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]

Teams and drivers

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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.

Team No. Driver[2] Rounds
  Lotus ART[3][4] 1   Pedro Nunes[5] 1–6
  Richie Stanaway[6] 7–8
2   Valtteri Bottas[7] All
3   James Calado[8] All
  Status Grand Prix[3][a] 4   Alexander Sims[9] All
5   António Félix da Costa[10] All
6   Ivan Lukashevich[11] All
  Jenzer Motorsport[3] 7   Nico Müller[12] All
8   Maxim Zimin[13] All
9   Vittorio Ghirelli[14] 1–6
  Alex Fontana[15] 7
  Christophe Hurni[16] 8
  Marussia Manor Racing[3] 10   Adrian Quaife-Hobbs[17] All
11   Rio Haryanto[17] All
12   Matias Laine[17] All
  Carlin[3] 14   Conor Daly[18] All
15   Tom Dillmann[18] 1
  Daniel Morad[19] 2–4
  Callum MacLeod[20] 5–8
16   Leonardo Cordeiro[18] All
  Tech 1 Racing[3] 17   Aaro Vainio[21] All
18   Andrea Caldarelli[22] 1–2
  Thomas Hylkema[23] 3–8
19   Tamás Pál Kiss[24] All
  Atech CRS GP[3] 20   Marlon Stöckinger[25] All
21   Nick Yelloly[26] All
22   Zoël Amberg[27] All
  Addax Team[3] 23   Dominic Storey[28] 1–2
  Tom Dillmann[29] 3–8
24   Gabriel Chaves[30] All
25   Dean Smith[28] 1–7
  Vittorio Ghirelli[31] 8
  MW Arden[3][b] 26   Mitch Evans[32] All
27   Simon Trummer[33] All
28   Lewis Williamson[34] All
  RSC Mücke Motorsport[3] 29   Luciano Bacheta[35] 1–6
  Daniel Mancinelli[36] 7–8
30   Michael Christensen[37] All
31   Nigel Melker[38] All

Driver changes

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Changed teams
Entering/Re-Entering GP3 Series
Leaving GP3 Series

2011 Schedule

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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] It supported every other European Formula One event.[2]

Round Location Circuit Date Supporting
1 R1   Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul Racing Circuit 7 May Turkish Grand Prix
R2 8 May
2 R1   Catalunya, Spain Circuit de Catalunya 21 May Spanish Grand Prix
R2 22 May
3 R1   Valencia. Spain Valencia Street Circuit 25 June European Grand Prix
R2 26 June
4 R1   Silverstone, UK Silverstone Circuit 9 July British Grand Prix
R2 10 July
5 R1   Nürburg, Germany Nürburgring 23 July German Grand Prix
R2 24 July
6 R1   Budapest, Hungary Hungaroring 30 July Hungarian Grand Prix
R2 31 July
7 R1   Spa, Belgium Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 27 August Belgian Grand Prix
R2 28 August
8 R1   Monza, Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza 10 September Italian Grand Prix
R2 11 September

The following rounds were included on the provisional calendars published by the FIA but were cancelled:

Round Location Circuit Date Supporting
R1   Monte Carlo, Monaco Circuit de Monaco 27 May Monaco Grand Prix
R2 28 May

Results

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Round Circuit Pole Position Fastest lap[40] Winning Driver Winning Team Report
1 R1   Istanbul Park   Tom Dillmann   Andrea Caldarelli   Nigel Melker   RSC Mücke Motorsport Report
R2   Alexander Sims   Alexander Sims   Status Grand Prix
2 R1   Circuit de Catalunya   Mitch Evans   Valtteri Bottas   Mitch Evans   MW Arden Report
R2   Andrea Caldarelli   Tamás Pál Kiss   Tech 1 Racing
3 R1   Valencia Street Circuit   Lewis Williamson   Adrian Quaife-Hobbs   Adrian Quaife-Hobbs   Marussia Manor Racing Report
R2   James Calado   James Calado   Lotus ART
4 R1   Silverstone Circuit   Adrian Quaife-Hobbs   Alexander Sims   Nico Müller   Jenzer Motorsport Report
R2   Adrian Quaife-Hobbs[c]   Lewis Williamson   MW Arden
5 R1   Nürburgring   Mitch Evans   Lewis Williamson   Rio Haryanto   Marussia Manor Racing Report
R2   Nigel Melker   Valtteri Bottas   Lotus ART
6 R1   Hungaroring   Valtteri Bottas   Michael Christensen   Valtteri Bottas   Lotus ART Report
R2   Nigel Melker   Rio Haryanto   Marussia Manor Racing
7 R1   Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps   James Calado   Valtteri Bottas   Valtteri Bottas   Lotus ART Report
R2   James Calado   Richie Stanaway   Lotus ART
8 R1   Autodromo Nazionale Monza   Adrian Quaife-Hobbs   Rio Haryanto   Valtteri Bottas   Lotus ART Report
R2   Valtteri Bottas[d]   António Félix da Costa   Status Grand Prix

