2015 GP3 Series explained

The 2015 GP3 Series was the sixth season of the third-tier of Formula One feeder championship and also sixth season under the moniker of GP3 Series, a motor racing feeder series that was run in support of the FIA Formula One World Championship and sister series GP2. Thirty-one drivers represented eight teams over the course of the season's nine rounds, starting in Spain on 9 May and ending in Abu Dhabi on 29 November. It was the final season for the Dallara GP3/13-AER P57 V6 chassis and engine package that debuted in 2013. A new Dallara-built chassis was introduced for 2016 along with a Mecachrome normally-aspirated V6 engine.

French driver Esteban Ocon (ART Grand Prix) finished the campaign as the drivers' champion after a season-long battle with Trident driver Luca Ghiotto. Despite winning only one race in 2015 – the first race in Barcelona – Ocon took fourteen podium finishes, including a run of nine successive runner-up placings over the mid-course of the season.[1] Ocon ultimately finished eight points clear of Ghiotto, who won a season-high five races. Another five-time winner, Marvin Kirchhöfer, completed the championship top three, some fifty-three points behind team-mate Ocon. The performances of Ocon and Kirchhöfer were more than enough for ART Grand Prix to regain the teams' championship title they had missed out on for the first time in 2014. Five other drivers took race victories during the 2015 season; Arden International pairing Emil Bernstorff and Kevin Ceccon each took two victories, while Jimmy Eriksson, Álex Palou and Óscar Tunjo each took sprint race victories, which were held with partially-reversed grids – an inversion of the top eight finishers in the previous day's feature race.

Teams and drivers

The following teams competed in the 2015 season:[2]

TeamDriversRounds
Carlin1 Antonio Fuoco[3] All
21–5, 7–8
Adderly Fong[4] 9
3 Mitchell Gilbert[5] All
ART Grand Prix4 Alfonso Celis Jr.[6] 1–5, 7–9
5 Marvin Kirchhöfer[7] All
6 Esteban Ocon[8] All
7 Seb Morris[9] All
8 Alex Fontana[10] All
9 Sandy Stuvik[11] All
Koiranen GP10 Adderly Fong[12] 1–5, 7
Matevos Isaakyan[13] 8–9
11 Jimmy Eriksson[14] All
12 Matt ParryAll
14 Kevin Ceccon[15] All
15 Emil Bernstorff[16] All
16 Aleksander Bosak[17] All
Jenzer Motorsport20 Pål Varhaug[18] All
21 Mathéo Tuscher[19] All
22 Ralph BoschungAll
Campos Racing[20] 23 Zaid Ashkanani[21] All
24 Álex PalouAll
25 Samin Gómez[22] 1–2, 4
Christopher Höher[23] 3
Brandon Maïsano[24] 6
Konstantin Tereshchenko[25] 7–9
Trident26 Artur Janosz[26] All
27 Luca Ghiotto[27] All
28 Óscar Tunjo[28] 1–3
Beitske Visser[29] 5
Amaury Bonduel[30] 6
Michele Beretta[31] 7–9

Driver changes

Changing teams

Entering GP3

Leaving GP3

Team changes

Calendar

In December 2014, the full 2015 calendar was revealed with nine events.[41]

RoundCircuit/LocationCountryDateSupporting
1R19 May
R210 May
2R1Red Bull Ring, Spielberg20 June
R221 June
3R1Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone4 July
R25 July
4R1Hungaroring, Budapest25 July
R226 July
5R122 August
R223 August
6R1Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza5 September
R26 September
7R1Sochi Autodrom, Sochi11 October
R2
8R1Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir20 November6 Hours of Bahrain
R2
9R1Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi28 November
R229 November

Calendar changes

Results

RoundCircuitPole positionFastest lap[43] Winning driverWinning teamReport
11 Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Luca Ghiotto Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon ART Grand PrixReport
R2 ART Grand Prix
2R1 Red Bull Ring Luca Ghiotto Luca Ghiotto Luca Ghiotto TridentReport
R2 Luca Ghiotto Óscar Tunjo Trident
3R1 Silverstone Circuit Luca Ghiotto Marvin Kirchhöfer ART Grand PrixReport
R2 Kevin Ceccon Kevin Ceccon
4R1 Hungaroring Luca Ghiotto Luca Ghiotto Luca Ghiotto TridentReport
R2 Esteban Ocon Kevin Ceccon Arden International
5R1 Luca Ghiotto Luca Ghiotto Emil Bernstorff Arden InternationalReport
R2 Luca Ghiotto Luca Ghiotto Trident
6R1 Autodromo Nazionale Monza Luca Ghiotto Emil Bernstorff Emil Bernstorff Arden InternationalReport
R2 Luca Ghiotto Marvin Kirchhöfer ART Grand Prix
7R1 Sochi Autodrom Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon Luca Ghiotto TridentReport
R2 Esteban Ocon Jimmy Eriksson Koiranen GP
8R1 Bahrain International Circuit Esteban Ocon Luca Ghiotto Marvin Kirchhöfer ART Grand PrixReport
R2 Luca Ghiotto Luca Ghiotto Trident
9R1 Yas Marina Circuit Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon Marvin Kirchhöfer ART Grand PrixReport
R2 Álex Palou Álex Palou Campos Racing

