The 2012 GP3 Series season was the third season of the GP3 Series, a feeder series for the GP2 Series. The season began at Barcelona on 12 May and concluded at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on 9 September after eight rounds made up of two races each and all in support of European Formula One Grands Prix.

The series adopted the points system used by Formula One for the feature race, with points awarded to the top ten drivers and twenty-five points on offer for victory. The points awarded in the sprint race also were changed, with the winner receiving fifteen points and top eight drivers receiving points. The points awarded for pole position and the fastest lap of the race also were doubled.^[1]

The winner of the championship was Mitch Evans driving for the MW Arden team, who outscored Lotus GP driver Daniel Abt by two points.^[2]

2012 was also the final season that the Dallara GP3/10 chassis package, which débuted in the inaugural season of the series in 2010, was used in competition, as a new chassis package and car, the Dallara GP3/13, was introduced for 2013.

Ten teams and thirty drivers had been due to take part in the 2012 season. However, in April 2012 it was reported^[3] that only twenty-seven drivers would take place with Mücke Motorsport missing from the grid.

More information Team, No. ...

Team	No.	Driver name	Rounds
Lotus GP[4]	1	Daniel Abt[5]	All
	2	Conor Daly[6]	All
	3	Aaro Vainio[7]	All
MW Arden[8][lower-alpha 1]	4	Mitch Evans[9]	All
	5	David Fumanelli[10]	All
	6	Matias Laine[11]	All
Marussia Manor Racing[8]	7	Dmitry Suranovich[12]	All
	8	Fabiano Machado[13]	All
	9	Tio Ellinas[14]	All
Status Grand Prix[8][lower-alpha 2]	14	Marlon Stöckinger[15]	All
	15	Kotaro Sakurai[16][lower-alpha 3]	1–2, 4
		Lewis Williamson[17]	5–8
	16	Alice Powell[18]	All
Ocean Racing Technology[19]	17	Carmen Jordá[20]	All
	18	Kevin Ceccon[21]	All
	19	Robert Cregan[20]	All
Jenzer Motorsport[8]	20	Robert Visoiu[22]	All
	21	Patric Niederhauser[23]	All
	22	Jakub Klášterka[24]	1–2
		Facu Regalia[25]	4
		Alex Fontana[26]	6–7
Trident Racing[27]	23	Vicky Piria[28]	All
	24	Antonio Spavone[29]	1–4
	25	Giovanni Venturini[30]	4–8
Carlin[8]	26	Alex Brundle[31]	All
	27	António Félix da Costa[32]	All
	28	William Buller[33]	All
Atech CRS GP[8]	29	Tamás Pál Kiss[34]	All
	30	John Wartique[35]	1–3, 7–8
		Fabio Gamberini[36]	4
		Facu Regalia[37]	6
	31	Ethan Ringel[38]	All

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The 2012 calendar was announced on 16 December 2011.^[41] The series consisted of eight rounds, with a round in Monaco confirmed on 26 January 2012.^[42] The series had previously attempted to include a race in Monaco for the 2011 season, but was forced to abandon its plans when it was found that the support paddock did not have enough space for the GP3 Series.^[43] The series supported every Grand Prix on the European leg of the 2012 Formula One season.

More information Round, Location ...

Round		Location	Circuit	Date	Supporting
1	R1	Catalunya, Spain	Circuit de Catalunya	12 May	Spanish Grand Prix
	R2			13 May
2	R1	Monte Carlo, Monaco	Circuit de Monaco	25 May	Monaco Grand Prix
	R2			26 May
3	R1	Valencia. Spain	Valencia Street Circuit	23 June	European Grand Prix
	R2			24 June
4	R1	Silverstone, UK	Silverstone Circuit	7 July	British Grand Prix
	R2			8 July
5	R1	Hockenheim, Germany	Hockenheimring	21 July	German Grand Prix
	R2			22 July
6	R1	Budapest, Hungary	Hungaroring	28 July	Hungarian Grand Prix
	R2			29 July
7	R1	Spa, Belgium	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps	1 September	Belgian Grand Prix
	R2			2 September
8	R1	Monza, Italy	Autodromo Nazionale Monza	8 September	Italian Grand Prix
	R2			9 September

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Carlin's António Félix da Costa qualified on pole position by 0.01 seconds to Lotus GP drivers Conor Daly and Aaro Vainio.^[44] However, on the start of the race their team-mate Daniel Abt made a fast getaway from seventh on the grid to lead. But Abt and Félix da Costa both had a jump start and got drive-through penalties. Returnee Mitch Evans, who was behind the two drivers after the start, won the opening race at Barcelona. Status Grand Prix's Marlon Stöckinger scored his first series podium, finishing second. Vainio completed the podium.^[45] Conor Daly recouped in the sprint race, claiming his first series win. Reverse polesitter Robert Visoiu and MW Arden's Matias Laine were also on podium.^[46]

