Positive Second Mid-season Test

Only two weeks after the test in Budapest, the Marussia Manor Racing GP3 Team were back on track this week taking part in the second mid-season test at the Circuit de Valencia in Spain.

Having analysed the data from the test in Budapest, it was another opportunity for the team to further develop the set-up of the Marussia Manor Racing GP3 car and continue to work on the team’s qualifying performance.

On the first day all three drivers Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, Rio Haryanto and Matias Laine focused on working on race simulations ahead of the third round of the GP3 Series at the Valencia Street Circuit next week. During the first morning the drivers got to grips with the circuit, completing a total of 76 laps between them. Adrian managed to end up second after setting a time of 1:27.647, only 3 tenths away from the best time of the day. Matias was 13th and Rio, 25th. In the afternoon the team demonstrated good pace, with all three drivers finishing in the top ten. Rio was always within the leading quartet and after 30 laps and a best time of 1:28.409, he finished in first position. Adrian completed 31 laps and was 6th, while Matias finished 8th after 19 laps.

During the second and final day of testing in Valencia, all three drivers continued understanding the behaviour of the Pirelli P-Zero soft slick tyres, as well as concentrating on set-ups rather than trying to set quick times. Adrian, Rio and Matias added a further 96 laps to the teams tally, ending up 13th, 17th and 22nd respectively. Adrian improved his fastest lap time from yesterday, setting a personal best of 1:27.595. It was a very close final session this afternoon, with the top 20 drivers all within one second of each other. Rio set a time of 1:28.556, ending up second, while Matias was 12th and Adrian finished 21st.
The Marussia Manor Racing GP3 team will be back on track from the 24-26 June at the Valencia Street Circuit in Spain for the third round of the GP3 Series.


Pete Sliwinski, Team Manager
“This week we have demonstrated that we have the potential to be fighting at the top of the grid. We had the pace at the tests in Budapest and here in Valencia we have seen it again. So now we just need to put everything we have learned here into practice in the forthcoming races as well as focusing more during the qualifying sessions and get the best out of the tyres so that we can start the race in a good position.”
Rio Haryanto

“To be back at the top of the grid again is a good feeling. I know it’s only testing, but we have confirmed that we have good pace. We have done a really good job working on the car set-up during these two mid-season tests in Budapest and Valencia, and now we have to show that we can carry that through to the race next week weekend.”

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs
“Yesterday was good, as it showed that the direction we took in Hungary was the correct one and we backed it up with finishing second. Today we looked to further improve the set-up and concentrate on the behaviour of the tyres.”
Matias Laine
“I think we have done a good job here in Valencia. I feel comfortable in the car and we have achieved some good results. We have found a good set-up and I’m sure that we will be able to improve our performance in the next races.”