Championship standings

Scoring systemPoints were awarded to the top 10 classified finishers in the race 1, and to the top 8 classified finishers in the race 2. The pole-sitter in the race 1 also received four points, and two points were given to the driver who set the fastest lap inside the top ten in both the race 1 and race 2. No extra points were awarded to the pole-sitter in the race 2.
Race 1 points
Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th  Pole   
Points25181512108642142
Race 2 pointsPoints were awarded to the top 8 classified finishers.
Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th   
Points151210864212

Drivers' championship

DriverCAT
RBR
SIL
HUN
SPA
MNZ
SOC
BHR
YMC
Points
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
1 Esteban Ocon173DSQ62222222223243253
2 Luca Ghiotto2813471451Ret3184154245
3 Marvin Kirchhöfer516218353Ret41971617200
4 Emil Bernstorff3544264Ret1Ret1Ret362426194
5 Jimmy Eriksson6220†105466131655815735118
6 Antonio Fuoco842Ret18238Ret4RetRet1164957288
7 Kevin Ceccon76RetDNS7171Ret1334RetDNS1418Ret1077
8 Matt Parry1391373553RetRetDSQRet7Ret11362467
9435131715Ret17Ret12537Ret58
10 Álex Palou122014RetRet1319187571049Ret108151
11 Ralph BoschungRet148883138989711DNS109121128
12 Alfonso Celis Jr.101015Ret1311181563131288Ret1924
13 Mathéo Tuscher141312DSQ109109Ret466RetRet12Ret161422
14 Artur Janosz151221991716Ret12716Ret10561210920
15 Óscar Tunjo161191111017
16 Alex Fontana9161061918141310681619111919151316
17 Sandy Stuvik18177Ret22202214Ret17118161713Ret17167
18 Seb MorrisRet2419515121212Ret14DSQRet141016Ret13156
19 Pål Varhaug211811Ret161997Ret10Ret14Ret14RetRet1185
20 Aleksander Bosak19231615141617198Ret15RetRet20Ret1618234
21 Matevos IsaakyanRet149122
22 Mitchell Gilbert22†22Ret112021111011111091215151114171
23 Adderly Fong17211712121415111591518Ret220
24 Zaid Ashkanani1115181421222016141813152019171319210
25 Brandon Maïsano12130
26 Amaury Bonduel14120
27 Michele Beretta1813201520180
28 Beitske VisserRet150
29 Konstantin Tereshchenko17161817Ret200
30 Samin Gómez2019Ret1621Ret0
31 Christopher Höher23240
DriverR1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2Points
CAT
RBR
SIL
HUN
SPA
MNZ
SOC
BHR
YMC
valign=top
Notes:

Teams' championship

TeamCAT
RBR
SIL
HUN
SPA
MNZ
SOC
BHR
YMC
Points
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
1align=left rowspan=3 ART Grand Prix4101015Ret1311181563131288Ret19477
5516218353Ret41971617
6173DSQ62222222223243
2align=left rowspan=3 Trident26151221991716Ret12716Ret105612109282
272813471451Ret3184154
281611911110Ret151412181320152018
3align=left rowspan=31476RetDNS7171Ret1334RetDNS1418Ret10275
153544264Ret1Ret1Ret362426
1619231615141617198Ret15RetRet20Ret161823
4align=left rowspan=3 Koiranen GP1017211712121415111591518Ret14912187
116220†105466131655815735
121391373553RetRetDSQRet7Ret113624
5align=left rowspan=3 Carlin1842Ret18238Ret4RetRet11649572147
2435131715Ret17Ret12537RetRet22
322†22Ret11202111101111109121515111417
6align=left rowspan=3 Jenzer Motorsport20211811Ret161997Ret10Ret14Ret14RetRet11855
21141312DSQ109109Ret466RetRet12Ret1614
22Ret148883138989711DNS1091211
7align=left rowspan=3 Campos Racing2311151814212220161418131520191713192151
24122014RetRet1319187571049Ret1081
252019Ret16232421Ret121317161817Ret20
8align=left rowspan=3 Status Grand Prix7Ret2419515121212Ret14DSQRet141016Ret131529
891610619181413106816191119191513
918177Ret22202214Ret17118161713Ret1716
TeamR1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2Points
CAT
RBR
SIL
HUN
SPA
MNZ
SOC
BHR
YMC

