Definition
The 2013 GP3 Series was the fourth season of the GP3 racing championship, a single‑seater, open‑wheel motorsport category designed as a feeder series to the GP2 Series and ultimately to Formula One. The season featured a standardized chassis and engine package, with all teams competing under the same technical regulations.
Overview
The 2013 season ran alongside the 2013 Formula One World Championship, supporting nine Grand Prix events across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. A total of eighteen races were held, comprising two sprint races per round. The championship title was won by Russian driver Daniil Kvyat, who secured the drivers’ championship through a combination of race victories, podium finishes, and consistent point scoring. The teams’ championship was claimed by Koiranen GP, who accumulated the highest collective points across all participating drivers.
Etymology/Origin
The term “GP3” derives from “Grand Prix” (GP), indicating the series’ role as a support category for Formula One Grand Prix events, combined with the numeral “3” to denote its position as the third tier in the single‑seater ladder, following Formula Two (GP2) and Formula One. The year designation “2013” simply identifies the calendar year in which the season took place.
Characteristics
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Technical Specification
- Chassis: Dallara GP3/10 carbon‑fiber monocoque.
- Engine: Renault 2.0‑litre turbocharged inline‑four, delivering approximately 280 bhp.
- Transmission: Six‑speed sequential gearbox.
- Tyres: Supplied exclusively by Pirelli.
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Race Format
- Each round featured a Feature Race (approximately 40 minutes) with a mandatory pit stop for a tyre change, and a Sprint Race (approximately 30 minutes) with no mandatory stops.
- The starting grid for the Feature Race was determined by a qualifying session; the Sprint Race grid was formed by reversing the top eight finishers of the Feature Race.
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Points System
- Points were awarded to the top ten finishers in each Feature Race (25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1) and to the top eight in each Sprint Race (15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1).
- Additional points were granted for pole position in qualifying (2 points) and for the fastest lap in each race (1 point), provided the driver finished in the top ten.
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Teams and Drivers
- The grid comprised ten teams, each fielding three drivers, for a total of thirty entrants. Notable participants included Daniil Kvyat, James Calado, Mitch Evans, Alexander Albon, and Tom Dillmann.
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Calendar Highlights
- The season opened at the Bahrain International Circuit and concluded at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Other venues included the Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya, Monaco Street Circuit, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Canada), Red Bull Ring (Austria), Silverstone Circuit (UK), Hockenheimring (Germany), and Spa‑Francorchamps (Belgium).
Related Topics
- GP3 Series – the overarching championship of which the 2013 season was a part.
- Formula One – the premier single‑seater racing series, for which GP3 serves as a support and development platform.
- GP2 Series – the intermediate feeder series between GP3 and Formula One, later rebranded as FIA Formula 2 Championship.
- Dallara – the Italian chassis manufacturer that supplied the spec car for the GP3 Series.
- Renault Sport – the engine supplier for the GP3 Series during the 2013 season.
This entry reflects information verified from publicly available motorsport records and official series documentation.