Esteban Gutierrez

Valencia, Spain - Esteban Manuel Gutierrez Gutierrez, driver of the French team ART Grand Prix, and 27 other drivers gathered today at the Circuito Español de la Communitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo to continue with their intense pre-season preparation. This is the second official test of the series, and Gutierrez has proved that he is acquiring the knowledge he needs, as the results are little by little more evident both in his lap times and his confidence behind the wheel. This is only the beginning of a new phase in which Esteban, with his dedication and professionalism is making the foundations of his professional career even stronger.

Gutierrez was eleventh fastest at the end of the first session, with a best lap time of 1:28.843 on lap 41. Esteban´s best time in the second session today was 1:28.832 on lap 48, which put him as 7th fastest.

For this second test, the talented French team and Esteban changed a little the work plan as compared with last week’s training in Portugal. The main focus this time was suspension and tire behavior.

Training will continue tomorrow, March 24th, at 9:00 a.m. (Local time)

"I feel very happy and at the same time grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to be here, competing in this series and with such experienced team. I have learned a lot after these official training sessions. We have made significant progress both in Portugal and here today. That means we are on the right track and that we are working well together as a team. Moving from the FBMW to Formula 3 Euroseries has been a big change, that is why we work every day on every aspect of my driving and adapting to the car and the new tires, which I quickly have to learn and get used to so I am able to get the best performance out of them; but for that we need more seat time and a lot more experience", commented Esteban Gutierrez.

Results – First Session – Monday, March 23rd:

1 - Atte Mustonen (Dallara-Mercedes) - Motopark - 1´27"713 - Lap 48
2 - Roberto Merhi (Dallara-Mercedes) - Manor - 1´27"819 - 48
3 - Jules Bianchi (Dallara-Mercedes) - ART - 1´27"976 - 62
4 - Brendon Hartley (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Carlin - 1´28"325 - 42
5 - Marco Wittmann (Dallara-Mercedes) - Mucke - 1´28"437 - 38
6 - Kevin Mirocha (Dallara-Mercedes) - HBR - 1´28"508 - 39
7 - Cesar Ramos (Dallara-Mercedes) - Manor - 1´28"579 - 57
8 - Valtteri Bottas (Dallara-Mercedes) - ART - 1´28"585 - 63
9 - Stefano Coletti (Dallara-Mercedes) - Prema - 1´28"632 - 47
10 - Christopher Zanella (Dallara-Mercedes) - Motopark - 1´28"774 - 53
11 - Esteban Gutierrez (Dallara-Mercedes) - ART - 1´28"843 - 51
12 - Sam Bird (Dallara-Mercedes) - Mucke - 1´28"905 - 49
13 - Mika Maki (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Signature - 1´28"952 - 52
14 - Johnny Cecotto (Dallara-Mercedes) - HBR - 1´29"022 - 42
15 - Jon Lancaster (Dallara-Mercedes) - SG - 1´29"072 - 59
16 - Alexander Sims (Dallara-Mercedes) - Mucke - 1´29"109 - 64
17 - Henki Waldschmidt (Dallara-Mercedes) - SG - 1´29"158 - 59
18 - Jake Rosenzweig (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Carlin - 1´29"256 - 62
19 - Pedro Ferreira (Dallara-Mercedes) - Manor - 1´29"323 - 55
20 - Christian Vietoris (Dallara-Mercedes) - Mucke - 1´29"433 - 63
21 - Matteo Chinosi (Dallara-Mercedes) - Prema - 1´29"546 - 45
22 - Adrien Tambay (Dallara-Mercedes) - ART - 1´29"598 - 63
23 - Jean Karl Vernay (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Signature - 1´29"623 - 53
24 - Basil Shaaban (Dallara-Mercedes) - Prema - 1´29"678 - 54
25 - Carlo Van Dam (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Kolles&Heinz - 1´29"808 - 67
26 - Tiago Geronimi (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Signature - 1´29"932 - 52
27 - Andrea Caldarelli (Dallara-Mercedes) - SG - 1´30"357 - 56
28 - Jens Klingmann (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Kolles&Heinz - 1´30"455 - 69

