Atech CRS GP got 2011 underway with a strong start to the season in the first official two-day test in France last week.  The British team, with Nick Yelloly, Marlon Stockinger and Zoel Amberg, took to the Paul Ricard circuit on Thursday and Friday and proved particularly fast in the wet conditions, with all three in the top six.

All three drivers graduate from Formula Renault into GP3 this season as they embark on their maiden season in the European Formula One GP support series.

The opening day’s first session saw Swiss-Filipino Stockinger lead the trio posting the 13th fastest time. Amberg and Yelloly were just behind in 15th and 16th places respectively, in a session which started on a wet track, but which dried mid-way through, allowing the times to tumble.

In the afternoon session, the conditions had deteriorated too much to prevent any improvement in times, but allowed the drivers the opportunity for their first proper run on the Pirelli wet-weather tyres. With many incidents marring the session, Yelloly elected to sit out much of the session, completing just eight laps. Despite that, he still wound up 12th quickest of the 30 runners, with Stockinger 17th and Amberg just behind.

Friday’s opening session started in better conditions, although it was still a damp circuit that greeted them. At the top of the times, Yelloly continued his form from Thursday morning and was comfortably fastest in the wet conditions, with Stockinger second and Amberg also running consistently in the top six.

At the mid-way point however the track dried out sufficiently to allow the team to switch to slick tyres, and at the end of the session it was Yelloly again who topped the team’s runners with 15th place, ahead of Stockinger 22nd and Amberg, who felt his car was unstable under braking, dropping down the order to 30th.

The afternoon session was held in dry conditions, which allowed Stockinger to retake the position of lead driver, although he was disappointed to only post the 19th fastest time. Yelloly was denied a faster lap on his new tyre run, losing valuable time when a car spun in front of him, dropping him down to 20th. Amberg was still frustrated with the unresolved problem that had dogged him all day, the Swiss driver down in 29th.

Nick Yelloly: “I think overall it was a good test, it’s great to have been so consistently quick in the wet, but I feel it wasn’t a particularly good indication of where we’re at. I think the next tests at Silverstone, which will be the first time I’ve driven a GP3 car on a circuit I know, will give me a better idea of where I’m at in relation to the others.”

Marlon Stockinger: “Generally I think it was very positive and we were quick in the rain, which is very promising, but I don’t think we can really draw any conclusions from the dry running. I think we’ll have to wait until Silverstone which I feel will give us a better idea but overall I’m happy with my performance.”

Zoel Amberg: “We had a good first day but in the second we struggled slightly so I was a little disappointed to be off the pace. However I really enjoyed working with the team, and although I don’t know the Silverstone track, I am looking forward to going there at the end of the month and hopefully improve my performance.”

Commenting on the trio’s performance, Team Principal David Hayle said, “This was the first time for all the drivers running in amongst the whole 30-car grid and on a small track like this, there was the inevitable problem on getting through the traffic. It was very encouraging for them all to be up at the front in the wet however, with Nick and Marlon first and second fastest respectively and Zoel also in the top six.

“Nick was unfortunate to have his quick lap ruined by a car spinning in front of him, and Zoel had a problem on day two which was never resolved, but which we hope will be rectified before the next test. All in all though it was a good performance by all three and we aim to carry this through into the next sessions at Silverstone.”

The Atech CRS GP team will return to track action for the second of three official tests, at Silverstone on 29th – 31st March.