The 2011 GP3 Series season was the second season of the GP3 Series , a feeder series for the GP2 Series . The season began at Istanbul Park on 7 May and concluded at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on 11 September after eight rounds made up of two races each and all in support of European Formula 1 Grands Prix. The 2010 champion Esteban Gutiérrez graduated to the GP2 Series so did not defend his title.
After the early rounds, the likes of Mitch Evans , Nigel Melker , Andrea Caldarelli and Alexander 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 Finn Valtteri 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 of Monza . In that race he took the chequered flag and his closest rival and team-mate James Calado was left to second place. As 7 points is the maximum from Sunday's race and Bottas had more victories than Calado , the 7-point gap between them was enough for Bottas to clinch the title with one race still to go.[ 1]
Championship runner-up James Calado All of the teams used the Dallara GP3/10 chassis with and a Renault four-cylinder 2.0 litre (122 cu in) turbocharged engines order and with tyres supplied by Pirelli .
Changed teams Entering/Re-Entering GP3 Series Formula Renault MEC champion Zoël Amberg joined the series with Atech CRS GP.Luciano Bacheta , the Formula 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 the Lotus ART team that he drove for in the Euro Series.James Calado joined the championship, having finished runner-up to Jean-Éric Vergne in British Formula 3 with Carlin . He will join Bottas at Lotus ART.Andrea Caldarelli , who finished third in Italian Formula Three , moved into the championship with Tech 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 by Dominic Storey , who moved over from a one-off drive in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series .Star Mazda champion Conor Daly joined the series for Carlin. He was joined by German Formula Three champion Tom Dillmann for the first round of the series in Istanbul Park .Having competed in Australian Formula Three and the Toyota Racing Series since the start of 2010, Mitch Evans joined MW Arden.
Matias Laine made his debut in the series with Manor Racing , having competed in the Formula 3 Euro Series for Motopark Academy in 2010.Formula Renault UK race-winners Tamás Pál Kiss , Marlon Stöckinger , Lewis Williamson and Nick 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 for ART Grand Prix .Maxim Zimin joined the series with Jenzer Motorsport, having competed with the team in Formula Abarth .Leaving GP3 Series
The 2011 calendar was announced on 18 January 2011. The series consisted of eight rounds. A prospective ninth round in Monaco was dropped on 2 February 2011 due to a lack of paddock space.[ 39] [ 2]
The following rounds were included on the provisional calendars published by the FIA but were cancelled:
Championship standings
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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)
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
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 . Retrieved 14 May 2017 . ^ a b "2011 GP3 Series calendar" . GP3 Series the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011 .^ a b c d e f g h i j "GP3 Series teams revealed" . GP3 Series . Retrieved 27 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. Retrieved 2 October 2010 . ^ "Lotus ART complete GP3 line up" . GP3 Series Archived from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010 .^ "Richie Stanaway joins Lotus ART" . GP3 Series . Retrieved 23 August 2011 .[permanent dead link ] ^ Beer, Matt (23 November 2010). "Bottas switches to GP3 with ART" . autosport.com . Haymarket Publications . Retrieved 23 November 2010 . ^ "Calado to step up to GP3 with ART Grand Prix in 2011" . GP3 Series the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010 .^ "Alexander Sims joins Status GP for 2011" . GP3 Series the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011 .^ "Félix da Costa to race with Status GP" . GP3 Series the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011 .^ "Lukashevich returns to GP3 with Status GP" . GP3 Series the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011 .^ "Nico Müller staying with Jenzer for 2011 GP3 season" . GP3 Series the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2010 .^ "Maxim Zimin joins Jenzer for 2011" . GP3 Series the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011 .^ "Jenzer complete line-up with Vittorio Ghirelli" . GP3 Series . Retrieved 19 March 2011 .[permanent dead link ] ^ Allen, Peter (24 August 2011). "Alex Fontana Replaces Vittorio Ghirelli at Jenzer" . TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk . BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved 24 August 2011 . ^ "Monza race preview: Driver and team entry-list" . F1SA . F1 Supporters Association. 8 September 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011 .^ a b c "Manor Racing confirm 2011 line-up" . GP3 Series the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011 .^ a b c "Carlin head to Turkey for GP3" . carlin.co.uk . Carlin . 4 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011 .^ "Llista d'inscrits / Entry list" (PDF) . circuitcat.com . Circuit de Catalunya . 17 May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011 .^ "MacLeod joins Carlin for remainder of season" . GP3 Series . Retrieved 19 July 2011 .[permanent dead link ] ^ Mills, Peter (28 December 2010). "Vainio moves to GP3 with Tech 1" . autosport.com . Haymarket Publishing . Retrieved 28 December 2010 . ^ Caruccio, Antonio (21 March 2011). "Caldarelli firma con Tech 1" . ItaliaRacing.net (in Italian). Inpagina. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011 . ^ Allen, Peter (30 May 2011). "Hylkema Signs With Tech 1 To Race in GP3" . The Checkered Flag . BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved 30 May 2011 . ^ "Tamás Pál Kiss confirmed at Tech 1 Racing" . GP3 Series the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011 .^ Beer, Matt (17 November 2010). "Stockinger in GP3 move with Atech" . autosport.com . Haymarket Publications . Retrieved 17 November 2010 . ^ "ATECH CRS GP confirms Nick Yelloly" . GP3 Series the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010 .^ Beer, Matt (9 March 2011). "Amberg secures Atech CRS drive" . Autosport Haymarket Publications . Retrieved 9 March 2011 . ^ a b "GP3 Series Newsletter" (PDF) . GP3 Series . Retrieved 2 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 from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2011 . ^ "Gabby Chaves signs up for Addax Team GP3" . GP3 Series the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011 .^ Allen, Peter (8 September 2011). "Smith Loses GP3 Seat For Season Finale, Replaced By Ghirelli" . TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk . BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved 8 September 2011 . ^ Martinez, Peter (13 February 2011). "Mitch Evans youngest NZ Grand Prix winner" . Stuff . Fairfax Media . New Zealand Press Association . Retrieved 14 February 2011 . ^ Beer, Matt (1 December 2010). "Trummer switches to MW Arden" . autosport.com . Haymarket Publications . Retrieved 1 December 2010 . ^ McGill, Jim (21 February 2011). "Williamson joins MW Arden" . scotcars.co.uk . Scotcars. Retrieved 21 February 2011 . ^ "RSC Mücke Motorsport completes line up with Luciano Bacheta" . GP3 Series the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011 .^ Allen, Peter (14 August 2011). "Mancinelli To Race For Mucke at Spa And Monza" . TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk . BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved 14 August 2011 . ^ "Christensen confirmed at RSC Mücke Motorsport" . GP3 Series the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2011 .^ "RSC Mücke Motorsport & Melker together again in 2011" . GP3 Series the original on 1 October 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2010 .^ Strang, Simon (2 February 2011). "Monaco dropped from GP3 calendar" . Autosport Haymarket Publications . Retrieved 2 February 2011 . ^ "GP3 Fastest laps" . motorsportstats.com . Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 29 December 2021 .
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Istanbul, Turkey
Catalunya, Spain
Silverstone, UK
Nürburg, Germany
Budapest, Hungary
Spa, Belgium
Monza, Italy
Monte Carlo, Monaco