 10 19 124 2 4 8 10 7 7 3 15 12 3 1 1 2 1 19 1 17 3 17 13 2 21 8 1 6 5 4 6 25 3 2 2 2 14 2 MW Arden 26 6 7 1 5 3 4 9 Ret 19 22 Ret 24† 11 Ret 8 Ret 69 27 19 21 27 25† Ret Ret 12 10 9 16 16 12 19 5 5 4 28 Ret 20 14 9 2 6 7 1 2 14 6 Ret 9 DNS 18 10 3 Marussia Manor Racing 10 24 16 11 23 1 8 4 15 5 Ret 3 10 4 Ret Ret 6 67 11 26† 10 20 11 19 22† 10 4 1 10 9 1 12 9 3 2 12 18 Ret 19 24 17 Ret Ret Ret 14 23 14 21 18 Ret 20 Ret 4 RSC Mücke Motorsport 29 Ret 19 22 16 18 10 5 19 25 25 17 Ret Ret 17 15 15 61 30 7 2 18 12 Ret Ret Ret 13 26† 12 2 13 15 4 12 11 31 1 3 6 2 Ret 19 Ret 8 10 3 8 4 3 Ret 9 Ret 5 Status Grand Prix 4 8 1 Ret Ret 6 2 2 3 12 2 DSQ 9 Ret Ret 21† Ret 50 5 5 4 12 17 Ret 20† 19 9 28 Ret 11 6 Ret 11 7 1 6 14 24 17 13 Ret Ret 18 24 11 18 28 23 10 8 Ret Ret 6 Tech 1 Racing 17 15 Ret 3 20 Ret Ret 11 18 7 13 5 7 13 Ret 22† 8 43 18 2 5 4 4 Ret Ret 20 21 18 24† 27 Ret 22 21 14 Ret 19 16 18 8 1 16 13 Ret 20 8 4 10 20 17 14 Ret 12 7 Jenzer Motorsport 7 11 15 5 Ret Ret 14 1 11 15 7 4 5 7 3 4 3 37 8 23 17 Ret 19 Ret 21† DSQ EX 20 15 19 8 Ret 15 Ret 16 9 25 Ret 9 8 13 9 14 22 13 11 22 Ret 14 6 16 20 8 Addax Team 23 20 Ret Ret 27† 20 Ret Ret 25† 22 5 7 22 6 Ret Ret 9 33 24 10 12 13 6 4 5 Ret 14 27† 17 23 Ret 16 16 17 7 25 9 6 7 3 5 11 8 2 24 Ret 24 19 20 20 Ret 18 9 Carlin 14 21 25 21 22 12 7 13 7 6 8 13 11 5 7 6 Ret 21 15 3 9 24 14 15 Ret DNS DNS 29 21 26 18 Ret Ret 11 5 16 Ret 22 23 15 10 17 17 23 17 19 20 15 21 18 13 Ret 10 Atech CRS GP 20 Ret 23 26 Ret 14 16 16 Ret Ret DNS 12 17 Ret 10 19 13 7 21 13 11 25 18 9 12 3 6 16 9 21 Ret Ret 13 Ret Ret 22 12 14 16 10 11 18 Ret 16 21 20 15 16 Ret 12 Ret Ret Pos Team Car IST CAT VAL SIL NÜR HUN SPA MNZ Points Sources:[ 46] [ 47]
Key Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Other points position Blue Other classified position Not classified, finished (NC) Purple Not classified, retired (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Excluded (EX) Did not arrive (DNA) Withdrawn (WD) Text formatting Meaning Bold Pole position point(s)Italics Fastest lap point(s)
Drivers who did not finish the race but were classified are marked with †. ^ Status Grand Prix competed under a Ireland license. ^ Arden International competed under a Australia license. ^ Adrian Quaife-Hobbs set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap.Dean Smith was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.^ Valtteri Bottas set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap.Callum MacLeod was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.^ Allen, Peter (11 September 2011)."Valtteri Bottas claims GP3 Series title" .formulascout.com . Retrieved14 May 2017 . ^ "GP3 Series - 2011: Entrylist" .Speedsport Magazine . Retrieved17 March 2025 .^a b "2011 GP3 Series calendar" .GP3 Series the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved18 January 2011 .^a b c d e f g h i j "GP3 Series teams revealed" .GP3 Series . Retrieved27 October 2010 .[permanent dead link ] ^ Beer, Matt (22 September 2010)."Group Lotus announces ART deal" .Autosport Haymarket Publications .Archived from the original on 25 September 2010. Retrieved2 October 2010 . ^ "Lotus ART complete GP3 line up" .GP3 Series Archived from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved10 December 2010 .^ "Richie Stanaway joins Lotus ART" .GP3 Series . Retrieved23 August 2011 .[permanent dead link ] ^ Beer, Matt (23 November 2010)."Bottas switches to GP3 with ART" .autosport.com .Haymarket Publications . Retrieved23 November 2010 . ^ "Calado to step up to GP3 with ART Grand Prix in 2011" .GP3 Series the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved28 September 2010 .^ "Alexander Sims joins Status GP for 2011" .GP3 Series the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved20 January 2011 .^ "Félix da Costa to race with Status GP" .GP3 Series the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved15 February 2011 .^ "Lukashevich returns to GP3 with Status GP" .GP3 Series the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved2 May 2011 .^ "Nico Müller staying with Jenzer for 2011 GP3 season" .GP3 Series the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved6 October 2010 .^ "Maxim Zimin joins Jenzer for 2011" .GP3 Series the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved24 February 2011 .^ "Jenzer complete line-up with Vittorio Ghirelli" .GP3 Series . Retrieved19 March 2011 .