Two weeks later at Monaco Vainio took the championship lead from Evans after his first series win from pole position in the feature race. He was joined on the podium by Atech CRS GP's Tamás Pál Kiss and Ocean Racing Technology's Kevin Ceccon.^[47] Stöckinger, who started from reverse pole, celebrated his first series win. Félix da Costa and Abt completed the podium. The race was noted by two huge accidents between Carlin team-mates Alex Brundle and William Buller, and between Marussia Manor Racing's Dmitry Suranovich and Daly.^[48]

The next series stop was at Valencia Street Circuit, where Mitch Evans regained championship lead with win from pole. Aaro Vainio was second, while David Fumanelli scored his first series podium.^[49] Like at Monaco the win in the sprint race was claimed by reverse polesitter. This time it was Jenzer Motorsport's Patric Niederhauser, who won the race in GP3 for the first time. Abt and Laine completed the podium.^[50]

Prior Silverstone round António Félix da Costa became part of the Red Bull Junior Team and his results increased.^[51] He scored his first win of the season, despite start behind championship leaders Evans and Vainio, who joined Félix da Costa on podium.^[52] Tyre strategy enabled William Buller to claim the victory in the second race starting from last row on the grid. Daly and Niederhauser completed the podium.^[53]

Daniel Abt scored his first pole position on the home soil at Hockenheim.^[54] But wet race conditions helped Patric Niederhauser score his second win. Conor Daly and Trident Racing's Giovanni Venturini joined him on podium.^[55] Evans extended championship lead by winning the sprint race. He was joined by Lotus GP's Abt and Daly. The race was noted by airborne accidents which left Vicky Piria and Fabiano Machado with injuries.^[56]

António Félix da Costa was unstoppable at Budapest, becoming the first GP3 Series driver, who had double win during the weekend. Habitual residents of the podium Abt, Evans and Niederhauser rose again on the podium stages, with Alex Brundle, who joined them for the first time.^[57][58]

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top 10 classified finishers in the race 1, and to the top 8 classified finishers in the race 2. The pole-sitter in the race 1 also received four points, and two points were given to the driver who set the fastest lap inside the top ten in both the race 1 and race 2. No extra points were awarded to the pole-sitter in the race 2.

Race 1 points

Race 2 points

Points were awarded to the top 8 classified finishers.

Drivers' Championship

More information Pos, Driver ...

Pos Driver CAT MON VAL SIL HOC HUN SPA[lower-alpha 7] MNZ Points 1 Mitch Evans 1 20 5 4 1 6 2 11 8 1 3 21 3 15 Ret 20 151.5 2 Daniel Abt 13 6 6 3 6 2 4 Ret 7 2 2 11 1 5 1 2 149.5 3 António Félix da Costa 14 7 7 2 Ret 8 1 6 Ret Ret 1 1 2 2 15 5 132 4 Aaro Vainio 3 4 1 7 2 7 3 Ret 5 6 5 7 6 14 11 14 123 5 Matias Laine 5 3 21 16 5 3 9 18† 4 5 7 6 5 1 3 6 111 6 Conor Daly 6 1 23 Ret 11 Ret 5 2 2 3 6 9 7 3 4 11 106 7 Patric Niederhauser 4 5 Ret 15 8 1 10 3 1 9 16 2 11 6 5 Ret 101 8 Tio Ellinas 7 15 9 8 4 5 6 4 10 7 13 4 4 Ret 2 1 99 9 Kevin Ceccon Ret 10 3 6 7 4 8 7 17 15 4 8 12 20 13 9 56 10 Marlon Stöckinger 2 19 8 1 19 11 16 Ret 16 11 9 13 14 16 7 4 55 11 David Fumanelli 9 17 4 5 3 16 DNS DNS 12 10 8 Ret 20 Ret 6 13 47 12 Tamás Pál Kiss 12 Ret 2 9 9 10 11 14 6 4 14 10 17 10 9 15 38 13 Giovanni Venturini 13 16 3 8 11 Ret 9 9 8 3 31 14 Robert Vișoiu 8 2 14 10 Ret 12 12 5 DSQ 12 12 22 15 13 14 7 24 15 William Buller 23 9 12 Ret 10 9 Ret 1 9 Ret 23 12 13 8 10 12 20 16 Alex Brundle 10 8 10 Ret 16 14 7 10 DSQ 13 15 3 19 11 DSQ 10 19 17 Lewis Williamson 13 Ret 10 5 8 7 19 Ret 11 18 Alex Fontana 17 15 10 4 8.5 19 Alice Powell Ret 11 11 22 18 Ret 17 Ret 19 Ret 19 20 18 12 12 8 1 20 Fabio Gamberini 23 8 1 21 Fabiano Machado 16 Ret 15 17 Ret 19 19 9 Ret Ret DNS DNS 25 21 Ret 16 0 22 Robert Cregan 15 Ret 18 11 15 13 20 15 11 NC 21 14 21 DNS 20 17 0 23 Dmitry Suranovich 11 Ret 16 DSQ Ret 15 22 20† 15 14 Ret 16 22 18 22† DNS 0 24 Kotaro Sakurai 18 12 13 20 15 13 0 25 John Wartique 21 13 17 13 12 Ret 23 17 17 18 0 26 Vicky Piria 22 16 19 12 17 18 18 21† 14 Ret 20 19 16 19 16 Ret 0 27 Facu Regalia 14 12 18 18 0 28 Carmen Jordá 20 21 Ret 21 13 Ret DNQ DNQ 20 Ret 24† Ret 26 23 21 19 0 29 Ethan Ringel Ret 18 Ret 18 14 Ret Ret 17 18 16 22 17 24 22 18 Ret 0 30 Antonio Spavone 17 Ret 20 14 Ret 17 21 18 0 31 Jakub Klášterka 19 14 22 19 0 Pos Driver CAT MON VAL SIL HOC HUN SPA[lower-alpha 7] 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)