Championship standings

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Drivers' Championship

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Pos Driver IST
 
CAT
 
VAL
 
SIL
 
NÜR
 
HUN
 
SPA
 
MNZ
 
Points
1   Valtteri Bottas 4 8 10 7 7 3 15 12 3 1 1 2 1 19 1 17 62
2   James Calado 17 13 2 21 8 1 6 5 4 6 25 3 2 2 2 14 55
3   Nigel Melker 1 3 6 2 Ret 19 Ret 8 10 3 8 4 3 Ret 9 Ret 38
4   Nico Müller 11 15 5 Ret Ret 14 1 11 15 7 4 5 7 3 4 3 36
5   Adrian Quaife-Hobbs 24 16 11 23 1 8 4 15 5 Ret 3 10 4 Ret Ret 6 36
6   Alexander Sims 8 1 Ret Ret 6 2 2 3 12 2 DSQ 9 Ret Ret 21† Ret 34
7   Rio Haryanto 26 10 20 11 19 22† 10 4 1 10 9 1 12 9 3 2 31
8   Lewis Williamson Ret 20 14 9 2 6 7 1 2 14 6 Ret 9 DNS 18 10 31
9   Mitch Evans 6 7 1 5 3 4 9 Ret 19 22 Ret 24† 11 Ret 8 Ret 29
10   Andrea Caldarelli 2 5 4 4 20
11   Michael Christensen 7 2 18 12 Ret Ret Ret 13 26† 12 2 13 15 4 12 11 19
12   Dean Smith 9 6 7 3 5 11 8 2 24 Ret 24 19 20 20 18
13   António Félix da Costa 5 4 12 17 Ret 20† 19 9 28 Ret 11 6 Ret 11 7 1 16
14   Tom Dillmann 3 9 20 Ret Ret 25† 22 5 7 22 6 Ret Ret 9 15
15   Aaro Vainio 15 Ret 3 20 Ret Ret 11 18 7 13 5 7 13 Ret 22† 8 12
16   Tamás Pál Kiss 16 18 8 1 16 13 Ret 20 8 4 10 20 17 14 Ret 12 11
17   Conor Daly 21 25 21 22 12 7 13 7 6 8 13 11 5 7 6 Ret 10
18   Simon Trummer 19 21 27 25† Ret Ret 12 10 9 16 16 12 19 5 5 4 9
19   Gabriel Chaves 10 12 13 6 4 5 Ret 14 27† 17 23 Ret 16 16 17 7 8
20   Richie Stanaway 8 1 10 19 7
21   Nick Yelloly 13 11 25 18 9 12 3 6 16 9 21 Ret Ret 13 Ret Ret 7
22   Luciano Bacheta Ret 19 22 16 18 10 5 19 25 25 17 Ret 4
23   Callum MacLeod 29 21 26 18 Ret Ret 11 5 3
24   Alex Fontana 14 6 1
25   Vittorio Ghirelli 25 Ret 9 8 13 9 14 22 13 11 22 Ret Ret 18 0
26   Ivan Lukashevich 14 24 17 13 Ret Ret 18 24 11 18 28 23 10 8 Ret Ret 0
27   Maxim Zimin 23 17 Ret 19 Ret 21† DSQ EX 20 15 19 8 Ret 15 Ret 16 0
28   Zoël Amberg 12 14 16 10 11 18 Ret 16 21 20 15 16 Ret 12 Ret Ret 0
29   Marlon Stöckinger Ret 23 26 Ret 14 16 16 Ret Ret DNS 12 17 Ret 10 19 13 0
30   Leonardo Cordeiro Ret 22 23 15 10 17 17 23 17 19 20 15 21 18 13 Ret 0
31   Matias Laine 18 Ret 19 24 17 Ret Ret Ret 14 23 14 21 18 Ret 20 Ret 0
32   Pedro Nunes 22 26† 15 26† Ret 15 Ret 17 23 Ret 18 14 0
33   Daniel Morad 24 14 15 Ret DNS DNS 0
34   Thomas Hylkema Ret Ret 20 21 18 24† 27 Ret 22 21 14 Ret 0
35   Daniel Mancinelli Ret 17 15 15 0
36   Christophe Hurni 16 20 0
37   Dominic Storey 20 Ret Ret 27† 0
Pos Driver 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)