Results – Second Session – Monday, March 23rd:

1 - Roberto Merhi (Dallara-Mercedes) - Manor - 1´27"924 - Lap 42
2 - Atte Mustonen (Dallara-Mercedes) - Motopark - 1´28"138 - 31
3 - Sam Bird (Dallara-Mercedes) - Mucke - 1´28"425 - 40
4 - Christian Vietoris (Dallara-Mercedes) - Mucke - 1´28"659 - 35
5 - Kevin Mirocha (Dallara-Mercedes) - HBR - 1´28"678 - 25
6 - Alexander Sims (Dallara-Mercedes) - Mucke - 1´28"784 - 36
7 - Esteban Gutierrez (Dallara-Mercedes) - ART - 1´28"832 - 48
8 - Cesar Ramos (Dallara-Mercedes) - Manor - 1´28"833 - 30
9 - Valtteri Bottas (Dallara-Mercedes) - ART - 1´28"868 - 36
10 - Henki Waldschmidt (Dallara-Mercedes) - SG - 1´28"897 - 30
11 - Jon Lancaster (Dallara-Mercedes) - SG - 1´28"935 - 38
12 - Marco Wittmann (Dallara-Mercedes) - Mucke - 1´29"009 - 39
13 - Stefano Coletti (Dallara-Mercedes) - Prema - 1´29"014 - 36
14 - Jake Rosenzweig (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Carlin - 1´29"321 - 45
15 - Pedro Ferreira (Dallara-Mercedes) - Manor - 1´29"345 - 37
16 - Christopher Zanella (Dallara-Mercedes) - Motopark - 1´29"371 - 33
17 - Brendon Hartley (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Carlin - 1´29"389 - 7
18 - Andrea Caldarelli (Dallara-Mercedes) - SG - 1´29"405 - 39
19 - Mika Maki (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Signature - 1´29"422 - 26
20 - Johnny Cecotto (Dallara-Mercedes) - HBR - 1´29"644 - 35
21 - Jean Karl Vernay (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Signature - 1´29"716 - 25
22 - Matteo Chinosi (Dallara-Mercedes) - Prema - 1´29"774 - 36
23 - Adrien Tambay (Dallara-Mercedes) - ART - 1´30"155 - 34
24 - Basil Shaaban (Dallara-Mercedes) - Prema - 1´30"240 - 28
25 - Jens Klingmann (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Kolles&Heinz - 1´30"365 - 41
26 - Jules Bianchi (Dallara-Mercedes) - ART - 1´30"658 - 18
27 - Tiago Geronimi (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Signature - 1´31"073 - 38
28 - Carlo Van Dam (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Kolles&Heinz - 1´31"377 - 42

Official Calendar - Formula 3 Euroseries 2009:

March 18-19 – Official Training Session - Estoril, Portugal
March 23-24 – Official Training Session - Valencia, Spain
April 22-23 – Official Training Session - Nogaro, France
May 15-17 – Races 1 & 2 - Hockenheim, Germany
May 29-31 - Races 3 & 4 - Lausitz, Germany
June 26-28 - Races 5 & 6 - Norisring, Germany
July 17-19 - Races 7 & 8 - Zandvoort, Netherlands
July 31-August 2 - Races 9 & 10 - Oschersleben, Germany
August 14-16 - Races 11 & 12 - Nurburg, Germany
September 4-6 - Races 13 & 14 - Brands Hatch, UK
September 18-20 - Races 15 & 16 - Barcelona, Spain
October 9-11 - Races 17 & 18 - Dijon, France
October 23-25 - Races 19 & 20 - Hockenheim, Germany

For more information about Esteban Gutierrez, the ART Grand Prix team, and the Formula 3 Euroseries, visit their official websites: www.estebangtz.com, www.art-grandprix.com, and www.f3euroseries.com.