Notes and References

  1. News: Palou wins race as Esteban Ocon crowned 2015 champion. 14 May 2017. crash.net. Crash Media Group. 29 November 2015.
  2. News: GP3 Series announce line up for 2013–15 . GP3Series.com . . 1 October 2012 . 1 October 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121004045825/http://www.gp3series.com/News/2012/10_Oct/GP3-Series-announce-line-up-for-2013-15/ . 4 October 2012 .
  3. News: Fuoco to Carlin for GP3. GP3 Series. GP2 Series Limited. 23 January 2015. 23 January 2015.
  4. News: Mardenborough replaced by Fong at Carlin for GP3 finale. Allen. Peter. 26 November 2015. Paddock Scout. 26 November 2015.
  5. News: Carlin add Gilbert to GP3 line-up. 13 February 2015. GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 13 February 2015.
  6. News: ART GP announce Alfonso Celis.Jr as first driver for 2015. 9 January 2015. GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 9 January 2015.
  7. News: GP3 racer Marvin Kirchhofer to race in European F3 as well in 2015. Simmons. Marcus. 3 March 2015. Autosport. Haymarket. 3 March 2015. Kirchhofer will also remain in GP3 for a second season with ART Grand Prix, and that this programme will take priority when there are any date clashes..
  8. News: Esteban Ocon completes move into GP3 with ART. Autosport. Simmons. Marcus. Haymarket. 11 March 2015. 11 March 2015.
  9. News: McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalist Seb Morris to GP3 with Status. 9 March 2015. Autosport. Haymarket. 9 March 2015.
  10. News: Fontana joins Status Grand Prix for 2015 GP3 campaign. GP3 Series. GP2 Series Limited. 24 February 2015. 25 February 2015.
  11. News: Sandy Stuvik completes Status Gp3 line-up. GP3 Series. GP2 Series Limited. 10 March 2015. 10 March 2015.
  12. News: 2015 GP3 line-up revealed for Koiranen GP. GP3 Series. GP2 Series Limited. 6 March 2015. 6 March 2015.
  13. News: Matevos Isaakyan gets GP3 chance with Koiranen in Bahrain. Allen. Peter. 18 November 2015. Paddock Scout. 18 November 2015.
  14. News: Jimmy Eriksson joins Koiranen GP for 2014 campaign . 6 March 2014 . . GP2 Motorsport Limited . 6 March 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140311172228/http://www.gp3series.com/News/2014/March/Jimmy-Eriksson-joins-Koiranen-GP-for-2014-campaign/ . 11 March 2014 .
  15. News: Arden International confirms Ceccon for 2015 GP3 Series. GP3 Series. GP2 Series Limited. 4 March 2015. 4 March 2015.
  16. News: Bernstorff completes Arden International's GP3 challenge. GP3 Series. GP2 Series Limited. 16 March 2015. 16 March 2015.
  17. News: Pierwszy Polak w serii GP3. Aleksander Bosak dołącza do Arden International na sezon 2015 . https://archive.today/20150209001908/http://www.motorsportgp.pl/aktualnosci-gp3/7843-pierwszy-polak-w-serii-gp3-aleksander-bosak-dolacza-do-arden-international-na-sezon-2015.html . dead . 9 February 2015 . 5 February 2015 . Motorsport GP . pl . 6 February 2015 . The first Pole in the GP3 Series. Aleksander Bosak joins Arden International for 2015 season .
  18. News: Jenzer Motorsport complete team with Pal Varhaug. 13 March 2015. GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 13 March 2015.
  19. News: Jenzer retain Matheo Tuscher, add Ralph Boschung for GP3. David. Gruz. 6 March 2015. Paddock Scout. 6 March 2015.
  20. News: Campos Racing joins GP3 Series line-up in 2015 . 19 December 2014 . . 19 December 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141219134204/http://www.gp3series.com/News/2014/December/Campos-Racing-joins-GP3-Series-line-up-in-2015/ . 19 December 2014 .
  21. News: Alex Palou and Zaid Ashkanani Join Campos Racing in GP3. Aaron. Rook. thecheckeredflag.co.uk. The Checkered Flag. 12 February 2015. 12 February 2015.
  22. News: Samin Gomez secures GP3 return with Campos Racing. Allen. Peter. 7 May 2015. Paddock Scout. 7 May 2015.
