Atech CRS GP continued to demonstrate its improved pace with Nick Yelloly posting the fifth fastest time in qualifying for the opening GP3 Series opening race in Spa.
On Sunday, overcoming ever-changing weather conditions typical of the Belgian circuit, Marlon Stockinger drove a storming race from the back of the grid to finish tenth, while Zoel Amberg also recovered well from retirement in race one to finish 12th just ahead of Yelloly.
The Leicestershire-based team’s strong showing in qualifying unfortunately netted no points for the trio in Saturday’s first race. For Yelloly, his strong start to maintain position on lap one came to an abrupt stop at Les Combes when he was hit by another car, bending a front wishbone and ending his race on the spot.
A fuel pump loom failure for Stockinger ended his race after six laps while Amberg was sidelined with a puncture.
Race two saw all three drivers start from the back of the grid and a great start from Stockinger allowed him to make up 11 places on the opening lap. A strong performance by the 20 year-old Swiss-Filipino saw him gain four further places over the course of the 12 lapper, as he crossed the line tenth, just 0.01 seconds adrift of ninth place.
The race also saw impressive charges through the pack from Amberg and Yelloly. Amberg recovered from his non-finish in race one and gained a massive 18 places during the race on his way to 12th place.
While Yelloly, who came into the Spa race on the back of an impressive debut appearance in Formula Renault 3.5 last weekend, also made good progress through the race, including a stunning manouevre around the outside of two cars at the mid-point, to gain 16 places at the flag in 13th.
Marlon Stockinger: “We had a good second race. I made an awesome start to make up 11 places on the opening lap and the car was really good. We’d put more wing on to overcome the damp conditions and I managed to get by a few others over the remaining laps. Generally the car was great, in the first race I was making progress until the fuel pump loom failed, but overall we had good pace.”
Nick Yelloly: “The weekend got off to a reasonable start, we spent much of the practice bedding in discs and brakes and I was happy with the car going into qualifying. In that, I only managed one flying lap as I was on the weighbridge, and was third fastest, although I dropped down when others gained an extra lap. Race one was disappointing being taken out on lap one, but I had a good race in the second, despite a big gamble with no wing and low tyre pressures. I think I could have been on for two podiums this weekend, so slightly disappointing, but after the Formula Renault 3.5 outing last weekend and this weekend’s pace, it’s certainly lifted my confidence as we go into Monza.”