[permanent dead link ] ^ Allen, Peter (24 August 2011)."Alex Fontana Replaces Vittorio Ghirelli at Jenzer" .TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk . BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved24 August 2011 . ^ "Monza race preview: Driver and team entry-list" .F1SA . F1 Supporters Association. 8 September 2011. Archived fromthe original on 30 November 2011. Retrieved8 September 2011 .^a b c "Manor Racing confirm 2011 line-up" .GP3 Series the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved25 February 2011 .^a b c "Carlin head to Turkey for GP3" .carlin.co.uk .Carlin . 4 May 2011. Archived fromthe original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved4 May 2011 .^ "Llista d'inscrits / Entry list" (PDF) .circuitcat.com .Circuit de Catalunya . 17 May 2011. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 13 August 2011. Retrieved17 May 2011 .^ "MacLeod joins Carlin for remainder of season" .GP3 Series . Retrieved19 July 2011 .[permanent dead link ] ^ Mills, Peter (28 December 2010)."Vainio moves to GP3 with Tech 1" .autosport.com .Haymarket Publishing . Retrieved28 December 2010 . ^ Caruccio, Antonio (21 March 2011)."Caldarelli firma con Tech 1" .ItaliaRacing.net (in Italian). Inpagina. Archived fromthe original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved21 March 2011 . ^ Allen, Peter (30 May 2011)."Hylkema Signs With Tech 1 To Race in GP3" .The Checkered Flag . BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved30 May 2011 . ^ "Tamás Pál Kiss confirmed at Tech 1 Racing" .GP3 Series the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved30 March 2011 .^ Beer, Matt (17 November 2010)."Stockinger in GP3 move with Atech" .autosport.com .Haymarket Publications . Retrieved17 November 2010 . ^ "ATECH CRS GP confirms Nick Yelloly" .GP3 Series the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved4 November 2010 .^ Beer, Matt (9 March 2011)."Amberg secures Atech CRS drive" .Autosport Haymarket Publications . Retrieved9 March 2011 . ^a b "GP3 Series Newsletter" (PDF) .GP3 Series . Retrieved2 May 2011 .[permanent dead link ] ^ Rubinho, Jacopo (30 May 2011)."Tom Dillmann trova l'accordo con la Addax per completare la stagione" .Stop&Go (in Italian). Archived fromthe original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved30 May 2011 . ^ "Gabby Chaves signs up for Addax Team GP3" .GP3 Series the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved28 March 2011 .^ Allen, Peter (8 September 2011)."Smith Loses GP3 Seat For Season Finale, Replaced By Ghirelli" .TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk . BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved8 September 2011 . ^ Martinez, Peter (13 February 2011)."Mitch Evans youngest NZ Grand Prix winner" .Stuff .Fairfax Media .New Zealand Press Association . Retrieved14 February 2011 . ^ Beer, Matt (1 December 2010)."Trummer switches to MW Arden" .autosport.com .Haymarket Publications . Retrieved1 December 2010 . ^ McGill, Jim (21 February 2011)."Williamson joins MW Arden" .scotcars.co.uk . Scotcars. Retrieved21 February 2011 . ^ "RSC Mücke Motorsport completes line up with Luciano Bacheta" .GP3 Series the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved2 May 2011 .^ Allen, Peter (14 August 2011)."Mancinelli To Race For Mucke at Spa And Monza" .TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk . BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved14 August 2011 . ^ "Christensen confirmed at RSC Mücke Motorsport" .GP3 Series the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved21 April 2011 .^ "RSC Mücke Motorsport & Melker together again in 2011" .GP3 Series the original on 1 October 2010. Retrieved29 September 2010 .^ Strang, Simon (2 February 2011)."Monaco dropped from GP3 calendar" .Autosport Haymarket Publications . Retrieved2 February 2011 . ^ "GP3 Series Calendar 2011" .Motorsport Stats . Retrieved17 March 2025 .^ Soltani, Khatir (20 January 2011)."GP3: The 2011 GP3 Series calendar and entry list revealed" .Auto123 . Retrieved17 March 2025 . ^ Panzariu, Ovidiu (2 February 2011)."GP3 Drops Monaco from 2011 Calendar" .Auto Evolution . Retrieved17 March 2025 . ^ "GP3 Fastest laps" .motorsportstats.com . Motorsport Stats. Retrieved29 December 2021 .^ "GP3 Series Results 2011" .Motorsport Stats . Retrieved17 March 2025 .^a b "GP3 Series Standings 2011" .Motorsport Stats . Retrieved17 March 2025 .^a b "GP3 Series - Season 2011" .Speedsport Magazine . pp. 2 ,3 . Retrieved17 March 2025 .
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Istanbul,Turkey
Catalunya,Spain
Silverstone,UK
Nürburg,Germany
Budapest,Hungary
Spa,Belgium
Monza,Italy
Monte Carlo,Monaco
