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Yas Marina, Tests: Matsushita ends on top

Japanese driver quickest on Day 3

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Nobuharu Matsushita concluded his 2015 GP2 season top: the Japanese driver from ART Grand Prix set the fastest laptime overall on Day 3 of post-season testing with a laptime of 1:48.313. Nicholas Latifi (DAMS) and Sergey Sirotkin (PREMA Racing) completed the top three at Yas Marina Circuit.

The final day of post-season testing opened in slightly cooler conditions with all twenty-four drivers on Medium Pirelli tyres. Richie Stanaway, back at the wheel of the Carlin car set the early pace before a first red flag period caused by Sean Gelael (Campos) who span and stopped at Turn 18.

At the re-start, André Negrao (Rapax) went top, one tenth better than Stanaway. A second red flag period came after Artur Janosz (Trident) stopped on the back straight. Once the proceedings resumed, Negrao found some extra pace to lap the track in a 1:49.154.

On the one hour mark, the session was halted again after Stanaway stopped at Turn 16. When the action resumed, Rowland put his head down and dipped under 1m49s setting a laptime two tenths better than Negrao. A final red flag period came after Pierre Gasly (PREMA Racing) stopped at Turn 9. In the closing stages, Mitch Evans claimed the top spot and no one could match his time.

At the chequered flag, behind Evans: Oliver Rowland, Luca Ghiotto (Rapax), Negrao, Sergey Sirotkin (PREMA Racing), Nobuharu Matsushita (ART Grand Prix), Tio Ellinas (Trident), Nick Yelloly (MP Motorsport), Antonio Giovinazzi (Carlin) and Stanaway completed the top ten.

Once again, the evening session opened at night time but was quickly stopped when Salvatore Del Plano (MP Motorsport) stopped at the exit of Turn 1. At the re-start, Evans set the early pace, but his laptime was first bettered by Rowland and then by Matsushita who posted a laptime of 1:48.313 which was enough to stay at the top of the timings until the chequered flag.

The proceedings were briefly halted two more time in the final hour. Finally, Matsushita topped the session ahead of Latifi, Sirotkin, Rowland, Ghiotto, Negrao, Artem Markelov, Marlon Stockinger (ART Grand Prix) Stanaway and Yelloly.

Morning results

PosDriverTeamTimeLaps
1. Mitch Evans Campos Racing 1:48.922 24
2. Oliver Rowland DAMS 1:48.926 22
3. Luca Ghiotto Rapax 1:49.057 30
4. André Negrao Rapax 1:49.154 27
5. Sergey Sirotkin PREMA Racing 1:49.201 15
6. Nobuharu Matsushita ART Grand Prix 1:49.243 34
7. Tio Ellinas Trident 1:49.246 35
8. Nick Yelloly MP Motorsport 1:49.331 24
9. Antonio Giovinazzi Carlin 1:49.361 23
10. Richie Stanaway Carlin 1:49.418 12
11. Marlon Stockinger ART Grand Prix 1:49.911 34
12. Jimmy Eriksson Arden International 1:50.000 28
13. Norman Nato Racing Engineering 1:50.085 25
14. Gustav Malja Status Grand Prix 1:50.152 20
15. Jordan King Racing Engineering 1:50.237 24
16. Artem Markelov RUSSIAN TIME 1:50.396 32
17. Sean Gelael Campos Racing 1:50.968 24
18. Andrea Caldarelli RUSSIAN TIME 1:51.011 24
19. Artur Janosz Trident 1:51.026 6
20. Philo Armand Stuatus Grand Prix 1:51.173 32
21. Emil Bernstorff Arden International 1:51.517 30
22. Nicholas Latifi DAMS 1:53.588 21
23 Pierre Gasly PREMA Racing 1:55.778 4
24. Salvatore Del Plano MP Motorsport 1:57.792 27

Afternoon results*

PosDriverTeamTimeLaps
1. Nobuharu Matsushita ART Grand Prix 1:48.313 35
2. Nicholas Latifi DAMS 1:48.432 37
3. Sergey Sirotkin PREMA Racing 1:48.465 24
4. Oliver Rowland DAMS 1:48.522 24
5. Luca Ghiotto Rapax 1:48.668 34
6. André Negrao Rapax 1:48.710 25
7. Artem Markelov RUSSIAN TIME 1:48.737 25
8. Marlon Stockinger ART Grand Prix 1:48.752 33
9. Richie Stanaway Carlin 1:49.046 32
10. Nick Yelloly MP Motorsport 1:49.068 17
11. Norman Nato Racing Engineering 1:49.109 32
12. Antonio Giovinazzi Carlin 1:49.192 36
13. Jordan King Racing Engineering 1:49.249 29
14. Gustav Malja Status Grand Prix 1:49.357 30
15. Tio Ellinas Trident 1:49.433 34
16. Jimmy Eriksson Arden International 1:49.596 32
17. Artur Janosz Trident 1:49.698 35
18. Emil Bernstorff Arden International 1:49.706 35
19. Philo Armand Status Grand Prix 1:50.395 30
20. Sean Gelael Campos Racing 1:50.436 40
21. Andrea Caldarelli RUSSIAN TIME 1:50.471 37
22. Salvatore Del Plano MP Motorsport 1:55.248 25
23. Pierre Gasly PREMA Powerteam

*Car #15 excluded from the results - car found under weight

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