Marlon Stockinger first GP3 win 

in Monaco on May 26, 2012

Status Grand Prix’s Marlon Stockinger claims maiden win in Monte Carlo

Reverse Pole man Marlon Stockinger celebrated his first win of his GP3 career after producing a lights to flag victory on the famous street circuit in Monaco in a memorable race!

The start was dramatic with a spectacular incident at the exit of Sainte Devote after Alex Brundle tapped the back of his Carlin team mate William Buller which sent Buller’s car into the air and landed upside down. The safety car was immediately deployed and luckily Buller was able to climb out of the car unscathed after a nasty looking shunt. The accident also ruled Brundle out of the race.

Stockinger defended his lead at the start with Daniel Abt trying to sneak past Antonio Felix Da Costa but the Lotus GP driver had to hold station. After two laps, the safety car came back in and the race was restarted. The remaining Carlin car of Felix Da Costa set sights on P1, chasing Stockinger and desperately was looking for a way past. The Portuguese star started applying the pressure on the Filipino and stayed within half a second of the Status Grand Prix car during the race, eager to make a move.

Abt in P3 was a few seconds back from the two dicing for the win, ahead of Mitch Evans, David Fumanelli, Kevin Ceccon, Aaro Vainio and Tio Ellinas. There was to be more action further down the field in the second half of the race after Lotus GP’s Conor Daly caught the back of Dmitry Suranovich at the hairpin and the Russian driver lost his rear wing. As Suranovich continued on, struggling to keep control, Daly made contact with the rear of the Marussia Manor Racing car as they came out of the tunnel and became airborne, hitting the side fence at the side of the circuit. It was a shocking accident but the American was able to get out of his car and walk away unharmed.

It was the second time the safety car was deployed and after a few laps, the decision was made to stop the race for safety reasons as the fence was damaged. Therefore, Stockinger recorded his debut victory in GP3, as the result was declared after 14 laps. Felix Da Costa took second with Abt achieving his first podium in the Series. Evans, Fumanelli, Ceccon, Vainio and Ellinas rounded out the top eight. This result makes it four different winners from four races in 2012.

Vaino heads the standings after Round 2 on 54 points ahead of Evans on 43 and Stockinger on 39. 

Round 3 takes place in Valencia on the 22-24 June with a GP3 test planned the week before.

Monaco Race 2 Quotes

GP3 Series:  Congratulations, your first win in GP3 and you do it at Monaco, happy boy?
Marlon Stockinger:  Yes I am! After yesterday’s race, starting sixth and losing two places I was a little bit unhappy with my start but on the bright side it gave me pole for today. It was just about making the start work and remaining consistent. Around here, you also need a little bit of luck and I am glad it worked out in the end! I was just glad to bring the car home and do this for my team, all of them did a great job. The car was so nice to drive and I also got fastest lap which is a few extra points so really happy about that.  It was a great weekend, I couldn’t have asked for more. So many times when you start on pole, you think you mustn’t let the pressure get to you so I would be lieing to you if I said  wasn’t thinking about the prestige of the event and the previous winners who have won here in F1, GP2 and now GP3.  But at the end of the day I stepped up and took victory!
GP3 Series:  Did you feel the pressure from Felix Da Costa, especially at the two restarts?
Marlon:  I guess here you have to expect in a Series like GP3 that it’s always going to be very close. I just focused on myself really and made sure I got the proper exit from the corners as it’s so hard to overtake here. I just wanted to build a gap. Safety cars are always tricky but I prepared myself well and knew where I could push.
GP3 Series:  You are now third in the Driver Standings, what are your expectations from this point?
Marlon: The season is still very long, I know we only have 8 Rounds, but I think it’s important we take it race by race and not look too far ahead of us and remain grounded. What we have achieved so far is really good and I very happy.

source: GP3, GP3

Filipino-Swiss ace Marlon Stockinger made history by winning the dramatic second GP3 Series race of the weekend in Monte Carlo with the Status Grand Prix team. 

 

Stockinger’s achievement in this Monaco Grand Prix support race, which he led all the way from pole position, means he is the first driver from the Philippines to hear his nation’s Lupang Hinirang anthem on a European race podium.

Stockinger stayed composed all the way through a dramatic race, under serious pressure from Carlin driver Antonio Felix da Costa. He had got the jump on his Portuguese rival at the start, only to have to do it all over again when the safety car appeared due to a first-corner collision.

After the restart the gap was usually just two or three tenths of a second as Stockinger withstood everything da Costa threw at him. While the Status GP driver was racing on
Pirelli P Zero tyres that had already done 20 kilometres in qualifying, da Costa was on new rubber and was trying hard to get by while he had the advantage.

But as the race wore on Stockinger looked more and more in control, and on the 11th lap of 18 he set a new fastest lap that extended his advantage to seven tenths.

At that precise moment there was a big accident, which meant another safety car. With damage to the catchfencing at the chicane, it was decided to red-flag the race, leaving Status GP racer Stockinger an emotional victor. It moves him up to third in the GP3 points, with Status GP also making progress to third in the teams' championship.

Marlon Stockinger:
"This is something that has only previously happened in my dreams! To stand on the podium steps in Monaco, where people like Ayrton Senna once stood, is mindblowing. And for it to be after my first win in GP3 is incredible! The race was pretty close. The important thing was to focus on being consistent, refrain from mistakes and make a gap. Having fastest lap was good and not only because of extra points – it showed that I could have kept the lead even if the race had run to the finish and also proved that the team did a great job. I couldn’t have done it without those guys.”

Source: Status Grand Prix

Barcelona Press Conference Race 1 Quotes

GP3 Series: Congratulations on P2! Your first podium, how do you feel?

Marlon Stockinger:  I’m really happy. Last year we were really unfortunate so to have the chance to be on the podium is really great. At the start, a lot was happening around me and I was lucky to get around the mayhem. I was fortunate that Abt and Felix Da Costa in front had the jump start penalties. In the race basically I was trying to keep up with Mitch and we were struggling at the end of the race a little.

GP3 Series: What are your aims for Race 2?

Marlon:  I think it’s just about picking up points and being consistent. Any chance of getting on the podium is a fantastic result and clearly we need to push more in qualifying. Ideally we would have had the win  but I am very happy with the points for second. I couldn’t catch Mitch today .

GP3 Series: This track is notoriously hard on tyres, how were they?

Marlon: The tyres were ok actually, the team did a great job giving me a good car in qualifying, so a big thank you to Status Grand Prix for this.

GP3 Series: Obviously, It’s a big change this year for you after a difficult 2011, to be on the podium, what do you think has been the change this season?

Marlon: I think it’s because I have more experienced, also coming from Asia it’s a lot more different than coming from Europe to settle into everything. I think I am with a better team now and I think when all these cards come into play, the results improve. I think winter testing went well and we were very consistent.

source: GP3Series