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Notes:

• † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

Teams' Championship

More information Pos, Team ...

Pos Team Car No. CAT MON VAL SIL HOC HUN SPA[lower-alpha 7] MNZ Points 1 Lotus GP 1 13 6 6 3 6 2 4 Ret 7 2 2 11 1 5 1 2 378.5 2 6 1 23† Ret 11 Ret 5 2 2 3 6 9 7 3 4 11 3 3 4 1 7 2 7 3 Ret 5 6 5 7 6 14 11 14 2 MW Arden 4 1 20 5 4 1 6 2 11 8 1 3 21 3 15 Ret 20 309.5 5 9 17 4 5 3 16 DNS DNS 12 10 8 Ret 20 Ret 6 13 6 5 3 21 16 5 3 9 18† 4 5 7 6 5 1 3 6 3 Carlin 26 10 8 10 Ret 16 14 7 10 DSQ 13 15 3 19 11 DSQ 10 171 27 14 7 7 2 Ret 8 1 6 Ret Ret 1 1 2 2 15 5 28 23 9 12 Ret 10 9 Ret 1 9 Ret 23 12 13 8 10 12 4 Jenzer Motorsport 20 8 2 14 10 Ret 12 12 5 DSQ 12 12 22 15 13 14 7 133.5 21 4 5 Ret 15 8 1 10 3 1 9 16 2 11 6 5 Ret 22 19 14 22 19 14 12 17 15 10 4 5 Marussia Manor Racing 7 11 Ret 16 DSQ Ret 15 22 20† 15 14 Ret 16 22 18 22† DNS 99 8 16 Ret 15 17 Ret 19 19 9 Ret Ret DNS DNS 25 21 Ret 16 9 7 15 9 8 4 5 6 4 10 7 13 4 4 Ret 2 1 6 Status Grand Prix 14 2 19 8 1 19 11 16 Ret 16 11 9 13 14 16 7 4 67 15 18 12 13 20 15 13 13 Ret 10 5 8 7 19 Ret 16 Ret 11 11 22 18 Ret 17 Ret 19 Ret 19 20 18 12 12 8 7 Ocean Racing Technology 17 Ret 10 Ret 21 13 Ret DNQ DNQ 20 Ret 24† Ret 26 23 21 19 56 18 20 21 3 6 7 4 8 7 17 15 4 8 12 20 13 9 19 15 Ret 18 11 15 13 20 15 11 NC 21 14 21 DNS 20 17 8 Atech CRS GP 29 12 Ret 2 9 9 10 11 14 6 4 14 10 17 10 9 15 39 30 21 13 17 13 12 Ret 23 8 18 18 23 17 17 18 31 Ret 18 Ret 18 14 Ret Ret 17 18 16 22 17 24 22 18 Ret 9 Trident Racing 23 22 16 19 12 17 18 18 21† 14 Ret 20 19 16 19 16 Ret 31 24 17 Ret 20 14 Ret 17 21 19 25 13 16 3 8 11 Ret 9 9 8 3 Pos Team Car No. CAT MON VAL SIL HOC HUN SPA[lower-alpha 7] 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)

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Notes:

• † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.