Teams' Championship

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Pos Team Car
No.
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
No.
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 †.

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Status Grand Prix competed under a Ireland license.
  2. ^ Arden International competed under a Australia license.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.

References

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  1. ^ Allen, Peter (11 September 2011). "Valtteri Bottas claims GP3 Series title". formulascout.com. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b "2011 GP3 Series calendar". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 18 January 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "GP3 Series teams revealed". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2010.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Lotus ART complete GP3 line up". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 10 December 2010. Archived from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Richie Stanaway joins Lotus ART". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Beer, Matt (23 November 2010). "Bottas switches to GP3 with ART". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  8. ^ "Calado to step up to GP3 with ART Grand Prix in 2011". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 27 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
  9. ^ "Alexander Sims joins Status GP for 2011". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 20 January 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  10. ^ "Félix da Costa to race with Status GP". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 15 February 2011. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  11. ^ "Lukashevich returns to GP3 with Status GP". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 2 May 2011. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  12. ^ "Nico Müller staying with Jenzer for 2011 GP3 season". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 6 October 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  13. ^ "Maxim Zimin joins Jenzer for 2011". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 24 February 2011. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  14. ^ "Jenzer complete line-up with Vittorio Ghirelli". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ Allen, Peter (24 August 2011). "Alex Fontana Replaces Vittorio Ghirelli at Jenzer". TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk. BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ a b c "Manor Racing confirm 2011 line-up". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 25 February 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  18. ^ 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.
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  21. ^ Mills, Peter (28 December 2010). "Vainio moves to GP3 with Tech 1". autosport.com. Haymarket Publishing. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ Allen, Peter (30 May 2011). "Hylkema Signs With Tech 1 To Race in GP3". The Checkered Flag. BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  24. ^ "Tamás Pál Kiss confirmed at Tech 1 Racing". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 30 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  25. ^ Beer, Matt (17 November 2010). "Stockinger in GP3 move with Atech". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  26. ^ "ATECH CRS GP confirms Nick Yelloly". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 4 November 2010. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  27. ^ Beer, Matt (9 March 2011). "Amberg secures Atech CRS drive". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  28. ^ a b "GP3 Series Newsletter" (PDF). GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ "Gabby Chaves signs up for Addax Team GP3". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 28 March 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  31. ^ Allen, Peter (8 September 2011). "Smith Loses GP3 Seat For Season Finale, Replaced By Ghirelli". TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk. BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  32. ^ Martinez, Peter (13 February 2011). "Mitch Evans youngest NZ Grand Prix winner". Stuff. Fairfax Media. New Zealand Press Association. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  33. ^ Beer, Matt (1 December 2010). "Trummer switches to MW Arden". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  34. ^ McGill, Jim (21 February 2011). "Williamson joins MW Arden". scotcars.co.uk. Scotcars. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  35. ^ "RSC Mücke Motorsport completes line up with Luciano Bacheta". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 2 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  36. ^ Allen, Peter (14 August 2011). "Mancinelli To Race For Mucke at Spa And Monza". TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk. BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  37. ^ "Christensen confirmed at RSC Mücke Motorsport". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 21 April 2011. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  38. ^ "RSC Mücke Motorsport & Melker together again in 2011". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 1 October 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  39. ^ Strang, Simon (2 February 2011). "Monaco dropped from GP3 calendar". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  40. ^ "GP3 Fastest laps". motorsportstats.com. Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
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