  23. News: Campos Racing add Hoeher to Silverstone round line-up. GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 1 July 2015. 1 July 2015.
  24. News: Brandon Maisano joins Campos GP3 squad for Monza. PaddockScout. Allen. Peter. 1 September 2015. 1 September 2015.
  25. News: Konstantin Tereshchenko to do Sochi GP3 round with Campos. PaddockScout. Allen. Peter. 7 October 2015. 7 October 2015.
  26. News: Trident adds Artur Janosz to GP3 line-up. 2 March 2015. GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 2 March 2015.
  27. News: Ghiotto e Trident trovano l'accordo. Costa. Massimo. 9 January 2015. ItaliaRacing.net. Inpagina. it. 9 January 2015. Agreement between Ghiotto and Trident.
  28. News: Oscar Tunjo secures GP3 drive with Trident. Khorounzhiy. Valentin. 16 March 2015. PaddockScout. 16 March 2015.
  29. News: Trident set to field Beitske Visser. 19 August 2015. GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport limited. 20 August 2015.
  30. News: 2015 Season: Round 6 Preview: Monza, Italy. 3 September 2015. GP2 Series. 3 September 2015.
  31. Web site: Michele Beretta Joins Trident GP3 Team for Sochi . Allen, Peter . 2015-10-08 . Paddock Scout.com . 2015-10-13 .
  32. News: Reigning Champions DAMS confirm 2015 line-up . 8 January 2015 . . GP2 Motorsport Limited . 8 January 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150108131725/http://www.gp2series.com/News-Room/News/2015/Reigning-Champions-DAMS-confirm-2015-line-up/ . 8 January 2015 .
  33. News: Briton Stoneman joins Red Bull Stable. Paul. Hensby. thecheckeredflag.co.uk. The Checkered Flag. 12 February 2015. 12 February 2015.
  34. News: FIA entry list firms up 35-car European F3 field for 2015. David. Gruz. 6 March 2015. Paddock Scout. 7 March 2015.
  35. News: GP3 graduate Niederhauser enters Lamborghini Super Trofeo. David. Gruz. 16 March 2015. PaddockScout. 16 March 2015.
  36. News: O'Ward, Urratia join Team Pelfrey. 19 March 2015. 27 March 2015. Racer. Haymarket Publications. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112126/http://www.racer.com/road-to-indy/pro-mazda/item/114550-pro-mazda-o-ward-urratia-join-team-pelfrey. 2 April 2015. dead.
  37. News: Robert Visoiu completes Rapax 2015 line up . 6 March 2015 . . GP2 Motorsport Limited . 6 March 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150309014351/http://www.gp2series.com/News-Room/News/2015/03_March/Robert-Visoiu-completes-Rapax-2015-line-up/ . 9 March 2015 .
  38. News: Bristol Sport racing driver Dino Zamparelli ready to take on Porsche Carrera Cup challenge. 9 January 2015. 12 January 2015. Bristol Post. Local World. https://web.archive.org/web/20150112133436/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Dino-Zamparelli-decides-Porsche-Carerra-Cup/story-25830814-detail/story.html. 12 January 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  39. News: Stanaway to start GP2 season with Status Grand Prix . 13 April 2015 . . GP2 Motorsport Limited . 9 May 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150418142259/http://www.gp2series.com/News-Room/News/2015/04_April/Stanaway-to-start-GP2-season-with-Status-Grand-Prix/ . 18 April 2015 .
  40. News: Marussia Manor won't return to GP3 after F1 team closes doors. Simmons. Marcus. 7 November 2014. Autosport. Haymarket. 7 November 2014.
  41. Web site: 2015 International Series. 5 December 2014. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 6 December 2014.
  42. Web site: GP2 adds extra Bahrain round to 2015 season. 30 July 2015. Pablo. Elizalde. Motorsport.com. 30 July 2015.
  43. Web site: GP3 Fastest laps . results.motorsportstats.com . Motorsport Stats . 25 July 2020 . 25 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200725123101/https://results.motorsportstats.com/series/gp3-series/season/gp3-series-2015/stats/fastest-laps . dead .