Good debut for Vergne in GP3

After the second meeting of the British championship of F3 On May 2, Jean-Eric Vergne flew to Spain to participate in the launch of the GP3 Series. A new experience which delights the member of the France FFSA team.

“There was still a seat available in the French Tech1 team and they contacted the Red Bull Junior Team, says Vergne. Last Tuesday, my phone rang and I jumped at the chance. The next day, I molded my tub. I arrived in Barcelona on Thursday and, by Friday morning, I was on the track for the first time behind the wheel of this new car. Really, I want to thank Red Bull and Tech1 for this opportunity: in a few months, I got behind the wheel of a Formula Renault 2.0, a Formula Renault 3.5, an F3? and now a GP3. Each time, I showed myself to be competitive, which is very encouraging.”

Fifth in the first round on Saturday, the Frenchman was on course to reach the third step of the podium on Sunday before receiving a penalty.

“I didn't take any excessive risks in the first (race, editor's note) and each lap allowed me to increase my experience, continues the 20-year-old pilot. Fifth place was a great reward. The next day, I perhaps got off to the best start of my career. I was next to the leader before the first turn, but a little jostle made me take my foot off. I was fifth then, but I came back and held third position until the last laps. At that time, the race management penalized me with a drive-through following the incidents at the start. It's really frustrating, because I would have liked to give Tech1 a first podium. Perhaps it will be for the next meeting, in Valencia? »

After a thunderous debut to say the least, JEV will indeed have other opportunities to get on the podium, with other rounds of the GP3 Series to be added to its program.